“What’s the plan?”
“Attaboy.The plan is the same.We’re just going to rotate Tate with Gabriella.”
“What?!She will never agree to that.Tate and Gabriella are close—”
“Save your breath, she’s already on board.She will be back in LA tonight.I’m going to send a car to pick you up and take you to LAX.”
“Time?”I relent.
“Be ready by 4:30.”
“Okay, is that all?”I say through a heavy breath.
“Yes, and Levi...”
“Hmm.”
“Congratulations on winning American Icon.”Click.
***
And everything happenedas she said it would.A black town car rolled onto the circular driveway at approximately 4:30 p.m.I had been pacing the foyer hoping this was all a dream.Hoping to go back to yesterday morning and start again.But no, it was real, and I had no one to thank but myself.As the driver hits the second step of the landing, I come out.
“No need to come all the way to the door.Thanks for picking me up,” I say as a way of greeting.
The man smiles and there’s something so familiar about the way he’s looking at me.We both stop in a Freaky Friday–like whirlwind of déjà vu.
He extends his hand first.“Jerry.”
“Levi.”
I’m still trying to figure out who he is when his head drops to his wrist.“We better go if we’re going to get you to LAX on time.”
I nod, following him to the back passenger door.Once inside, I let my head fall back.I’ve got this.If anyone’s got it, it’s me.When I pick my head back up, Jerry’s looking at me through the rearview mirror.
“All okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good.Thank you.”It’s forced and unbelievable, but I have to save all my social correctness for Gabriella.I pull my phone from my black jeans, checking to see if Tate texted back or called.Nothing.But there is a text from Gabriella letting me know she’s going to be in Terminal C wearing a denim jumpsuit if I want to coordinate.I curse beneath my breath.This experience is going to kill me.I type out, “Sorry, I just got this.I’m wearing black pants, my boots, and a black button-up.Oh, and my University of Tennessee hat.”
As soon as I hit send, another message appears.
Gabriella: Lose the hat.
Levi: No.
That airline Wi-Fi is just too good.I slide my phone back in my pocket and try to turn off my thoughts.I close my eyes again, knowing I have a good hour of stop-and-go before we get to the airport.
The sound of Jerry clearing his throat has my eyelids sliding back open.I look in the direction of the rearview mirror again, and there he is, teed up and ready to talk.
“I’ve been to the house I picked you up at before.”
I knew it!I don’t say anything.
“Yeah, I dropped off a gal there last month.I can’t remember her name, but she was great.She was very colorful—personality and otherwise.”
Now he had my full attention.
“Tate?”I suggest.
