Page 125 of Blitzing Emily

“No. I thought I should call you first.”

“You don’t have a ticket for the game, either.”

“I’ll see if I can buy one from someone there. I’m sorry. I know this is completely unprofessional and I am really screwing—”

He interrupted her.

“Emily, I have been hoping you’d do something like this since I’ve known you. You need a life, not just a career.” He let that sink in for a moment. “I wish it hadn’t been the Met, but Alicia will go on. Will you come back for the performances later in the week?”

“If they’ll have me.” She took a shuddering breath. “Am I doing the right thing? What if I get there and I can’t get in? What if he doesn’t want to see me?”

“Get yourself to the airport, get on a flight, and go talk to him. I think he’ll want to see you. I will take care of things in New York. Call me when you get there.”

Emily reached out to grab her handbag. She had a change of clothes and everything else she needed after her performance in her backpack, so she didn’t need to go back to the hotel. She needed to get to Miami. She needed to see Brandon.

The cab ride took forever. She tipped the driver, she prayed, she did everything she could, but it still took forever. Finally she got to the airport. She bought a full-price ticket on a flight that was leaving in half an hour and ran to the security checkpoint. She ran through the concourse, backpack banging against her shoulder, and hurried to the gate. The waiting area was empty except for the gate agent, who was shutting the door to the Jetway.

“Please wait!” Emily cried out.

“I’m sorry, Miss, but the flight’s already late.”

“I have a ticket.”

“I can’t let you on. I’m so sorry. There’s another flight to Miami in four hours.”

“I have to be on this flight.Please.”

“I’m sorry.” He locked the door.

Emily tried to catch her breath. She’d missed the only chance she had to make it there before the game started.

She was dry-eyed, but shaking all over. Her heart pounded, her stomach rolled, and she broke out in a cold sweat. She barely resisted the impulse to fall to her knees and beg in front of someone who was, evidently, just doing his job. She had to get to Brandon. She couldn’t afford to rent a plane. Buying another last-minute, full-price ticket wasn’t an option. She couldn’t drive there in time.

She sank into one of the waiting area chairs and dropped her backpack onto the carpeting. She put her face in her hands and tried to think, tried to still the shaking that she couldn’t seem to control. On some level, she was amazed that, in an airport containing thousands of people, she was completely alone. She took deep breaths. She had to calm down, or she’d never figure out what to do.

The later flight wasn’t going to work. Brandon would be gone by the time she got to the stadium. He’d be somewhere with the rest of the team, celebrating or commiserating, and then he’d be out of reach. Emily wouldn’t see him. It was too late, and her heart was breaking.

She heard footsteps close by, and the rustle of clothing. Someone sat down in the chair next to her. A woman’s voice broke into Emily’s frantic, panicked thoughts.

“Ms. Hamilton?”

Emily looked up to see a dark-haired woman with kind eyes. She was wearing the airline’s uniform. “Yes?”

The plane hadn’t left yet. She could see it through the window. It was taunting her. It was something else she wanted desperately, but couldn’t have.

“Are you all right?” the woman asked.

Emily chewed on a lower lip as dry as the Sahara and tried to swallow. “I—I’ll be fine.” Sure she would. She wanted to scream in agony. She wanted to cry and beg. Anything. Most of all, she wished she hadn’t been so stubborn with Brandon.

“There’s a minor mechanical problem with the plane, so we have a short delay. I understand you were told you couldn’t board earlier.”

“Yes. Yes, I was.”

“Please come with me,” the woman said. She got to her feet. “May I see your boarding pass?”

Emily’s hands were shaking so hard from panic and adrenaline it was hard to unzip her backpack. She dug the boarding pass out and handed it to the woman.

The woman crossed the waiting area, unlocked the Jetway door, and beckoned to Emily. “Go ahead. They’re expecting you,” she said. It was like a mirage. Emily wondered if she’d vanish, but she walked to the doorway.

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