Page 99 of Game Changer

AJ: Asking for a friend.

Lisa: Wait, you meanyouaren’t bouncing around like a kid at Christmas? Aren’t you excited to see your girlfriend?

Oh, no, I totally am. Every part of me is excited to see you. However, I’m also crippled with anxiety that you’re going to break up with me. Or you’re going to see me and suddenly fall out of love with me, or something else equally ridiculous that I know is just BS created in my mind by my depression.

AJ: Absolutely. But one of us has to adult until we get on board the plane. Then he’s the air hostesses’ problem.

Lisa: Trapped in a tin can for all those hours watching him shamelessly flirt with the pretty air hostesses? If I were you, I’d save the Benadryl for the plane and just take it yourself.

AJ: And this is why you’re the smart one in our relationship.

Lisa: I can’t wait to see you, Pim.

AJ: I can’t wait to see you either, Lis. I’ve wanted to hold you in my arms since the minute you walked away from me.

Too much?

Lisa: That made me smile. I completely feel the same. I miss you.

AJ: Soon.

Lisa: Soon x

***

“You ready?”

“I suddenly feel sick.”

“Shit. Here,” Jeremy rummaged in the seat pocket in front of him. “Barf bag!” he announced proudly, thrusting the paper bag at AJ’s face.

“I’m good,” he paused. “I think.” He took the bag, just in case, and sat it on his lap.

“Wanna talk about it?” Jeremy asked as he made come-to-bed eyes at the passing flight attendant. Her cheeks flushed and she smiled at him.

“I’m just nervous.”

“I get that,” he replied, tipping some nuts into his mouth and chewing. “You guys have been through a lot. She loves you, though, and you love her.”

“If only it was that simple, Jer.”

“Want to drink?”

“Probably not the smartest idea you’ve ever had.”

“I’m going to drink.”I’m going to panic.

Chapter 31

AJ was immediately struck by how much colder it was in Ireland than Alabama.

Rookie mistake, you should have at least remembered the cold.

He had at least remembered a sweater this time and was grateful for it as he shivered, road-side, waiting for the bus to take them to the train station. Although he had flown to Dublin last time, the experience was all a blur. He hadn’t taken a single moment to just absorb any of the south and, by the time they’d picked up their bags and stepped outside the airport, AJ found himself already overwhelmed by the accent. He’d tried to buy a bottle of water and stood dumbfounded as the cashier spoke at him. He couldn’t figure out the public transport and the lady at the customer service desk, while very friendly, could have been speaking Latin for all the good it did him.

It’s a much stronger accent down here. Though, now I think on it, Lisa’s accent is much softer than her family’s – I should ask her about that.

Luggage stowed in the belly of the bus, they made their way to Connolly street station, just in time to grab tickets and board the Enterprise train, northbound to Newry.

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