Page 41 of The Wing
“You better fucking text me, Liam,” Hemi whispers urgently in my ear, “or I’ll fly back and take you on a harder hike than the one we did.” He releases me as quickly as he appeared and jogs to the line without looking back at me.
I stand there staring at him, biting my lip against the goddamn fucking tears in my eyes that won’t go away. I wasn’t expecting any of this when Daisy sent me Hemi. Wasn’t expecting to become invested or be sodevastatedwatching him get in that line.
He said to text him. Surely that means this meant more to him than a one-time thing. Itmust.
I watch until Hemi disappears past security and whirl to the exit and hurry to the car. After I unlock the car and put my seatbelt on, I sit clutching the steering wheel for an unknown amount of time, but it’s long enough the sun has dipped low and my eyes no longer burn.
I drive home with the feeling of Hemi’s arms wrapped around me and the sensation of his lips brushing my ear as he demands I text him. When I arrive home, I send him a simple text wishing him a good flight.
He doesn’t respond. But that’s probably because his phone is on aeroplane mode and he hasn’t received it yet.
I enter my office and throw my phone on the couch, hoping an out-of-sight, out-of-mind mentality will work, but when I sit at the desk, all I see is Hemi. Hemi trailing his fingers over my books and staring at my posters. Pushing me against the desk and getting on his knees. He left the book I lent him, my favourite book I wanted him to have, and I’m hoping it isn’t a bad omen.
I open my laptop and stare at the blinking cursor blankly.
He was anxious when he left. Rolling his shoulders the same way he did when I first picked him up.
I type out a sentence but backspace it.
He hadn’t looked as stressed leaving as he did arriving, but it’s enough to make me frown at my computer and worry about how he’s feeling. If his shoulder’s giving him issues again, or if he’s overthinking everything.
I click out of my document and open my notebook, but after holding my pen poised to capture my nonexistent thoughts, I stand in a flurry and snatch my phone from the couch.
It’s blank.
No response from Hemi, which is normal. He’ll be in Auckland now. I’ve stared at my blank document longer than I realised.
I sigh and open the message Daisy sent asking if Hemi left okay. I tell her he did and leave my office, clicking the door shut behind me firmly.
There’s no point trying to work when I know I won’t be able to think creatively with Hemi on a flight.
I switch the TV on and watch rugby replays on the sports channel, which sends a pang of longing through me whenever Hemi appears on the screen. I turn it off and open my book, and stare at the sentences until it’s a reasonable time to go to bed.
So much for not getting invested. What happened to hiding in my office and life going back to normal when he left?
I huff and turn the light on, wincing at the harsh yellow and sit up in bed. There’s no point trying to sleep with my thoughts running in circles. No point when the bed feels empty without Hemi, and I can’t get warm without him wrapped around me. I grab my phone and open my book and force myself to read.
By the time I’ve managed to finally immerse myself in the book and my eyes have difficulty staying open, a message comes in. My heart beats so fast I go faint and have to remind myself to breathe. I click on the message and open the photo Hemi sent me.
I roll my eyes and let out a small laugh into my empty bedroom. The photo is ofThe Fellowship of the Ringon a tiny aeroplane screen with Hemi pouting, pointing his thumb down.
The text below the photo says:
I can’t believe they don’t have the extended version. How dare AirNZ do this to me! What am I supposed to do for the next ten hours???
A giddy grin spreads over my face, and I settle deeper into my sheets that suddenly feel less alone now that Hemi’s with me. I’ll take a text over nothing.
11:00 P.M.
How dare they? Peter Jackson would riot.
I’ll take it over nothing.
11:01 P.M.
Maybe it’ll force you to sleep. You heading to Singapore now?
11:02 P.M.
