Chapter 27 #2
Minutes pass by as the love-struck couple that was ahead of me in the security line continues their earlier activities, completely unbothered.
I try to tune out their smooching and moaning sounds by pretending to read.
What’s actually happening, though, is that I’ve read the same sentence about seven times and still haven’t been able to process what it says.
When I’m finally brave enough to look up again, I immediately regret my choices. A string of saliva. Gross.
We kindly invite all passengers for the three thirty flight to Amsterdam to make their way to gate B14 for boarding, a woman dryly announces over the PA system.
Thankful for the excuse to get up and change my view, I virtually run to the gate. Through the large windows, I watch as massive airplanes taxi toward the airport, spitting out passengers once they come to a standstill.
Once I reach the gate, I keep my boarding documents handy and I’m about to pass them to a flight attendant when I hear a man’s voice loudly shouting my name yet again.
Yikes, did that kid run off again? I shake my head and hand my ID to the flight attendant, who proceeds to study it in great detail.
Eva! I hear again, closer this time.
The flight attendant looks up and a little smile appears on her face as she looks toward something over my shoulder. I think he might be here for you, she says with a wink.
Astonished, I look at her, then slowly turn around. My breath catches in my throat as I finally process who it is that’s running my way. His face is beaming with relief when he realizes I’ve turned around.
Elias? I ask, stunned, when he stops right in front of me.
He’s a bit out of breath and the effort from his run has painted a deep blush across his cheeks. His tie is all askew and his hair is a mess.
I thought you didn’t know my name, he says with a crooked smile and a twinkle in his eyes. I look at him, confused.
Of course I do. Why... But then it dawns on me. Hang on. Are you quoting Love, Actually right now?
The other corner of his mouth quirks up to complete his smile before he gently grabs me by the arm, pulling me out of the line.
Definitely. I even jumped through the metal detector and past the security check.
The security guy was telling his coworker about someone who had all her dirty underwear wrapped up like a massive Christmas present. They were pretty distracted.
I blink a few times and for about the hundredth time today, I feel my face go red. Seriously?
Elias’s smile grows wider. Absolutely. Weird, right?
I open, then close my mouth, then settle on, Uhuh, as my reply.
Elias grins before picking up his story again.
Just kidding, I didn’t duck through security.
I just bought a seat on the next flight to Alicante.
It was one of the last flights that had any tickets available.
His expression becomes serious as his eyes fill with sincere affection.
Listen. I’ve been thinking and... He shakes his head and he gets an earnest look on his face.
I don’t want to lose you. We can try to rationalize this with talk about distance, logic, odds of succeeding, but in the end, none of that matters to me.
He gazes at me with a vulnerable look in his eyes.
I don’t care about any of those things. I don’t think they matter at all.
Not for us. Not when you’re this crazy about someone.
I want you in my life. I want to be able to hold you, talk to you, laugh with you, even if that means we’ll be on a lot of video calls.
Because, you know what the problem is... ?
I feel my heart beating out of my chest as I stare into his eyes.
The problem is that I love you. He takes a step closer and sweeps some hair out of my face.
I love you. And when you love someone, you should tell them.
Sometimes you need to just be vulnerable and.
.. He takes another step closer, the tips of his leather shoes touching the tips of my sneakers. Then you have to...
I cover his mouth with my hand, slowly shaking my head. He swallows as his once determined expression becomes unsure.
Shhh, I say, dropping my hand back as I give him an enormous grin. I love you too.
And at those words, I fling my arms around his neck, pull his face close to mine, and press my lips to his. My heels come up off the ground when Elias wraps me in his arms, lifting me up a little. I’m flooded with a blissful feeling that spreads from my chest all the way to the tips of my toes.
Ahem, I hear after a little while, but we continue to ignore everything around us. Elias pulls me in even closer, twisting his fingers into my hair.
Ma’am, if we had to hold the plane for every gate-side declaration of love, we’d never get anywhere on time. This flight will be taking off in ten minutes.
My grip weakens after those words and I slowly extract my lips from his. I should go, I whisper. Elias nods, stares at my mouth, and presses one last kiss onto my lips.
I know. He takes a step back and gives me a sweet smile. Have a safe flight. Will you message me when you land?
I nod, hoisting my bag onto my shoulder, and walk over to the flight attendant who gives my ticket another look.
Lucky you, she says, winking at me as she returns my ticket and ID. That was one of the best declarations I’ve seen yet.
Thank you, I reply, tucking my documents away in my bag.
I glance back at Elias one last time. He’s watching me walk away, his hands in his pockets and that sexy smile on his lips. Enjoy Alicante! I call out behind me.
I hear him burst into laughter as I walk onto the boarding bridge toward the plane.