Alex has tickets for us, but it’s not for a flight back to New York.
“Why are we going to Montana?”
“I have a meeting there tomorrow.”
“Fine. Then I’ll head back to Chris’s, and you can fetch me when you’re done.”
“You’re invited too.”
I scoff, but say nothing more. In truth, I’m not sure I do want to walk away from him right now. Instead, I want to figure him out.Usout.
Dangerous, Vicky.
Probably.
I'm scared of him. That’s the truth of it. Scared of what I do when he's near, what he makes me do. How easily I follow. How much I want to.
I left him. I meant it. And here I am, following him again, into an airport. A man I walked out on—twice.
What is wrong with me?
Nothing, says my body.
Everything, says my head.
My heart is hurting.
But I still want to see where this goes.
I know he doesn’t mean I’ll literally be coming to one of his meetings. It’s his way of telling me that he wants to keep an eye on me. It’s almost sweet, in an obsessive, possessive kind of way. A few weeks ago, I’d have given anything to have this Alex.
So let’s hang around a little longer, and see how it pans out.
We take our seats in first class, and Alex immediately reclines his chair, closing his eyes.
I pull my phone out, preparing myself for a long, boring flight being thoroughly ignored, and send Chris a text.
Sorry about the abrupt departure. Thank you for letting me stay. I won’t be coming back for my stuff—please shove it in the shed or something—and I’ll be in touch when Ican.
Alex’s hand crosses the divider between our seats, and his palm comes to rest on my upper thigh.
Chris’s response arrives almost immediately.
Are you all right? Do I need to call anyone? Where’s the place we hid as kids when Mom and Dad fought?
I’m fine. It’s consensual.Mostly.Mom and Dad never fought.
And that truth brings tears to my eyes.
Stay in touch.Come see us again, ***soon***.
Will do xoxo
I sit back and get comfortable, glancing across at Alex.
His eyes are closed. His face looks almost peaceful. He’s so still, I have to check he’s still breathing.
He stays like that for the whole three-hour flight to our change in Dallas.
