The line at security is outrageous for how late it is. The people around me probably think I’m strung out. I can’t stop twitching and bouncing around. Either that, or they suspect I have heroin shoved up my ass.
According to the airline app, the plane is already boarding. I offer to hold a baby for the couple in front of me just to move things along, and they respond to my offer with glares thatpromise they’re about ten seconds from calling the police. That’s fair.
I fly by the people flagged for pat-downs and race to the terminal. It’s only when my phone vibrates in my pocket that I falter.
It’s Joey.
45
Josefine
I makea mental note to thank Stephanie for letting me borrow the town car. Without Tom, I wouldn’t have made the flight. The man could be a stunt driver forFast & Furious.
On the ride here, my mind raced, conjuring up all kinds of scenarios of what I’ll find when I touch down in LA. Will this accident be enough to convince her to go to rehab? I doubt it. She refused the last time I begged.
When I’ve located my row, I settle into the middle seat—my least favorite, but beggars can’t be choosers. I was too panicked to bother with making a seat selection when I booked. So far, no one is sitting on either side of me, so I cross my fingers that one of them remains vacant.
I adjust the nozzle so the air is directed at me and pull on my shirt with my thumb and forefinger to cool my sweaty cleavage. Before leaving the apartment, I carefully hung Claire’s dress, then threw on a pair of black leggings and a T-shirt Cam left behind.
Cam.
I feel horrible that I ran out on him, but getting to my momwas my only thought. Until Dr. Draper’s nasty remarks, that is. The way he spoke about Cam made me want to punch him in his smug, slimy face.
I’m anxious to get in the air, but people are still boarding, so I resign myself to being patient and pull my phone from my purse. I saw his name flash on my screen more than once, but from the looks of my notifications, he’s been trying to reach me nonstop for the last ninety minutes or so.
He answers on the first ring.
“Joey!” He’s out of breath and his voice is almost drowned out by background noise; he’s probably still at the fundraiser. “Are you okay? How’s your mom?”
My heart lurches. He’s got the biggest damn heart. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying my best to prevent the tears burning behind them from breaking through. “I think she’s okay,” I say, my voice cracking. “And, um, someone is picking her up.” I almost say that someone is my ex, but I’ll explain that later.
“Where are you?”
“I’m on a plane,” I reply, worrying my bottom lip. “I’m so sorry I ran off like that. Tell your parents I’m sorry too. I got the call from the hospital about my mom, and I had to move quickly if I was going to make it on the red-eye. I hope you’re not mad.”
“Of course I’m not mad, sweetheart.” He huffs, the sound crackling down the line, then mutters athanksto someone. “Are you okay?”
“I’m—I don’t know.” When I got the call, all I could think about was getting to my mom, but now that I have a moment to breathe, I feel so alone. In the rush of things, I haven’t even called my aunt and uncle. If I told Aunt Rachel I needed her, she probably would have flown out with me.
A flight attendant comes over the loudspeaker to tell us to take our seats, and there’s an echo in the phone.
“I think we’re getting ready for takeoff. I’ll call you when weland.” With that, I hit the End button and switch my phone to airplane mode.
“Sir, please take your seat. We’re readying for takeoff,” a flight attendant says from a few rows in front of me.
As I’m leaning forward, blindly searching in my bag for my AirPods, a pair of shoes appears in my periphery, then a body sinks into the aisle seat on my left.So much for having the row to myself.
Giving up on locating my AirPods, I grab for my seat belt, ready to scoot over to the window, but a hand grasps mine, stopping the movement.
46
Josefine
Millieand I have watched a lot of romance movies over the years. I feast on the suspense over the will-they-won’t-they moments, like when one person races against the clock through the airport. Or when the wind sweeps away a stranger’s phone number onto the street. Or a wedding is interrupted by a desperate confession.
But never in my wildest dreams did I think this could be my reality.
“Cam,” I gasp, and a shiver runs through my body. “What are you doing here?”
