Page 87 of Forever Fascinating

Two days later,they were standing at the airport gate and Matthew felt like he was going to be physically ill. The last four and a half days had been unlike anything he’d ever experienced, almost surreal, and he wasn’t ready to let go.

No, there had been such peace, so much joy, that it was startling to comprehend that this beautiful person was about to be on the other side of the globe, ripped from his side, and he would be forced to ‘get by’ somehow until he could see her again.

“I’m going to see what dates I can take next,” he whispered in the silence between them, holding her in his arms. He needed this closeness, wishing he could package it and take it with him, because he was going to miss her terribly. “I love my ring, by the way.”

“Me too,” she whispered against his shoulder, nearly burying her nose against his throat as if this need felt as strong for her too. “Ignore me, I’m just trying to breathe you in as long as I can.”

“I get it,” he chuckled tenderly. “Full confession time?”

“Sure,” she encouraged, and he smiled, knowing she was close to laughing in his arms. “Confess away… what’d you do?”

“I swapped our Air Force shirts when we were packing,” he admitted nervously. “I wanted to smell your perfume when you are gone.”

“Oh no,” she uttered, looking at him in horror. “Did you really? Please tell me you didn’t…”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“I had already swapped them…Noooo,” she wailed, looking at him. “When did you switch them?”

“When you were getting a cup of coffee. When did you swap them out?”

“When you went to brush your teeth one more time.”

Matthew cursed softly, before sighing.

“I guess I don’t get to smell your perfume for much longer… darn it.”

“We’ve got about ten minutes before I have to board… c’mon,” Jana said suddenly, grabbing his hand and dragging him away from the gate towards one of the shops in the airport. “Time for a last-minute souvenir, Vapor…”

He laughed easily, because she rarely called him by his call sign.

They went into a shop, bought two T-shirts, the same shade of blue as their rings and the Greek flag… before she darted into another store. This one was full of toiletries, makeup, and other odds-and-ends. She scrolled haphazardly over the shelves, before grasping at a tiny bottle.

“Got it,” she announced. “What do you wear? What cologne?”

“Fahrenheit,” he replied. “I’ve never worn anything else. It smells clean and I like it.”

She got this sultry look on her face and nearly purred, making his knees weak in an instant.

“I like it too… a lot,” she admitted, smiling at him.

They quickly paid and heard the first announcement for her flight over the intercom.

Rushing back towards the gate, he wanted to laugh and cry at the same time as they both donned their new souvenir shirts, sprayed themselves down with cologne, and Jana asked someone to take a photograph of the two of them, holding each other at the gate.

“Yank it off, flyboy…” she said firmly, pulling her T-shirt over her head and folding it up, before stuffing it inside the bag. “Here’s yours,” she urged, pressing the bag into his hands as his world turned upside down in that moment hearing the announcements above them.

Now boarding, flight 1139 – all rows… please make your way to the gate and have your tickets in hand.

Matthew shrugged his T-shirt off of his head, folding it quickly and putting it into the plastic bag for her. He quickly adjusted his uniform, tucking his shirt back in where it had slightly come untucked, and held out the bag to her.

“Do you want the cologne bottle?” she asked, looking at him.

“No, have it waiting for me… at home,” he replied, realizing that their time together was up. He saw the understanding in her eyes and knew she was trying to keep strong, whereas he was turning into an emotional mess any minute now.

“Shhh… I love you, darling,” he urged, hugging her again quickly. “Let’s get you on the plane so you don’t miss your flight.”

“I know.”

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