Page 110 of To Go
This is my nightmare. I swear I’ve woken up sweating to this exact situation. To top it all off, not only am I being recognized, it’s at the worst possible time. I’m in a rush, and I’m not even in the band anymore. The universe has a messed up sense of humour. “From that band, Sad Wednesdays?”
“Heartbreak Tuesday’s,” I grumble, trying to get around him.
“No shit! Dude, you have to take a pic with me.”
“I don’t have time, excuse me.” I try to pass him but he blocks me.
“Don’t be a dick, it’s just a picture, dude.” He pushes his palm against my chest like it’ll stop me. I level him with a glare and I see his confidence flicker for a second. He’s not a tall dude, and I’ve got easily four inches and thirty pounds of muscle on him. This isn’t a fight he can win.
“Move.”
“Whatever, asshole,” douche bag says, snapping a photo on his phone and muttering something to himself.
I really don’t give a fuck. Without much thought, I start running through the airport to security.
I know, dumbest shit to do at an airport. I don’t stop to think it through, though. My heart is pounding. I know I can find her. I’m not out of time. I can’t be too late.
“STELLA!” I shout as I sprint past the check in kiosks. “Stella! Stella!”
Jesus, I sound like that guy from that movie.
A streetcar named desire?
Who fucking cares.
“STELLAAAAA!”
Just ahead of me, a blonde head spins my way, gaping at me from the security line. I’m almost there. My heart clenches. This is the moment.
Before I can get any farther, a strong hand grabs me by the elbow and hauls me back. A very pissed off security guard looks up at me, her severe expression steely enough to make a man crap his pants.
Not me, though.
Mostly.
“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to step over to the side.” Her tone leaves no room for arguing. I follow her to the side where her colleague stands with a deceptively friendly-looking German Shepherd.
Don’t pet the puppy, I remind myself. I try to look calm and compliant while I search for Stella. I don’t see her in the lineup anymore. Did she go through already?
She didn’t wait for me.
She saw me and left anyway.
My heart falls out of my ass. Maybe I fucked this up too badly.
I sigh, dejected, and wait for this nice woman who is just doing her job to kick me out. I mostly tune out as she reads me the riot act about running through the airport and security and safety risks. Or something like that. The only thought circulating through my head is that she left.
“Hi ma’am,” a soft voice says from behind me. “This idiot was looking for me.” I spin around to see Stella glaring at me.
“Okay, so long as he understands. Do you understand, sir?” The security guard is harsh, but she’s letting me go so I’m not about to push it.
“Yes, ma’am.” I have no idea what I’m agreeing to, but she nods and then waves her arm dismissively.
“What the hell are you doing running and screaming through an airport?? Are you out of your ever loving mind??”
“I had to find you,” I insist. “I couldn’t let you go without…”
“Without what? We already said goodbye, James. Please don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”
