Chapter 53 Anna
ANNA
I sprinted through the crowded Chicago terminal, dodging a man in a Hawaiian shirt pulling a rolling suitcase that probably hadn’t rolled properly since the Clinton administration. My lungs burned, and my bag bounced against my hip with every step, but I couldn’t stop now.
I couldn’t believe I was flying across the country to tell Luke Fisher how I felt. The thought alone made my stomach flip.
What if I got there, and he didn’t feel the same? What if he thought I was just some desperate, clingy girl who couldn’t let go?
But I’d spent too much of my life running from fear and rejection. Not this time.
The terminal was a blur of announcements, fast-walking travelers, and the ever-present smell of overpriced coffee. My heartbeat pounded louder than the chaos around me as I zigzagged past people, clutching my boarding pass like it was a lifeline.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I fumbled to answer while dodging a family with an alarming number of suitcases.
“Hi, Anna, this is Luke’s assistant,” the cheerful voice chirped on the other end. “I’m returning your call. Luke isn’t in LA right now. He finished shooting early, and he’s traveling. I think he’s in Atlanta today.”
The words hit me like a slap, and my feet slowed to a stop. “Atlanta?”
“Yeah, I believe that’s where he is. Should I pass along a message?”
“No,” I managed, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. “No message.”
I hung up, staring blankly at the bustling terminal around me. What was I even doing? Flying to LA for someone who wasn’t even there? My stomach twisted as the doubts I’d been suppressing all day rose to the surface.
This was a mistake. A stupid, impulsive mistake. I should turn around, go home, and pretend this whole thing never happened.
My pace slowed to a walk as the energy drained from my body. My grip on my printed boarding pass loosened, and for a second, I considered crumpling it and walking away. What was the point?
But something kept me moving forward, one step at a time, until I rounded the corner and reached the gate.
That’s when I saw the hoodie.