Evidence of why you should be very concerned about living with Gordie. But also, I don’t want you to keep score, Sarah. You have my pinky promise. We’re doing this. No more talk about who owes who more.
I hearted his message and responded with a simple,Thanks, Carter.
“You okay over there?” Anna asks, and I drop my phone into my bag.
“Yep. All good. Just nervous.”
“You’re going to do great,” she says as she pulls up to the curb outside of my terminal. “And you have the schedule for when and what to post next?”
“I’ve got it,” I say. “Thanks for mapping it out for me.”
“How’s the post doing this morning?” she asks. “Have you checked?”
After Carter left last night, Anna helped me choose three of the photos we took. I wasn’t sure about posting all three, but Anna suggested that posting multiple photos at once implies we’ve been seeing each other for a while. I added a caption that read,Been spending time with someone special…Then I tagged Carter’s profile and hit publish.
“Six thousand likes already,” I say. “And too many comments to read.”
“Perfect. It’s all happening according to plan!” She leans over and gives me an awkward hug, hindered both by her belly and the center console of her SUV. “I’m going to miss you.”
“Same,” I say. “Thanks for driving me.”
Fifteen minutes later, I’m standing at the Delta counter, trying to figure out why my ticket says I’m sitting in seat 2A.
“I don’t understand,” I say to the ticket agent. “I didn’t pay for first class. Did I just get lucky?”
She leans a little closer to her computer screen. “No, the upgrade was definitely paid for.” That’s all the explanation she offers before returning my boarding pass and passport. “Enjoy your flight.”
I walk toward the closest security checkpoint, still scratching my head over who would have possibly upgraded my flight. Miles or Anna, maybe, but they know how fiercely I value my independence. Just because my brother makes millions doesn’t mean I want him to spend any of it on me.
I step into line at the checkpoint, sighing as I look at the many,manyweary travelers ahead of me. We’re barely moving, so I pull out my phone to kill some time. I still haven’t done the daily crossword puzzle, so I pull it up, but I’m only two clues in when my phone buzzes with a text from Carter.
Carter
Here’s the thing. If you really were my girlfriend, I’d make sure you flew first class anytime you traveled anywhere.
Sarah
It was you! I was just trying to figure it out.
Carter
I hope you aren’t mad. When I reached out to Anna for your flight info, she told me you like your independence. But if we’re keeping up appearances…
Sneaky Anna.She drove me all the way to the airport and didn’t tell me.
Sarah
I’m not mad. It was sweet of you.
Carter
Enjoy your flight. I hope you have a great time in New York.
I heart his message, then switch back to my crossword puzzle, but I can’t really focus.
I couldn’t help but feel like I disappointed him last night, so to have him do something so thoughtful feels like a really big deal.
He can call it keeping up appearances, but to me, it just feels like kindness.
