Page 83 of Forever Fickle

As Karen turned, she saw Jace was running down the main walkway of the airport, in uniform, smiling from ear-to-ear. His knees were hiked upwards, and he was sprinting at full force, running to meet her.

“JACE!” she exclaimed, unable to help herself as she shot to her feet.

“TINKERBELL!” he yelled, leaping over the row of seats at the gate to practically tackle her in his arms, swinging her around and kissing her, while others walking past laughed at his bold antics.

“Omgosh… you’re… here…” she whispered, punctuating each word with a kiss just before she threw her arms around him again, needing to hug him. “I missed you so much!”

“Oh, Tink… I missed you more than you will ever know, baby…” he said gruffly, burying his face against her neck as he drew in a deep breath.

She felt him shudder in her arms and knew he was getting emotional, causing her own eyes to sting as she felt tears threaten. Blinking rapidly, she hugged him against her, just holding him.

“I love you,” she whispered, caressing the back of his head and neck, needing to feel him. “I’m so happy to see you.”

“Same…” he breathed, taking several deep breaths, before raising his head and looking at her. She saw his bright shiny eyes and smiled knowingly.

“You look absolutely beautiful,” he said openly, bringing her hand up to his lips to kiss her fingertips. “I’m never letting this hand go.”

“It’s yours,” she smiled, remembering his email.

The speakers overhead began to announce that it was their time to board the plane. He’d made it there just in the nick of time!

Flight 1108 from DFW to Hartford will begin boarding now. Active-duty military, our preferred-class members, and those needing assistance please step forward…

“Go ahead…” she urged, smiling. “I’ll meet you at our seats.”

“I’m not leaving you, not when we just met again,” he frowned. “We’ll board together. I’m staying right here, at your side, always.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yup.”

Ten minutes later, Jace and Karen were walking down the pedway towards the plane, hand in hand, to board. She had a small backpack that her purse, a change of clothing, and car keys were inside of, while Jace had his big canvas duffle bag slung over his shoulders.

To her disbelief, Karen saw a couple of women walk past them, glancing at Jace – one even doing a doubletake – before the attendant at the door to the plane smiled at him, giving Jace a little inconspicuous wave.

“Sir, would you like to check that at the gate?”

He nodded, leaving it with the woman before getting on the plane.

Karen almost said something about the attention he was getting, but it looked like Jace didn’t even notice… or he didn’t care. Instead, he was holding her hand and kept smiling at her, like she was the only woman in the world for him.

He moved down the aisle, his hand behind him, still hanging onto hers, as they finally got to their row. He blocked the aisle, letting Karen into the seats first, before helping her stow her backpack underneath.

“Do you need anything, love?”

“I’m good,” she replied easily, buckling up.

“Sir?” one of the flight attendants walked over towards them, tapping Jace on the shoulder. “We have a seat in first class if you’d like to move forward?”

“Two of them?” Jace said bluntly – and Karen almost laughed at the comical way that the woman’s face fell as Jace held up Karen’s hand, where he hadn’t let go of it for very long since they’d reunited.

“No sir, just one… for now. I can give you my number and…”

“I’m good,” Jace interrupted, and then hesitated. “Actually, can I get two glasses of champagne, please? Give the seat to someone and I really appreciate it, but I am grateful for the offer… Leslie, is it?”

Karen gaped at him, in shock at the way he was suddenly being nice to the woman who’d obviously been coming onto him.

“Of course. I’ll be happy to get a few glasses of champagne.”

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