Page 85 of Meeting Mr. Adorkable
“Thank you for your message. Goodbye.”
Arlo stared at the cell, his hand tightening around it.
“Hey, buddy!”
Arlo jolted and looked up. The trucker stared down at him, his arm outstretched. “Gotta call the depot, because this ain’t going anywhere fast.” He jerked his head to the stationary traffic.
In the far distance, Arlo could see the flashing blue lights, and his stomach flipped over. He had to know. He had to know if…
He got out, and threaded his way between the cars and trucks, the pickups, and the motorcycles, between all the folks who leaned against hoods and trunks, who stood in small knots complaining about missed appointments, about being late, about missed flights…
Arlo pushed through, not caring who he bumped into, not caring about the jerk and asshole thrown his way, as he peered into one car then the next, looking, looking, looking, meeting the eyes of their scared, bored, ill-tempered, or worried occupants. Way, way ahead, the blue lights still strobed, but the sirens had fallen silent.
“Where is he? Where the fuck is he?”
His head jerked this way and that, the sweat of fear and agitation soaking the old shirt he’d pulled on, still buttoning it as he’d run for his car, to stop the biggest mistake in his and Lucian’s lives from happening.
Cupping his hands on either side of his mouth, Arlo sucked a deep breath before he hollered.
“Lucian!”
CHAPTERFORTY-THREE
“Can you see what’s happening?”
Lucian looked from Bibi, standing on the roof of her car, to his watch, and back to Bibi. They’d been stuck for almost forty minutes and it didn’t look like they’d be moving for another forty. Or more. Way, way more.
Bibi clambered down and shook her head. “No. The emergency services are still there, and the cops aren’t letting anything through. I think it’s a couple of station wagons. At least there’s no truck involved, thank the lord.”
Lucian shivered. They were huge and nothing and nobody would survive if a car got entangled up with one.
“Then there’s nothing we can do.” They both climbed back into the car. “If I miss my flight, they’ll put me on the next one out.”
It’d mean hours spent hanging around the airport, lots and lots of extra time to think about everything he didn’t want to think about ever again.
He delved into his backpack and pulled out the little bag of goodies he’d packed to nibble on as he waited for departure. Glancing through the windshield, he sighed. Might as well have them now…
“Ta—dar!” He held up the Tunnocks Teacakes. “One each. I love you dearly, Bibi, but not enough to let you have both.” He met her smile as he handed one across.
“You will send me some once you get home, right? I’m gonna be expecting a regular care package. And some of those crunchy chocolate bars. What d’ya call them?”
“Erm, Crunchies.”
Bibi licked her fingers clean as she finished her Tunnocks. “I don’t think this jam’s going away anytime soon. You might end up coming back to the Creek with me.”
Lucian shook his head. “I’ll stay at the airport and get the next available flight. Not really a lot of point in going back to Collier’s Creek.” No point at all.
“Are you sure about that? I mean, really sure?”
“Yeah.” Lucian stared down at the red and silver foil wrapper that had covered the teacake, which he’d rolled into a tight ball. “If there had been any point…” Any hope… “I’d have known that already, wouldn’t I?”
Bibi shrugged her shoulders. “I guess.” Her gaze flickered from Lucian to the stuck traffic and back again. “There’s something I should tell you. You promise you won’t be angry with me?”
Lucian frowned. “Why should I be angry with you? What have you done?”
“I went to see Arlo. Last night. After I got your call. I told him you were leaving today, and he needed to get his head out of his ass.”
Lucian swallowed, the sweetness of chocolate now cloying and fatty on his tongue. “But he hasn’t, has he? Did you tell him what time we were leaving?”
