Page 95 of Man Flu

“Don’t blame Logan,” Brielle says. “I saw how happy he made you throughout the year you two were just chatting through your game, and I had to interfere. I just really thought you two needed to meet. I messed everything up.”

“He’s a grown man. He could have opted not to take your advice,” I tell her.

“Yes, but he really liked you, and I insisted it was the best way to make things happen. I know how easily people are persuaded when they have feelings for someone. Plus, you know how relentless I can be when I set my mind to something. He really didn’t have the option to say no,” she says.

I’m getting the feeling this isn’t completely about Logan and me. “You know how easily people are persuaded?”

“I’m not as blonde and dumb as you think I am. I broke up with Adam, for your information.”

“I had no idea, Brielle. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I did it before we left so I’d have the week to be distracted.”

I drop my shoulder bag to the ground and wrap my arms around her neck. “I’m sorry,” I tell her.

“I promise I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just wanted you to be happy, but I shouldn’t have pushed so hard.”

“It’s okay,” I tell her. “I may never have met him if you didn’t pull your shenanigans.”

“It’s true,” she cries out through a crackled groan.

“And, now I’ve gone and ruined things, so I guess that’s just the way it goes. He was out of my league anyway, and in the short amount of time we were together, look what I put him through.  I gave him the flu, and he had to rescue my glued-together ass cheeks. He’s better off without me.”

“Don’t say that,” she tells me.

“It’s life.” I grab my bag, and as we head toward the airport’s exit, I feel defeated. Maybe I’m just meant to focus on being a mom and excelling at work right now. I can go along with the notion of that being life’s great plan for me.

“I need to get my bag,” Brielle says. “Will you wait for me?”

“You didn’t check a bag,” I remind her.

“Yes, I did. You were standing right there.”

“I know. You didn’t check anything. We checked in at the kiosk and went right to security.”

“Must be that old age getting to you again,” Brielle says.

“Or that blonde is seeping into your brain,” I reply.

“I have a bag coming. Just wait a minute, okay?”

I lean back against a post in front of the baggage claim area, expecting that we’ll be waiting here for however long it takes Brielle to realize she didn’t check a freaking bag. She’s acting like an excited dog waiting at the conveyor belt as the alarm rings with the warning that the bags are about to roll out.

I close my eyes for a moment, taking in a deep breath, but I’m left with a gasp as a hand clamps around my arm, pulling me away from the post I’m leaning on. “Ma’am, I’m going to need to have a word with you.”

When my panic eases, I find a pair of familiar eyes in front of me, but the vision disappears just as quickly when his hands cup my cheeks and his lips crash into mine. I instinctively loop my arms around his neck, squeezing him like I need him, like I want him, and like I never wanted to walk away. His hands glide back into my hair as his fingers comb through my loose waves. His touch takes my breath away, causing our lips to part. When he tilts his head back and gazes into my eyes, a smile curls into the corner of his lips, matching the smile I have for him.

“Take me back,” he says.

“I never had you in the first place,” I remind him.

“You had me with a shattered heart, Hannah. You fixed mine, and I want to make yours whole again too.”

“You already have, Logan. I think I’ve come to realize that fate doesn’t always work the way we hope, and sometimes we need to take matters into our own hands. I see now that’s what you were doing, and I love you for that.”

“Really?”

“Really. Some might even say I came down with the man flu since I saw you last. It’s bad.  I’m not sure I’m going to make it without someone to take care of me.”

“All you need is some soup, juice through a straw, and liquid Advil—it’s like magic.” Logan laughs quietly and kisses me again. This time I hear Brielle clapping behind us, and I remember we’re in the airport, and we’re being that couple.

Logan turns to face her. “I told you she’d be pissed,” he says to her.

“And I told you she’d get over it,” Brielle argues.

For once, it’s my turn. I get the romance. I get the guy who wants to fight for me, instead of with me.