Page 47 of Unexpected Boyfriends

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My eyes never leave him as he walks away from me down the long driveway. He turns around when he reaches the crest, just before the driveway drops away out of sight, raises his hand, and then…he’s gone.

I make it as far as the first street down the road before I have to pull in. I can’t see for the tears streaming down my face and I certainly can’t drive. I spend the next few minutes sobbing my heart out uncontrollably.I feel ridiculous. I’m twenty-two. I should have more control. I should be more composed.

But I feel like my heart has just walked away from me.

Since I can’t sit like this at the side of the road forever, I eventually make a huge effort to pull myself together.

It feels like a break-up, but it’s not.

Summer holidays are over. That’s all.

I pull away from the kerb and drive back to my regular life. Justin has been the shining highlight of the last few weeks and my life will seem colorless now he’s gone.

I just hope I wasn’t simply a summer fling.

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I’m still at the airport and already I miss you. Is that crazy?

Nope. I feel the same

Stupid plane is late. Now I have to sit around and pretend I’m not moping

I should have come to the airport?

Nah. The fam is here. That would make it worse

He’s right. We would have had to friend-zone each other. It would have been a form of torture sitting there for however long, so close and yet so far apart.

Oh. Plane’s boarding. Have to say goodbye to the fam

There’s a long time with no new texts and no dots dancing on the screen, and I wonder if the plane’s already taken off. I’m lying on my bed at home, phone in hand. I have the vague feeling I should probably go out or do something but I’m too apathetic. Today is my day to be pathetic, I decide, just one day and then I’ll …what? I don’t know but for now I’m just going to lie here and stare at my phone, because it’s the only thing connecting us right now.

Scorpius!

He obviously hasn’t taken off yet or else he’s flaunting the turn-off-your-phones instruction. I hope it’s the former because I’d hate to be the reason his plane crashes.

Please tell me you’re not texting while flying

No, I’m not. Haven’t taken off yet. Sitting here…still waiting…waiting…

Scorpius?

Yeah. Looked it up. When we have to ditch Orion’s belt, we can use Scorpius. That’s the winter constellation

I’m touched that he cares enough to have looked it up already.

What about when it’s cloudy?

Duh. Facetime.Then,Oops about to takeoff

Text me when you get there?

But he’s already gone silent.

Chapter 17

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