Page 9 of The Risks of Reuniting

"He says we'll be there in about an hour."

"An hour?" Rachelle questions. "But the GPS says it's only about twenty miles from here."

I can hear the smile in Holt's voice as he responds kindly. "Welcome to Lima. Where everything is very close, but very time-consuming to getthere. A city founded in the 1500s that is now the home to over ten million. The streets were never prepared for this."

1500s? That's over five hundred years ago. Boggles the mind, considering Salt Lake wasn't founded until the mid 1800s and that feels old sometimes.

Holt looks over at his shoulder again. "Kind of hard to wrap your mind around, huh?" he says.

I bite my lip and nod. "Yeah."

His smile reaches his eyes. He's so excited to be here. He'd always wanted me to visit with him, but I always pushed him off thanks to my no-fly policy. It's hard to be here now, seeing how much he clearly loves it, and wishing I could have stepped up and joined him when I'd had the chance. Holt's optimistic view of life had always made everything look more beautiful. I've missed that.

Rachelle, in the seat next to him, shrugs and looks back down at her phone. She's tall and blonde, and has a classy air about her. I'm curious about her background and reasons for being here, what her life is like. It gives me something to focus on for a few minutes, imagining her back story.

Holt starts humming again, and I have a sudden need to tell someone what is happening, so I pick up my phone and cross my fingers. I'd read that my cell service provider did have coverage in Peru, but that I shouldn't expect it to do consistently well – especially outside of city limits. The humanitarian center is on the edge of the city, and I didn't want to spend extra for an international plan, so I took the risk hoping I'd be alright.

Luckily my phone shows full bars seeing as we're in the middle of it all, and I text my best friend and roommate, Allie. We've been friends since meeting in the dental hygiene program at the University of Utah, and weboth landed jobs at Cedar Creek Dental in Sugarhouse. Which means Allie knows Holt, and our history, and our downfall, and all the ways it broke me. In fact, she's my roommate because of my breakup with Holt – but that's not a story I want to dwell on.

Holt is here. On this trip. Sitting in front of me in the shuttle to the humanitarian center. I am not ok.

Salt Lake is currently an hour behind Lima, so I know she's awake and I hope she's not too busy to answer my text. I'm beyond happy when she responds quickly.

Allie

What the actual heck are you talking about? How?????

Because the universe is a cranky old woman with too much time on her hands?

Allie

Agreed. Although she can sometimes be a benevolent goddess.

To you, yes, she is. To me she's rude.

Allie

Today she chose rudeness. I have so many questions.

Me too. Like why, and what now, and why, and how will I make it a month being around him, and WHY??!!

Allie

So, you what, just got on this shuttle and, boom, there he was?

He walked up to me at the gate in the Atlanta airport. I think my brain glitched. I don't remember much about that conversation.

Allie

Understandable

And then he was on the plane with me. Then we walked to the shuttle together. And now he's sitting in front of me, smelling and looking so good, and it's mean.

Allie

The meanest

He looks good, Al.

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