I let out a relieved sigh.
They’d finally confirmed his identity in the news, and it made it all the more real knowing he was okay. The plane crash itself was still under investigation, with unconfirmed reports suggesting a bird strike had caused the engine to fail. But what was even rarer than that was that the auxiliary power breaker failed too, and shit like that didn’t just happen.
It was meant to be, I guess.
And I’m not the kind of person to believe in fate like I used to, but to me, it happened for a reason.
The reason that brought me to this point in time.
“You’ll need to shut that off, Miss.”
I looked up from the phone and at the flight attendant’s polite smile.
Why was she smiling?
Didn’t she know about the freaking crash that’d just taken place at the damn destination we were off to? And then, all at once, it hit me. God, we were going todie. This plane was going to crash, and I’d never get to tell Carter I was sorry. But then… maybe he’d know I’d come to say it because I’d jumped on a plane to see him.
My death then wouldn’t be completely pointless, right?
Melanie took my phone out of my hand and turned it off for me. “It’s okay,” she whispered to me. “This is your first time flying, and after this, you’ll never be scared to do it again.”
She then offered me the puke bag and I eagerly snatched it from her. My anxiety roared inside of me, making my stomach churn.
We’re going to die.
“Just think, you’ll see Carter and this will all be worth it.”
“Unless he rejects me,” I retorted, breathing heavily.
“Not unless you grovel.”
“It doesn’t matter if I grovel or not. It might be too late. That Panda Bear girl is probably at his bedside right this very second.”
“She’s not with him,” Melanie stressed. “Rome said so.”
I froze. “You’re talking to Romeagain?”
“Not for any other reason than to make sure Carter and you are alright.”
“That’s the lamest excuse ever.”
She didn’t respond to that. “Just relax and be cool. Take-off is going to be bumpy, but it’s going to be smooth sailing after that. Except for when we land because that shit’s bumpy too. Oh, and if we, you know, hit some turbulence, that isalsobumpy. And if—”
“Okay,” I interrupted her. “I get it. It’s going to be bumpy.”
I rested my back against the seat as the plane finally began moving.
It was too late to turn back. I’d already taken time off work. I was going to see him, no matter what.
Or die.
“Okay, Leah,” Mel said, “hold my hand. We’re close.”
I held her hand and shut my eyes.
If he rejected me, I wasn’t going to take a plane back home, I decided stubbornly.
It was going to be on a fucking boat.