Page 151 of The Life-Changing Magic of Falling in Love

Then focused glares.

People meeting his flight dwindle to us four. New greeters and loved ones arrive to meet passengers off other planes.

Finally, I look at my friends and force out the thought that has travelled to lodge in my throat like barbed wire. ‘He didn’t get on the plane?’

‘We’ll check the passenger manifest,’ Oz assures.

‘Not sure they make those available to the public,’ Hildy explains.

I could call my mother to see if she could use her CIA contacts and then remember she doesn’t actually work for the CIA.

‘Maybe he’s at lost baggage claim?’ Hildy suggests.

‘Yes,’ I say, pasting on a smile, prepared to wait some more, determined to eradicate all catastrophizing. ‘That’s probably it.’

As we wait, I know it’s not only me internally willing him to appear but when he still doesn’t, I think I go into shock.

I felt so sure.

So confident.

But now it’s as if someone has pressed pause on everything.

If I thought there was the slightest chance he wasn’t getting on the plane I never would have let my friends witness this – me – dumfounded by stark reality.

‘Ashleigh, make the call,’ Carlos says.

To do what? Go back to my apartment and clean? I can’t stay here waiting indefinitely. ‘I g-guess we should leave?’ But even as I’m saying it, I know I’d be exiting the cab while they’re all getting into it and racing back here to wait for him because there’s no way, right? No way he didn’t get on the plane.

‘I mean call George,’ Carlos says, getting my phone out my pocket and handing it to me.

Oh.

Right. Of course.

Simple.

With shaking hands, I call him.

He doesn’t pick up.

I feel myself going quiet inside. Launching into preparation mode to accept something I hadn’t, with all my super-power ability to catastrophize, even once considered.

This was supposed to be simple.

This now feels so far from simple.

And I feel stupid.

So stupid.

‘I can’t believe I dragged you all here. Made you hold up stupid signs.’

‘It’s not stupid and neither are your signs,’ Carlos says loyally, and I want to hug him fiercely. ‘Call him again. Leave a message.’

‘And say what?’ I ask, wincing at the sympathy on their faces. ‘Ask him why he didn’t get on the plane? Why he isn’t answering his phone? I’m not that girl.’

‘It’s as good a place as any to start,’ Hildy offers.

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