Page 3 of The Final Straw

I’m heading on a business trip for the weekend to meet a client to photograph their wedding. Leaving Van is never easy. My life has taken a turn for the better in the past six months, all thanks to him. I can’t help but feel like I’m truly thriving. With one last lingering kiss, I enter the cab as Van playfully waves goodbye, his goofy smile etched in my mind as the driver speeds off.

“Wheatland Airport please,” I tell the cab driver as I pull out my phone, already seeing a notification for a message from Van.

Van- I can’t wait for you to come home. I miss you already.

Me- I’ve barely been gone thirty seconds.

Van- Baby, you know you’re it for me, so thirty seconds is way too long to be without you. How do you expect me to live a weekend without you?

Me- I’m sure you’ll be okay. Plus, you got invited to Russell’s tonight for that party. That should take your mind off missing me.

Van- Yeah, but idk if I’m going. Barbi is supposed to be there and you know she’s more touchy-feely than I like. I know this sounds weird coming from a guy but it makes me uncomfortable.

Me- Barbi is Barbi. Pay her no mind, she's like that with everyone. Go and have fun! Love you!!!!

Van- Love you 2 baby!

I can't help the cheesy smile I’ve been wearing since I met him. I slide the phone back into my cross-body fanny pack just as the driver pulls the taxi up to the curb. “We’re here.”

Fuck, were we texting that long? It doesn’t seem like it. Didn’t I just leave him standing on the curb?

I easily make my way through the airport, encountering no problems at the security check, then grabbing a snack on the way to my departure gate. Happy with my purchase of Flamin' Hot Cheetos, water, and a smutty romance, I hit the bathroom to pee before it's time to board.

I know there's one on the plane, but I hate using it. The bathroom is so small I feel like I’m in a coffin.

“Good afternoon, passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for flight 89B to Strathmore. We’re now inviting passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding. Please have your boarding pass and identification ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately ten minutes. Thank you,” comes over the loudspeaker in the terminal. I grab my carry-on, prepared for when they call my section.

Twenty minutes later, I’m shoving my carry-on in the plane’s overhead compartment as the old lady behind me impatiently taps her foot on the floor. I take my seat and slide my camera bag under the chair in front of me before buckling my seatbelt.

Once everyone is seated and the doors closed, the flight attendant starts her speech, but I tune her out as I pull out my phone and switch it into airplane mode.

“Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones. Smoking is prohibited for the duration of the flight. Once we reach cruising altitude, we will begin serving your inflight snack. Thank you for choosing Mountain Airlines. Enjoy your flight.”

Pulling out my book, I recline back the seat as far as it will go without bothering the person behind me and read. I enjoy a good romance, and flights are the perfect time for some uninterrupted reading.

As I’m reading, I can’t help but think of Van. He tells me all the time that, even though it’s only been six months, he knows I’m his future, his whole life, and I can’t help but feel the same.

He’s brought so much joy and love into my life. When I get back, I’m going to ask him to move in with me. It makes the most sense since he lives with Cal and I have my place to myself.

Besides, isn't that the logical next step?

I know many people would say marriage, and at one time even I thought that. But I don’t want Van to think I’m trying to trap him. So moving in it is.

I’m lost in the pages of my paperback when the captain’s voice startles me. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Strathmore Airport. Local time is 1 PM, and the temperature is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. On behalf of Mountain Airlines and the entire crew, I’d like to thank you for joining us on this trip. Have a great stay!”

I grab my camera bag before exiting my row and pull my carry-on from the overhead compartment, thankful that I didn’t have to check any luggage. I fall in line behind the other passengers disembarking and beeline to the bathroom once I’ve cleared the gate.

I don’t have to wait for a cab since there’s a line of them waiting. The cabbie takes my bag and I climb into the backseat. “Hi, can you take me to the Sunrise Inn?”

“No problem. I’ll have you there in a jiffy.” He smiles at me in the rearview mirror before looking over his shoulder and pulling away from the curb.

My meeting with the soon-to-be newlyweds is at four, so I only have a few hours to freshen up and get to the hotel bar for our meeting. Grabbing my phone, I turn the airplane mode off and see another text from Van.

Van- I’m gonna go to the party. I’ll tell Barbi you said hi… if she’ll speak to me.

Me- Just got a cab. Headed to the hotel. See you Sunday! Call later?

Van- You know I will, baby.

---