Page 36 of Everything We Give

“You’re not making sense, Ian. Can’t you postpone Spain until next week like you originally planned? Can we talk about this first?” But his facial muscles are tight and there’s a determined set to his jaw. His eyes are far away and I know he’s already on the plane headed for Spain. “I’m worried about you.”

“Don’t. Everything will be fine. Just know that I can’t apologize enough for how I’ve been treating you. I’m going to fix this.”

“Fix what?”

“Me. Us. I know this is crazy and sudden, but I’ve got a plan to make everything right. To make me right. I just need you to trust me. I’ll call when I land. I love you.”

He kisses me and gives me a rib-cracking hug. He then has the audacity to walk away.

I’m frozen. I can’t get my words out.We need fixing?He’s almost reached the stairwell before I snap out of it. He wasn’t kidding. He really is leaving tonight. And I don’t want him to go, not like this.

“Ian, wait!”

I run after him, forgetting how fast he moves. I dodge nurses and visitors carrying corridor-width-size bouquets. I shout his name again only to have the heavy, metal stairwell door slam in my face. I flinch, yank open the door, and look down. Ian’s already two flights below. A door slams. He’s gone.

I leave the stairwell. The elevator beside me dings and doors open, expelling a set of grandparents carrying balloons and a stuffed Eeyore. I look at the empty cab and debate what to do.

Whatever Ian’s going through, I don’t want him to feel like he must do it alone.

“I saw Ian take off. What’s his rush?” Nadia asks, coming to stand beside me, phone in hand.

Distracted, I blink at Nadia. “What?” The elevator doors close without me inside.

I should be with him.

I repeatedly jab the down button. Numbers light above the door. The elevator continues its climb up.

“Where’s he going?”

I pound the button. Ugh. “He’s flying to Spain.”

Nadia finishes a text and sends it off. She looks at me with a tilt to her head. “Tonight? I thought he didn’t leave for another week.”

“He changed his flight.” The elevator begins its crawl down.

“Right now? No way. He won’t find an international flight tonight.” She checks the time on her phone. “It’s six o’clock.” An incoming text pings. She reads it and smiles.

“He told me he was able to book it.” I tug at my lower lip. The elevator doors slide open and I let them close. There’s no chance of stopping him. He’s probably on the road by now. I guess we’ll talk when he lands.

I send Ian a text to that effect and add a kissy-face emoji. My phone shows one bar fading in and out, depending on which way I face. I hope he gets my message, and I’m going to worry about him until I know he did.

The desire to be with him, to join him in Spain, grows stronger. But I won’t find a flight at this late hour.

Suddenly, the café’s expansion doesn’t seem important. In fact, my interest started waning long before Ian confronted me this afternoon.Is this really what you want to do?

No, it’s not. A smile appears on my face as I think about how I felt while gazing upon the newborns.

Nadia’s fingers fly over her phone. She sends off another text. My brows push up in the middle. “You’re getting reception in here?”

“It comes and goes.”

“Who are you texting?”

“A friend.”

I grin at the flirtatious note in her tone. “You’re texting a guy. Who is it? Are you dating?” She hasn’t gone out with anyone since she broke up with Mark last year. Talk about a dead-end relationship. He’s successful and very committed to his career, which would have been admirable if he’d shown that same level of commitment with Nadia. But she didn’t like coming in second place. What woman does in a serious relationship?

“Yes, it’s a guy. No, we’re not dating. It’s work related.”

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