Page 4 of Off Trail Love
He answers on the second ring. “You made it.” He sounds cheerful. He and I aren’t exactly close since we’re over ten years apart, but when my dad heard he was running this hiking thing, he pushed me to go. It’s been too long since I’ve taken a break, and even longer since I’ve been in nature. While I don’t want to take a break, when my dad decides something, that’s it. I didn’t really have much choice in the matter.
“I did. Where are you?” I ask.
“Have you taken the train?” he asks. I spin on the spot, looking for a train. What’s he talking about?
“No, I’m by the McDonald’s. There’s a big airplane hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the space before it leads to the other side of the terminal.” How big does this airport have to be that they have a huge model plane hanging in the middle of the terminal?
“You need to go down some escalators and ride a train. I’ll be at the end of it.”
I sigh. I want to get this trip over with. “Thanks, see you soon.” I find the escalator and then the very crowded train.
“Sorry,” an older man murmurs as he steps onto my foot and then doesn’t move away because there isn’t any room. I need to get out of this airport as soon as possible. At least in the mountains there won’t be as many people.
After too many minutes on the train, we all make a mass exodus toward the escalators. Once I’m up, I scan the crowd for Graham. I find him in the middle of the crowd and start to approach him but stop short. The woman who rushed past me earlier is talking to him. Now that she’s not moving, I get a better look at her, and shock washes over me like a tidal wave.
My heart thunders traitorously in my chest. There’s no way Maggie Williams is talking to my cousin, right? I glance over again to confirm. Her hair is in a bun on the top of her head. Graham says something that makes her laugh, and as she tilts her head back, I see her face, her smile. I take a step back in shock.
Why is Maggie Williams talking to Graham? I haven’t seen my high school crush in the six years since high school ended, and now she’s talking to my cousin. I don’t know what to think about it. I’m frozen in place for a second before I start to move, then I make a sharp left turn and head to the bathroom before I make a fool of myself. I need to figure out what I’m going to say to her.
The water from the bathroom sink is cold and feels good when I splash it on my face. “You’ve got to get a grip, man,” I tell my reflection. It’s just Maggie. She was once my best friend, and I can talk to her without freaking out.
I grab my pack and head back out to the waiting area. I scan the crowd and find Maggie sitting on a bench, her face in her phone. But I head to Graham first.
“Hey, man,” I say.
“Hey! You made it through this giant airport.” Graham teases as he gives me a big smile. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him, but the mountain air is doing him some good.
“I did.”
“Glad you’re here.”
“Thanks,” I say, because I’m unsure what else to say. I’m still not exactly happy about this trip. Even if flying today meant getting a glimpse of Maggie.
“It’ll be good for you,” he tells me as if reading my mind. Then he points to the bench I’ve been trying not to look at, the one withheron it. “That’s Maggie. She’s the only other person who was flying in. Shall we?”
I nod and follow him to the bench. “Maggie, this is my cousin Jack. Our other hiker is driving.”
Maggie is frozen, still staring at her phone, until she slowly raises her eyes to us. She gives Graham a smile and then her gaze swings to me. Her dark-blue eyes still look like the ocean during a sunset. She’s grown up a lot in the past six years and her hair is darker than I remembered, but she’s as stunning as ever.
I lick my lips nervously. “Hi, Mags.”
She narrows her eyes at me and I feel Graham’s gaze swivel between the two of us.
“You don’t get to call me that.” Her voice is like a bucket of ice water. She’s throwing daggers straight to my heart. I don’t get to call her that? We used to be best friends, or at least something close to that.
I recover quickly.
“It’s me, Jack,” I say stupidly. Maybe she just doesn’t remember me.
She nearly rolls her eyes at me. “I know, and you don’t get to call me Mags. Not after everything.”
My mind spins. After everything? What is she talking about? “Like…our pranks?” I always thought that she’d had just as much fun as I had with those.
This time, she does roll her eyes and lets out a laugh. A sharp, frosty sound. One I wish wasn’t directed at me. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
“Maggie?” I take a step closer to her. I know it’s been years since I last saw her, but she’s acting like I’m a stranger.
“Yes?” She stands, drawing her chin up. A power move, but for what, I’m still not sure.
