She slid her laptop out of her bag, flipped it open, her fingers moving rapidly over the keys.
“I can get you on a flight at 4:30. It’s direct. I’ll call you an Uber now, okay? You’ll have time to get through security. If you’re sure…?”
“Yeah.”
She turned to her phone. Efficient. Quiet. Kind.
“Tay…” I managed.
She paused, looked at me.
I shook my head. I didn’t even know what I meant to say. Maybe just…thank you.
She nodded once, already understanding without me having to say another word.
And while the rest of Las Vegas was gearing up for a night of glitz and glam and flashing lights, Tay sat quietly beside me, booking my escape.
A HARD LANDING
“Ma’am? Are you Luna Faraday, by chance?”
The seating area was nearly empty when I looked up. How long had I been sitting here? The gate that had been packed minutes ago had somehow emptied out, and I hadn’t even noticed.
“Um. Yeah?”
I peered up at the gate agent, who looked more confused than annoyed.
“We’re almost finished boarding.”
“Oh. Yeah. Sorry.” My voice sounded far away even to me, and when I stood up, my legs were stiff. Like they didn’t quite belong to me.
When I made my way up the jet bridge, I felt like a sleepwalker.
The plane, at least, wasn’t full. Ironic, but maybe I was finally having some luck now that I was leaving Las Vegas.
I ignored the overhead bins, because…yeah…
I slid into my row and stuffed my bag under the seat in front of me. Seatbelt. I could do that. Breathe.
I didn’t bother to look out the window. I just closed my eyes.
You’re almost home. You can handle this. One step at a time.
Then my phone started buzzing.
And a tiny part of my stupid heart—a part that still believed this could be fixed—leapt, even as the rest of me wanted to curl up, disappear, hide from all of it.
But the bigger part? The part that was bruised, and tired, and terrified of being wrong again?—
That part won.
And yet…I swiped to answer.
But I didn’t say anything.
“Luna?” Noah’s voice. “Sweetheart? Are you there?” Worried. Concerned.
I pressed my fingers to my eyes.
