Page 130 of Honey Pot

“Alright, alright!” I put my hands in the air as he reached around me and popped the handle on the glove compartment.

“This is a ticket to Pittsburgh. It’ll get you through security.” He handed me a ticket. “Now, get out of my fucking car, Cael, and go get your girl.”

I snatched it from him and nearly fell from the passenger seat onto the asphalt before picking up my feet. I ran through the parking lot, tripping more than once as I dodged bodies and emptied my pockets in line for security.

“Traveling light,” the man behind the machine said with a smile as the other guard swiped me for metal and let me through. I didn’t have time to respond as I scooped my belongings up and tossed my hat over my head while I ran toward the closest departures and arrivals board.

I stood there, scanning the board for her flight, and finally found it with a tiny, strangled whimper.

“Are you looking for your gate?” An older lady with a pretty smile and a soft voice stood next to me and looked up at the flashing times. She was wearing an official airport vest and clearly was just trying to be polite when she asked. “Did you miss your flight?”

I stared at the red letters that blinked Dallas and tried not to fall apart.

Departed.

“I guess I did."

CODY

NEW YEARS EVE 2017

“Happy Birthday Clem.”

I look down at the stupid cupcake and brush the tears back off my face before setting it on the floor of my new bedroom. The walls were so plain, it smelled too clean, and the alarm clock mocked me as it flickered to midnight.

It was the first birthday we had ever spent apart and, as predicted, it felt like the world was coming apart at the seams.

MATTHEWS

NEW YEARS DAY 2018

“Happy eighteenth birthday, Cael.”

I looked down at my watch as the clock turned to twelve-oh-one and sighed. The small candle flickered in the breeze as I stretched out my legs in the grass beside the creek. I looked up at the stars and made one last wish.

“Take care of him for me?” I whispered and cried, unable to bear the weight of my sadness.

MATTHEWS

Ispent the entire flight staring at the letters, never pulling the elastic band off, but playing with the corners of the stack. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what was inside of them. If there was any hope of me moving on from Cael, for good this time, knowing what was inside wouldn’t change anything.

“Hey, there’s my sad baby.” Bobbi stood against a wall just beyond the arrivals gate in a silky orange sundress, her hair loose around her face. Brown eyes watched my every move as I strolled toward. “I missed that heavenly face.” She scrunched her cute little nose up against me and wrapped me up in a hug. “Are you hungry?” She asked me, and kicked my sneakers with her white cowboy boots.

“I’m starving,” I whined and fell into her arms.

The ride to the restaurant wasn’t long, but I had been uncomfortable since leaving Harbor, and I didn’t expect the guilt to subside anytime soon.

“Earth to M.” Bobbi waved a ring-laden hand in my face. “I have a surprise for you.”

“I don’t know if I can handle any surprises today, Bobbi.” I squeezed her hand as she led me toward the restaurant. But my opinions changed when I slid into the booth across from my Momma. “I warned you I couldn't handle it…” I switched sides and tucked into her arms. I let her smell engulf me for a long hug, not wanting or not being able to be the one that pulled away first.

“You drove all the way up here for me?” I asked when I could finally stop crying.

“Bobbi said you’d need me, Lovebug.” she kissed my temple and stared across the table at my best friend.

“Well, Bobbi is never wrong.” I admitted defeat quickly and painlessly, reaching out to take her hand in my own. “I definitely needed you.” Tears stung at my eyes.

“Tell us everything,” Momma said. We ordered martinis and fell into our natural rhythm of conversation. I explained everything that happened in detail, skimming over the ridiculous number of times we nearly got buried in each other.

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