Page 79 of When Our Stars Aligned

44

Jax

“Sir, I’m telling you, there are currently no available outbound flights headed to any airport in Maine. If you come back on Monday, I might be able to get you on a flight into Boston, but there are no guarantees,” the overworked ticket agent at the airport says. He continues to hit random buttons on his computer, and I’m tempted to turn the screen around to see if he is actually looking for a flight or playing some sort of game.

“Boston? But that’s Massachusetts.” I consider it for a moment. At least I’d be on the East Coast. I would need to rent a car anyway.

“Very good, sir. You know your geography,” he deadpans.

“Look, I’m gonna let that sarcastic remark slide, but you don’t understand.” I lean over the counter, so no one else can hear. “Ijust found out that the woman I love was literally sent here from Heaven by my gram.”

“No!” the ticket agent says in an astonished voice. “Your gram sent you a girl?”

“Yes! And she is currently in Maine. I need to get to her as soon as possible. Can you help me out?”

“No,” he says flatly. I slap my hand on the counter in frustration and walk outside to try to call Aly for the millionth time. Her phone seems to be off because it keeps going straight to voicemail.

I walk toward a bench near the doors to the airport, contemplating my next move. I could drive out to Maine, but that would take days. I have Jess’s contact information. She was listed as Aly’s emergency contact on Michelle’s rental agreement. It took a while for Michelle to give me the information, but after pleading my case, she finally broke down and gave it to me. I pull out my phone again and my finger hovers over Jess’s name. I don’t want to call her because I’m not sure of her condition, but I may have no other choice.

“Are you sure there’s nothing available? I’ll take anything you have, even a minivan,” I hear a tired but familiar voice say. I must be hallucinating because I swear Aly is right in front of me at the Rent-A-Car kiosk.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the clerk at the kiosk says. “But this is a busy time of year and we’re all booked. Have you tried a rideshare app?”

“My phone had a run-in with an escalator. It’s completely busted,” she says exasperatedly and places her phone on the counter. The clerk winces at the sight.

“Here, you can use mine,” the clerk responds, but I’m already on the move before the woman can hand over her phone.

“Need a ride?” I hear myself saying.

Aly’s back stiffens as she turns around. Her eyes go wide when her gaze sets on me. “What are you doing here?”

“Trying to get a flight to Maine.” I take a hesitant step closer to her. She looks absolutely exhausted and gorgeous at the same time.

“Why we-were you going to Maine?” she stammers.

“Trying to find you.” I take another step closer. “I—”

“No! Wait!” she cuts me off with a sudden burst of energy. “This wasn’t in the plan. I had a whole plan. She pulls a napkin from the airline out of her coat pocket. “I was going to drive back and knock on your door until you finally opened it. I was going to make you listen to everything I had to say whether you wanted to or not. I even had a speech written.” She waves the napkin in the air like a flag.

“Okay.” I chew on the inside of my cheek. Even after all the traveling and stress, she’s still adorable. It’s taking every bit of restraint in me not to just scoop her up and kiss her senseless right now.

Aly fidgets with the napkin then stands a little straighter. “Jax,” she says and looks straight at me. “First of all, I am so sorry for not telling you about my name change at work…”

She goes on for about ten minutes, confirming everything that I already put together. I just stare at her in awe as she gives her speech right in the airport. People around us hustle by and announcements in various languages play over the loudspeaker, but Aly stays focused, determined to speak her mind.

“But then,” she continues. “Jess called you Cornelius—”

“Cornelius?”

“Yeah, her husband wanted to name their baby that, but I’m getting off track. Anyway, I mentioned your middle name was Steven and then I started thinking that Nonno Steven had two grandkids—”

“Wait!” I can’t believe I’m hearing that name come out of that mouth. “You know?”

“I know?” She scrunches up her nose. “I know what? What do you know?”

“What do you know?” I counter back.

“I asked you first. What do you think you know I know? Oh my God, this is insane!” She throws her hands up in the air.

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