Chapter 34 You Are In Love
ARIZONA
A couple days later
With the taste of pancake batter still on my lips and the sting of my recent tattoo on my skin, I gently hugged my mother. She’d been right; I’d nearly forgotten to stop by during my last few days. I’d been too busy trying to spend every second with Carter, to make up for lost time.
“I thought you hated wearing shirts that covered your neck?” She pulled back, looking me up and down. “Did you not pack enough clothes or something?”
“Unfortunately.” I blushed, thinking about the numerous bright, red hickeys that were hiding underneath. “Anyway, you can guilt me into coming over, but you don’t want to ride along to see me off at the airport?”
“The first time was traumatic enough,” she said. “I experienced enough anxiety that day to last me a lifetime. No, thank you. I love you all the same though.”
I laughed and handed her a printout of flight information for her sanity. “I’m sure you’ll get over your fears and fly to France someday.”
“No.” She kissed my forehead. “You’ll always come visit. Speaking of which, have you decided how often you’ll be seeing Carter?”
I shook my head. Originally, his intent of once every month sounded probable, but last night, when we’d discussed it, we realized that would never work.
Between his law requirements, and my weekends spent working in restaurants, it would be nearly impossible.
The earliest I could see him again would be during the fall.
Six months from now.
“He’s going to come see me in September,” I said. “He already bought the ticket.”
“Good!” She hugged me again. “And when will you be coming back here?”
“October.”
“Even better.” She smiled. “Do you plan on apologizing to Sean when you get back?”
“Definitely,” I said. “I already sent him an email, but I’m going to do my best to say how sorry I am in person. If he doesn’t slam the door in my face, that is.”
“He won’t.” She looked as if she was going to say something else, but Nicole walked through our front door.
“Hey there, stranger!” She rushed over, giving me a dramatic hug. “I called you three times yesterday and you didn’t even text me to ask what was up! What gives?”
“Um…” I blushed, remembering exactly what I was doing with Carter during each of those calls.
“Were you really going to leave without telling me goodbye, Ari?”
“No, but if I did, I still would’ve video-chatted with you tomorrow.”
“Well, then!” She laughed. “I guess I’m back in second-class citizen territory since you’re back with Carter, huh?”
She and my mother laughed hysterically, and I tried my hardest not to join them.
“I just wanted to catch you before work,” she said. “Have a safe flight, and I’m holding you to that video chat.” She lowered her voice so my mom couldn’t hear. “I need all the make-up session details. Tell me right now: Was the sex just as good as it was before you left?”
“It was better.”
“Ten o’ clock tomorrow, your time.” She smiled. “I’ll definitely be staying up for that. Have a safe flight, Ari.”
She and my mother slowly began to step away from me—eventually huddling in a corner. Completely ignoring me, they literally held some sort of super long (and super-secret) conversation—one that made both of them giddy for some reason, and then Nicole left.
My mom helped me to make sure all my luggage was zipped and locked—even re-opening the larger suitcase and checking the contents against my spreadsheet, one item at a time.
She listened to me tell her about my best made entrees, about my roommate’s new and sudden infatuation with American culture, and all about the endless tours I’d taken outside of Paris in search of a nostalgic beach.
When I was halfway through my explanation of why I no longer enjoyed making macaroons, Carter pulled into the driveway and my words simply stopped. I now knew that I only had three hours left.
I watched as he stepped out of the car and popped the trunk—wondering if he was thinking the same thing I was. Without ringing the doorbell or knocking, he walked right inside and went straight for my luggage—smiling at me before carrying it outside.
My mom started talking to me about something, something I couldn’t comprehend if I tried, and the last thing I heard was an “I love you. Have a safe flight,” before she gave me one final embrace.
She and Carter exchanged words, and he grabbed my hand tightly—nearly dragging me toward the car.
As he shut my door, I suddenly remembered that I didn’t get a chance to grab mementos from Gayle’s.
“Carter,” I said, as he put the car in reverse. “I forgot something. Do you think we could—”
“I got you two tins of waffle batter, three cups of their new pancake mix, and a dozen of their newest breakfast cookies. I put them in your luggage already.”
