Page 45 of Only for Tonight
“Yeah, yeah,” she warns, “you better be careful.” I’m about to tell her it’s way too late for that but instead I look at the television, seeing Jaxon skating on the ice. His helmet off as he goes in a circle.
I watch half the game before my eyes give out on me and I fall asleep. My parents wake me up when they are heading out. I’m climbing into bed when my phone beeps.
I grab it, thinking it’s my parents telling me they got to their hotel, but instead it’s from him.
Himeros: I’ll add it to our list. Talk to you tomorrow. Sleep tight.
seventeen
Ariella
“Good evening, passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for Flight 4679 to Los Angeles. We are now inviting those passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding at this time. Please have your boarding pass ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately ten minutes. Thank you.” I see the woman behind the desk hang up the phone and I stand up from my seat, along with about fifteen other people as I head toward the gate.
Slinging my carry-on bag over my shoulder, I slowly make my way over with my phone in my hand. The minute I stop walking is when the phone rings and I look down and close my eyes. Why is he calling me? I said I was going to be early. I send him to voicemail right away, thinking he’ll give up, but of course he doesn’t.
Himeros: I know you’re awake, I can feel it.
I shake my head and try not to laugh at him but the smile fills my face.
Me: I’m trying to sleep and you are disturbing me. I’ll call you tomorrow.
He got home at one in the morning and slept until noon, which was three my time. He then sent me some crackers and ginger ale after I told him I was nauseated. He thinks I’m arriving tomorrow morning but I was able to snag a ticket on the red-eye tonight, landing at midnight.
Himeros: If you don’t pick up the phone, I’m going to call someone to do a wellness check on you. I have a certain Bat’s number in my phone. My father knows some of the Bats he flies with.
I think about what to answer him when the phone rings. I pick it up and wonder if I can hurry him off the phone without him knowing I’m not home.
I look around and see the airport is literally busting with people. Why are there so many people in this airport? “Hello,” I whisper, putting the phone to my ear and trying to block out the noise by rubbing the phone on my cheek.
“What are you doing?” he questions and I can hear the water in the background.
“I’m trying to sleep, I’m tired,” I tell him, hoping he gives it up and lets me go.
“What time do you have to get up?” he asks me.
“I have to be at the airport at four a.m. since the flight is at six,” I inform him. “Now, is that all?”
“We are now inviting those passengers in zone one to board,” the lady says and I close my eyes.
“I have to go,” I tell him.
“Are you at the airport?” he shrieks.
“You are the fucking worst, Jaxon Stevenson,” I hiss into the phone, “and all coupons are null and void.”
“What are you doing at the airport?”
“I’m getting on a jet plane,” I retort, walking toward the desk. “I think Paris is pretty this time of year.”
“Are you coming here?” I swear I hear him jumping up and down.
“It’s supposed to be a surprise,” I tell him as I smile at the girl behind the counter, as I mute him and then turn my phone to scan my boarding pass. “Thank you,” I tell her when she nods at me to walk toward the plane.
“What do you mean a surprise? Are you seriously coming here now?” The happiness in his voice makes me a little less mad than I was.
“I am,” I hiss. “I was going to surprise you.”
“What time do you land?”
