Page 1 of The Risks of Reuniting

Chapter 1

Chloe

MynameisChloeMoore, and this is a story about consequences.

See, I let a breakup turn my life upside down. I went from a woman with a phobia of planes, to someone who randomly booked a humanitarian trip to Peru. Spoiler alert: I wasn't getting there by boat or car. Booking a flight was a rash decision that felt like the only way to get my life back. I'd been listening to too many self-help audiobooks, and deeply internalized the message that in order to get my life back I'd need to do something big.

I should have just eaten more ice cream.

Incidentally, turning your credit card and WiFi password over to a trusted adult immediately after a heartbreak should be mandatory procedure.

When I was ten years old my parents went on a date and my older brother Gavin was left in charge. He was really into documentaries on history's biggest disasters, so that night over a bowl of over-cooked macaroni and cheese I was treated to ninety minutes of 'America's Worst Mid-Air Plane Crashes'. Gavin was grounded for his choice to show it to me, but I was the one who lost the most that night. I swore I'd never fly, and I never have.

Scenes from the documentary flash behind my eyes, and my limbs go numb as I make my way to the security screening checkpoint atthe Salt Lake City International Airport. I keep expecting an overhead announcement telling everyone to evacuate the building because a plane is about to crash into it. But everyone is plodding along like this is just another day, and they couldn't be more bored.

I hand the security agent my passport with shaking hands and a wobbly smile, and then move to the scanning area on feet that want to run away. I step up to the TSA body scanner and stand with my legs apart and my arms in the air. As a whirring sound surrounds me, a beep jolts me alert, and I'm momentarily confused as the agent waves at me to step out and to the side. I do so, and they wave that wand thing over my body. It beeps at my chest and a female agent joins our little duo.

If the internet is to be believed, I'm about to be patted down, Cops-style. (Yes, I had to read internet articles on how airports work because I was too embarrassed to tell anyone that at age twenty-three I had no flying experience.)

"Ma'am," the security agent says in a bored tone, "I'm going to need to do a full pat-down. Would you prefer that we move to a private area?"

"What would require privacy?" I ask. "Is this an under-the-clothes thing?"

She smirks. "No."

I shake my head, my dark hair flopping with the movement. "Oh, okay, it's fine. Do what you have to do."

Mistake. I should have taken the private room offer, I realize, as she puts her hands together, fingers up straight, making shark fins out of her hands, and presses them between my breasts so that her fingers press my sternum. Then she's pushing and lifting, which tugs up my shirt, flashing my stomach at anyone who'd like to look. I stand there with my arms to the side as she basically gives me a free mammogram. I'm tempted toask her if she noticed any lumps, but I keep the thought to myself as she moves down my sides and legs, patting and parting as needed.

"It's her sports bra," the lady agent says over her shoulder to the guy who'd scanned me with the wand. "Those front clasps."

I'd feel like it was an overshare if the entire line hadn't watched me get examined. Privacy flew out five minutes ago. Confused about why my bra would set off a scanner when no one else had the same issue, I offer them a smile and tug down my shirt as the lady steps back and motions for me to move on through. By this point my luggage is waiting for me at the end of the track and I hustle to gather my things. I snag my phone and shoot off a text to the cousin chat as soon as my shoes are back on and my backpack is bumping against me once more.

Good news, just got a free mammogram from airport security. I'm lump free.

Poppy

Did they at least buy you dinner beforehand?

Avery

Uh, what?

Sadie

I say take the wins where you can!

Lucy

I read a book about a TSA agent once. He was dreamy. Was yours cute?

It was a woman

Lucy

So this isn't the meet-cute of a love story?

Definitely not

---