“Oh...Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He forced a smile and continued to drive.
There were no more words the entire way to the airport. Every few stoplights, our eyes would meet, and his fingers would tighten around mine as each “nearing air-zone” sign whirred by, but neither of us said a word.
I expected him to finally say something after I checked in, but he didn’t. To my surprise, he checked in for a separate flight and walked with me to the security line.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“Nowhere.” His fingers trailed my lips. “I bought the cheapest ticket I could find so I could at least walk you all the way to your gate today.” He smiled. “Is that okay with you?”
“It’s very okay.”
Twenty minutes later, when the security agents had combed through my carryon bags, Carter slipped his arm around my waist and walked me to a coffee stand that was right next to my gate.
“When you get back, you have to tell me everything I’ve missed over Skype,” I said. “You have to video chat with me at least twice a week.”
“I will.”
“And I expect you to continue writing me letters this time.”
“I expect you to actually open them this time.” He smiled, taking a sip from my coffee. “I’ll definitely do that, too.”
I started to say something else—just to fill time, but he pulled me close and kissed me so hard and deep, that I lost all ability to speak.
“Attention passengers at Gate C5,” the gate agent said over the intercom. “We are now boarding first class for Flight 4457.”
“Are you going to go?” Carter asked, slowly pulling his mouth away from mine. “You fall under that category.”
“No…” I looked at my boarding pass. “I’m in seat 8A. That’s coach class.”
“It’s a bigger plane.” He smiled. “They assured me it was a first class seat when I called to upgrade it yesterday.”
“Thank you.” I hugged him. “Thank you very much.”
“We are now boarding zone one,” the gate agent said. “If you are assigned to zone one, you may now board the plane.”
I stood still. “So…I guess I’ll see you in six months?”
“I guess so.” He ran his fingers through my hair. “It’ll fly by this time.”
I sighed, looking toward the passengers who were making their way onto the aircraft. I noticed that the majority of them were couples.
“Zone two!” the agent said loudly. “We are now boarding zone two for Flight 4457.”
“Ari…” Carter narrowed his eyes at me, gestured toward the plane.
“How mad would you be if I decided that I didn’t want to go right now?” I asked. “Like, on a scale of one to ten?”
“Twenty.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “But not as mad as you’d be with yourself years from now.”
“I don’t think that’d be the case.”
“I do. Trust me,” he said. “You need to walk over there now, Ari.”
I didn’t want to admit it, but from the way he was looking at me, I could see how hard it’d been for him in this situation when we’d first separated like this. I completely understood.
“Six months is a very long time, Carter,” I said. “It was hard enough the first—” The rest of my sentence ended on his lips, with him kissing me until I was breathless all over again.
I struggled to regain my balance, struggled to finish my thoughts, but he continued to thoroughly kiss me.
“Get on the plane, Ari.” He breathed. “Get on the goddamn plane.”
“Right now?”
“Yes.” He kissed my lips one last time. “Right. Now.”
His arms slowly fell from around me and he took several steps back. “If you come near me again, I won’t be able to let you go.”
“Well, don’t tell me ‘I love you’ and I won’t.”
“I fucking love you.” He smiled, stepping back again.
“This is the final call for Elite Airways Flight 4457. If you are a passenger on this flight, and are currently standing in the waiting area, please board now.”
I rushed over to Carter and stole one last hug. Then I headed for the boarding tunnel, keeping my eyes on him until I couldn’t see him anymore.
When I settled into my seat, I noticed he’d sent me an email.
Subject: This Week…
I mailed my first letter to you in an express package earlier today. It should get there sometime this week. Let me know when you make it back, and Skype me as soon as you get a chance.
See you in one hundred and sixty eight days.
Sincerely (in love with you),
Carter
The flight attendant secured the cabin door shut before my brain could even attempt to think about getting off the plane.
Subject: Re: This Week…
I have something to send you when I get back as well. I will definitely Skype you as soon as I get back to my flat. :-)
One hundred sixty *seven* days, Carter. Today doesn’t count.
Sincerely (in love with you, too),
Arizona