Page 67 of In Flight

“You don’t look okay.”

“I broke up with that guy I was seeing.”

“I thought that might have been it. You never wanted to talk about him much, but you were into him. I know you were. I’ve never seen you like that before. What happened?”

“We... It just didn’t work out. We would have had to be long-distance, and we were just getting started. It would have been too hard. So we did the smart thing and ended it.”

She’s frowning as she peers at me. “That’s not like you.”

“What isn’t?”

“To get caught up in practicalities. To worry more about what’s smart than what feels right to you.”

“It’s not just about me,” I say, ducking my head and staring at my hardwood floors. “It takes two people to make a relationship work. And we weren’t... serious enough to make it work.”

“Oh. I see.” She shakes her head. “It seems like you were serious about it, but we don’t have to hash it all out right now. So here’s what we’re going to do.”

“What?” I blink at her blankly.

“I’m not going to leave you here alone with all that.” She gestures toward my blanket and melting ice cream and TV show. “I’ve got two tickets for a flight back to Boston this evening. So we can clean things up here and then fly back home. You stay with us for the rest of your week off, and you can fly back here on Sunday.”

“But... But your honeymoon.”

“I’m still leaving on Friday with Jared. But you can get some time at home to relax and enjoy yourself. No one will be a prima donna or give you work to do. Mom wants to make it up to you, and Dad will feel a lot better when he sees you’re okay.” She pauses and slants me a little look. “So will I.”

I swallow hard.

“And maybe you will too. It will definitely be better than staying here and doing this.”

I think for only a minute, but what she’s describing sounds better than anything else I have available. “Okay. Let’s do that.”

Raven’s face reflects a wave of relief. “Good. So let’s get things cleaned up here, and you can tell me exactly why you gave up on a man you’re completely in love with.”

Fifteen

ON SUNDAY EVENING MYdad’s car service drops me off at the airport in Boston.

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