Page 6 of Against the Odds

It’s a few seconds before we both begin to move, cleaning ourselves up as we redress. I glance at the clock on the side table and wonder if I should get Rachel and head back to our room. We have time before my alarm will sound and hours yet until our flight. This after-a-hookup conversation is not my forte by any means.

“You still have at least an hour before the alarm, come lie with me, Katy.”

And with that sentence Ian takes the awkwardness out of the moment and I crawl into his arms. This time instead of being the little spoon, I nestle into his side and place my head on his beating heart.

ChapterFive

Something I’ve learned about myself in the brief time we’ve been in Sin City is that I appreciate the quiet. When I moved to Texas for college, I fell in love with the small towns you happen upon on any road trip. It’s why I stayed in the Lonestar State and made my home in one of those small towns. Well, that and a teaching job. I love the close-knit community and the simplicity of life. And the silence. It’s quiet in Lexington and until this weekend I didn’t realize I fully appreciate it.

I also haven’t realized how much my sister talks. That’s not true, I think she came home from the hospital as a newborn chattering. I love her but it’s really okay to sit in comfortable silence. Unfortunately for me, Marci and Autumn missed out on a lot of the fun thanks to their poor food choices and Rachel is giving them the play by play. Each highlight is followed by either “wow” and “stupid sushi.”

“But why didn’t you do the deed?” Autumn asks with complete disbelief in her voice.

My head spins to face her but I play it off when I see she’s talking to Rachel. Nobody knows about the time I spent with Ian. When I knocked quietly on Kevin’s door this morning, Rachel was ready to leave and dragged me out of the suite. Autumn and Marci were up and packing when we walked into our suite, both looking much better than how we left them. The stench I feared last night barely lingered in the air as we all moved around gathering our belongings before catching a ride share.

“Because I’m an idiot and drank too much. You know how I get,” Rachel said.

We all laughed. “Sleepy.”

Sighing, Rachel throws her head back dramatically on the headrest of the passenger seat. “Yes. Kevin was so hot too. And boy could he kiss. I wasn’t too tipsy to not appreciate his hands and the dirty talk. Ohmygosh! The things he can do with this tongue.”

Our driver clears his throat, effectively cutting Rachel’s storytelling off before she can go into too many details. Once we’re dropped at the curb and make our way through security, I duck into the nearest restroom and tell the girls I’ll meet them at their gate.

My flight isn’t for two hours so I’ll sit with them until they leave. One thing I can appreciate about this airport is the lack of slot machines in their bathroom. The only sound is eighties hair band ballads. I allow myself the luxury of standing in the near silence and wash my hands. And search my face.

From the outside, nothing has changed. I look the same. My chocolate brown hair is braided down my back and my face is free of makeup. The little bump on the side of my nose from the piercing I thought was so cool in college is barely visible. Yet inside I’m a bundle of emotions and kind of a mess.

I had a one-night stand.

And I don’t regret it.

Would it have been nice to spend more time getting to know Ian? Sure. Should I have asked for his phone number or at the very least, his last name? Obviously. I was lost in the moment and the man. I don’t believe in love at first sight but I do believe that people can connect quickly, and I think that’s what happened between us.

For the first time I understand the sentiment of people coming into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Ian is obviously a reason. An opportunity for me to remember I’m a woman and enjoy companionship. I want to meet someone to share my life with and to grow old together. That person may not be Ian, but our night brought the realization to the surface. He is the reason.

Thankfully, by the time I make it to the gate, Rachel has finished her recap of her romp, or lack thereof, with Kevin, and Marci has moved on to a story about being a bridesmaid in a wedding. We sit and talk for an hour before the announcement of pre-boarding for their flight fills the area.

In a long sisterly hug, Rachel has a tight grip on me as she says, “I’m so glad you came. I miss you so much and need you to come home.”

I laugh. “Not on your life. I like the warm Texas weather. I have zero desire to go back to Washington.”

She knows as well as my parents do, I will come home once or twice a year for a long weekend but living in Washington is out of the picture. My life is in Texas and the small town of Lexington. Just me.

Maybe I should get a puppy.

* * *

Standing at the curb, I check my phone for the millionth time since I exited the plane. I swear if Felicity doesn’t remember to pick me up I’m going—

“Sorry!” she shouts through the passenger window as her car comes to a stop in front of me.

My friend looks frazzled as she lifts a huge, iced coffee to her mouth. Her hair is piled on her head in a messy bun and even at a quick glance I can see she’s wearing an oversized T-shirt. Very unlike my normally put together friend.

I have a feeling caffeine is the last thing she needs. I, on the other hand, hope she brought one for me. Lis pops the trunk and I toss my bag and tote inside, keeping only my phone as I slide into the passenger seat.

“To make up for making you stand out there, I have come bearing a gift.”

Greedily, I accept the drink and take a long sip from the straw. I managed a little nap on the plane but I really need a shower and my own bed. Past and future lives flash before my eyes as Lis maneuvers through the traffic and onto the highway.

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