Page 16 of Excitable Boy
How he was going to grab her and lay the biggest kiss on her he ever had. Fuck whoever was watching.
He hoped she was wearing a cute little sundress so he could grab her ass while he kissed her.
He closed his eyes and smiled.
Next to him, on the aisle, Mike had stowed his Kindle in his carryon tucked under the seat in front of him. “I don’t know about you,” Mike said, “but I’m stampeding as soon as that fucking door’s open.”
Tony held a fist out to bump with him.
They landed on-time—relatively speaking—and as they started taxiing to the gate, both Tony and Mike unbuckled their seat belts and grabbed their carryons from under the seats. They both had bags in the overhead bins, but they were seated toward the rear of first-class, so they were close to the exit.
Tactical advantage, yo.
Tony didn’t even bother switching his phones on. Why bother? He’d have a flurry of e-mails he didn’t need to pay attention to yet on his work phone, and he knew he’d have a text from Shayla telling him she was waiting for him in the terminal.
He noticed Mike didn’t bother turning his phone on, either.
As soon as the plane bumped to a stop, they stood, and Mike grabbed their bags from the bin. They pushed into the aisle and waited for the door to be opened, and were the fifth and sixth people off the plane.
Both of them practically ran down the jetway to the terminal, and they dodged around people as they followed signs to the exit to get to the monorail for the ride to the main terminal.
As they waited for the next monorail to arrive, Mike wore as wide a grin as Tony did. “When we get there,” Mike said, “how about I head straight on to baggage claim and stake us out a spot while you and Shayla say hello?”
Tony laughed. “Dude, you are the best friendever.”
Mike shrugged. “Just thinking practically. I doubt Jenny drove up when Shayla said she was bringing us home. Maybe I should check my phone though.”
Mike waited until after they’d stepped onto the monorail to pull his personal phone out of his pocket and switch it on.
Tony left his in his pockets. He didn’t give a shit about work, and all he wanted to do was see his wife.
The monorail ride felt like it lasted forever, even though it was less than a minute. Both of them were ready when it stopped and the doors began sliding open, the men practically pushing through them and heading for the exit.
Tony was already looking for Shayla and raced ahead of Mike, who was looking at his phone.
Excitement quickly started fading, however, when he didn’t immediately spot Shayla.
“Where is she?” he said, looking around, sure he was just missing her. Maybe she’d gone to the bathroom. Maybe she—
“Tony, turn on your phone.”
He didn’t like the tone of Mike’s voice. Not like it was horrible, just resigned.
Tony turned. “What?”
“Phone.” He gestured with his. “Jenny said Shayla might be running late. Flat tire.”
Groaning, Tony pulled his phone out. “Motherfucker,” he muttered, impatiently waiting for it to turn on. Meanwhile, they stepped out of the way as, all around them, people were reuniting with their loved ones.
He didn’t haveatext from her.
He hadtwo.
“Shit.” He scrolled to the first one that had arrived after he’d turned off his phone.
I’m sorry, Sir, I might be a few minutes late. When I went to leave had a flat tire. Couldn’t change it myself, had to wait for AAA. Love you!
And another.
