Page 141 of Foreplay on Words

“As your friend. I say fuck it,” Isobel shrugged. “But as your boss, you have to get on that plane. If you don’t, I can’t salvage this.”

“It’ll be fine. He’s disappeared before and he’s always been fine,” Adrian tried to console, but it fell a little flat.

“You’re not helping,” Is growled as she looked down at the two suitcases by my side. “Just shut your mouth and try not to get in the way.”

She nodded toward the one with the blue luggage tag that belonged to Evan. “Do you want us to take that one?”

“No. I’m not sure what to do. I don’t want to take it if he needs something.” I shook my head as I felt myself getting choked up again. “God, this fucking sucks.”

“I can take it,” Adrian offered.

“No, I’m going to see if the desk can hold it.” He would have to come back here eventually, right?

“Let’s go visit my friend Mr. Blithe.” Kristine smiled as she grabbed the suitcase handle and led me toward the reception desk.

“Did you find a charger?” Kristine asked as she stood next to me in the convenience store near our gate at the airport. We’d made it through security alright, but we only had a few minutes before we needed to be at the gate for boarding.

“I’m not sure which to get,” I told her as I looked at the phone and laptop accessories wall.

“We don’t have time for this. Just pick a fricking charger and let’s go,” she sighed impatiently. She did not like being thrown off her schedule.

“Geez, control freak. Just go to the gate, and we’ll meet you there,” Sam elbowed her out of the way and stepped in next to me.

Kristine did not like people making her late. We still had a few minutes, but I knew time was tight.

Before I paid, I grabbed water, a bag of Twizzlers, and the portable charger, buying them quickly before hurrying to the gate as they announced to start boarding.

Evan and I were booked in the extra legroom business class. Sam and Kristine were in the row behind us. Diana had used her travel miles to upgrade to first class.

“Have you ever been to Chicago before?” Sam asked as we settled into our seats outside the gate.

“Several times,” I nodded. “Minneapolis is only six hours away. My parents brought us for summer road trips.”

“How about you, Kris?” I raised my eyebrow at the nickname. Usually, no one could call her anything but her full name. Another intern had called her Krissy once, and no one ever saw him again.

“Nope. My parents thought the Hamptons were the only appropriate place to spend summers,” she rolled her eyes. “Not that they were ever there to know.”

“Okay, then.” Sam looked over at me nervously as he sat next to Kristine.

“Have you, Sam?” I asked as I glanced over at him.

“Yeah, once or twice a year. It’s a cool city. Lots of museums and things to do,” he nodded.

“Oh, look. They called our group number, so we can stop the painfully awkward small talk.” Kristine perked up as she stood and grabbed her bag. I was ready to get on this damn plane. She led us toward the gate agent and scanned our digital boarding passes before we walked down the jet bridge to the aircraft.

Diana smiled as we passed her, and we quickly sat down in our rows on the other side of the little curtain.

I opened the packaging for the battery-charging pack and plugged in my phone. Needing a distraction to get through this flight, I pulled a paperback book out of my bag and the water bottle.

Sam and Kristine sat quietly behind me, but I could tell he was whispering things to her. I saw her mouth twitch through the crack between the seats. She was trying to act unaffected by him.

The seat beside me stayed empty as the plane filled. I was half relieved I didn’t have to sit next to a stranger and half depressed the owner of the seat was still missing. This was going to be a long-ass day.

While the flight attendant went through the safety spiel, my heart started racing as the little Apple icon lit up on my phone.

One missed call.

I opened the menu and saw an alert that I’d received a call from Evan’s phone number hours ago.

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