He drags a hand through his hair and looks at me again. “You should, uh, wait here for a few minutes. You know, so it’s not obvious.”
I nod, wondering how on earth I’m going to face him when we’re back in our seats.
He gazes at me for another second, then slips out of the bathroom. I’m left standing there, my heart beating wildly and my head spinning, reeling with astonishment over what I’ve just done.
5
“There must be something you can do?”
I stand at the customer service desk, fiddling with the strap of my bag. I’m trying my best not to freak out but it feels like all the events of the past few hours are crowding in and suffocating me.
I mean, it’s not like Iplannedto sit beside a handsome stranger on the plane. Or to share a whiskey and tell him how spontaneous I am. Or to, erm, have sex in the bathroom.
Jesus. I don’t even know who I am right now.
In case things weren’t messed up enough, my luggage has gone missing. So I’m standing here, in my dress that still has the faint smell of Luke’s cologne on it, desperate to put on something—anything—else. And I can’t.
“I’m sorry, I’ve done all I can,” the woman behind the desk says. “We just have to wait for the bag to turn up.”
My stomach plunges at the finality in her tone. “So… that’s it?” She nods and I wring my hands as my pulse escalates. How am I supposed to survive without my luggage? Why didn’t I pack a carry-on suitcase?
It’ll be okay,I tell myself.You can buy new clothes, that’s easy. You’re just overwhelmed.
I draw in a breath, all the way down to my belly, and my heart rate begins to slow. Right, I can handle this. I just need to get to Alex’s place and I’ll feel better.
“Okay, thank you,” I mumble, tugging my bag onto my shoulder. I turn and trudge across the airport concourse and, despite myself, I glance around one final time. Just in case. In case he’s here.
He’s not, of course. He’s long gone.
I shake my head at myself and plod towards the exit. It’s dark when I step outside. The air feels cooler than home. I pull my phone out to text Alex and find a message waiting from her.
Alex: Welcome to New York! I booked you a car service, just find your name. Can’t wait to see you!
Relief washes through me and I quickly fire off a reply that I’ll be there soon. When I spot my name on a sign, the driver greets me with a smile, holding the door open. I slide into the car and, for the first time since we touched down, I feel some of the tension drain from my body. I’m so exhausted after everything that’s happened, I can barely process the fact that I’m here, in America. I slump in the backseat, sliding my phone away, and that’s when I notice the paper tucked into the front pocket of my bag. With a frown, I pull it out to find unfamiliar handwriting. Using the light from my phone, I read the scribbled words.
Harriet, that was incredible. I wish things weren’t so complicated with me right now, because if they weren’t I would love to see you again. I’m sorry that I can’t. Take care, Luke.
I clutch the paper in disbelief. I had no idea he’d written that, I’d thought…
After he had left the bathroom, I stared at my reflection, waiting for the flush in my cheeks to disappear, for my heart to stop racing. The red lipstick still hadn’t budged, and as I tidied my hair and composed myself, I tried to make sense of what I’d just done—who I’d just been. My wild eyes reflected in the mirror showed me just how exhilarated I was, and the throbbing between my legs where he’d been only moments ago assured me that I hadn’t imagined it.
When I finally slid the bathroom door open, grabbed my glasses from the counter and turned to our seats, Luke wasn’t there. I stood for a few moments, stunned, wondering where the fuck he could have gone. My eyes desperately roamed the cabin, expecting to spot himsomewhere, but I couldn’t. I was about to wander further up the plane when a flight attendant appeared beside me and told me in no uncertain terms that I’d better get into my seat and do up my seatbelt or there would be trouble. So I buckled myself in, numb with shock as I thought about what had happened: I’d had amazing sex with a stranger in an airplane bathroom.
And he’d vanished.
Actually, that was what bothered me the most. It’s just plain rude, right? It’s not like I was expecting to stroll into the sunset together after we landed, but didn’t I at least deserve a goodbye—maybe an “it was nice to meet you,” or a “thanks for the hot sex,” or something? I couldn’t bloody believe it.
Now, as I sit here in the car and read the handwritten note he must have scrawled while I hovered in the bathroom, I chuckle. At least he didn’tcompletelydisappear then.
I exhale, tucking the note into the bottom of my bag, then turn to look out the window. It’s already after midnight, and as we head over a bridge I notice the city lights glittering in the distance. It’s such a familiar sight from television and films that I almost feel like I know it myself. In spite of my strange mood, a gasp catches in my throat.
New York isstunning. And while only a few hours ago it scared me shitless, I now feel an unfamiliar thrill zip through me. After everything I’ve been through over the past twenty-four hours, I think I might be able to handle this whole thing.
I smile as I watch the city unfold before me. I’m thrown by the fact that we’re driving on the wrong side of the road, and I try to figure out whether or not I’m supposed to tip the driver. Time to get into the American mindset.
Alex is waiting on the front step as the car pulls up and my heart swells with joy when I see her. It’s been a year since she moved here, and while we never spent much time together when she was back home, I realize I’ve missed her.
Guilt twists through me. I should never have said no to being her maid of honor in the first place. I can’t believe how selfish that was. Imustmake more of an effort with her. Spending time together over the coming weeks will be a good place to start, and hopefully that will bring us a lot closer.
