15. Luke
Luke
My heart pounds as the plane hits the tarmac, landing gracefully and coming to a complete stop a few minutes later. I check my phone, turning off airplane mode as the stewardess announces we’re free to do so.
When our call disconnected last night, I was sitting in a quiet corner of the terminal awaiting my red-eye flight.
It was supposed to take off at midnight, but the plane was grounded due to mechanical failure—something to do with needing to fix a part that the airport didn’t have on hand.
While they flew the part in from somewhere else, I had to wait around, with no other flights going where I needed to be.
Of course, with that, my other flights were rescheduled, making me wait for hours at the gates.
And then, my last flight had a two-hour delay on the runway due to air traffic.
Three flights, and a whole day of travel that should have taken just a few hours—it was all out of my hands.
I watched the hours pass while my patience dissolved, my nerves making me restless.
Two nights ago Emma helped me get my tickets to Pennsylvania, but I had to spend yesterday at the office to organize the chaos before I could step away.
It’s all been a snowball of unfortunate events since then.
What has Natalie been thinking after last night?
I wanted to call her back, to finish telling her what I started.
But the noise of the airport would have given away the fact that I was going somewhere.
I didn’t want her to know just yet that I was coming to be with her.
I want it to be a surprise, to prove I’ll do anything to show up for her.
The flight crew opens the door, and people immediately grab for their overhead luggage, pressing toward the front of the plane.
Once I’m out of the aircraft, dragging my gray carry-on suitcase behind me, I text Emma.
Me: Just landed in PA.
She sends me a thumbs-up emoji, and I wait as bubbles blink at the bottom of the screen. My feet carry me toward the airport exit, but I’m not really sure where I’m going from there.
Another notification comes through, this time a location pin from Emma.
Emma: This is where her location is right now, but I think that’s the place she’s staying. She’s going to her sister’s house for dinner, so I’ll text you her location when she gets there.
Me: Can you just ask her for the address?
As much as I want Natalie to be surprised, I’m tired of the travel and the waiting. I just want to be with her.
Emma: But that would spoil the surprise. This is a grand gesture! I can’t tip her off with a question like that.
I roll my eyes, but I know she’s right. I don’t want Nat getting suspicious and having the chance to run off again.
Me: Fine. I’m looking for car rentals right now, and then I’ll start driving toward Maple Lake. Text me as soon as you see she’s at her sister’s.
Emma: You got it. I’m so excited!
I let out a breath as I make quick work of getting to the small section of the airport where I find the rental car companies, hoping Natalie is surprised in the best way. And not in a way that makes her resent me more.