Page 37 of The Disasters of Dating
I’m lookingat my phone as I’m sitting, waiting to deplane. The aisles are full of people going nowhere fast. I can’t help the smile that stretches across my face. Every time I read my text thread with Poppy, I smile. I may or may not have read it enough to have it memorized. Don’t judge.
I didn’t dare text her today. I mean, I’m trying to scale back on the creepy. I think that giving her a few days is necessary for her to not think that I’m, indeed, phishing her.
Although I think some might argue that is exactly what I’m doing. I’m trying to get information from her. Just not of the financial kind. More the personal kind—her likes and dislikes. Things like that. Ugh, that sounds terrible. There is a twist in my stomach that tightens whenever I think about this path I’ve taken. Where do I hope it will lead? What do I hope to gain from becoming friends with her over text? Eventually we’ll have to meet, won’t we? And then what? Will she sever all ties once she realizes who I am?
“Sir? Do you need assistance off the plane?”
I look over to see a flightattendant staring at me.
The plane is empty now. I’ve been looking at the text string for that long.
I stand up and shake my head. “No, I’m good. Just a little distracted. Sorry.”
She smiles at me. “No problem. Let me know if I can assist you with anything.”
“Thanks, I think I’m good.” I grab my suitcase from the overhead bin and walk down the aisle. The other flight attendants give me a look. I’m not sure what they are thinking, and I don’t really care.
I step into the terminal of the Salt Lake City Airport and look around to get my bearings. I grin when I realize that The Wandering Reader is on my way out of the airport. I took all the packs of gum out of my bag in case I needed an excuse to stop in and see her.
I run a hand through my hair and shake my head. “Dude, you are so lame.”
“Excuse me?” A man next to me gives me a stink eye. “What did you just say?”
I point to my opposite ear where I still have my earbud in from the plane. I’m not actually listening to it, but he doesn’t need to know that.
He leans around to see the earbud and then stomps away from me.
That was a close one. Perhaps I should call myself names in my thoughts only from now on.
I slow my steps as I get closer to The Wandering Reader. I peer inside, and Poppy happens to look up at that exact moment.
She smiles and I smile back. It’s a real Hallmark movie moment. Cheese and all.
She lifts a hand and waves. She wouldn’t do that if she didn’t want to talk to me, would she? Or maybe she’s hoping if she waves, I’ll wave back and move on my way. Crap, I’m not sure what to do here.
She moves out from behind the desk. She’s wearing a long, flowy skirt and a boho-style top. Very similar to what she wore when we went to dinner last week. Only the colors are darker this time. Was it because she remembered I was coming into town and was protecting her clothing, just in case?
“Hey, Keaton.” She smiles wider as she comes up to me. My flight is late enough that the crowd in the shop isn’t as big as earlier in the day. Meaning, I’m the only other person here.
“Hey, Poppy.” I swallow and stare at her. But then I realize I’m staring, so I glance over to the gum. What is it with me and gum? I don’t even chew that much of it. I would far prefer a mint or something less obnoxious. And yet, I’m drawn to the gum here. What does that sayabout me? Great, I’m back to psychoanalyzing myself again. Maybe it’s something with the airport that brings it out in me.
She follows my eyes. “Do you really need gum? You had several packs last week. You must chew it a lot if it’s already gone.”
I lick my lips. “No, actually. I was thinking about grabbing some Altoids or something like that.”
She grins. “You aren’t planning any sneak attacks, are you?”
“Sneak attacks?” I look at her with confusion.
“Yeah, you know, Altoids, Tic Tacs, any of those types of things make a lot of noise when you walk or move with them on you.”
I realize what she’s talking about, and I laugh. “I’ll make sure to leave them in my hotel. I don’t want a J. Peterman incident at work.”
She grins and pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. Oh. My. Heck. It’s adorable!
I frown slightly. What guy uses the word “adorable” not as a joke? I’ll think about that one later.
“So,” I pause. Where was I going with this? I want to ask her out, even though I’m sure she’ll decline—she has rules, apparently. But you only miss the shots you never take, right? “Do you work every night?” I ask as I look at the selection of mints. I think her rejection might be easier to take if I’m not looking directly at her. I hitch my backpack up on my shoulder.
