Page 21 of The Getaway

Chapter 7- Sabrina

“Alright! We’re just getting the last few people checked-in and then we’ll be on our way!” The chipper tour guide announces with a wide smile over the hushed murmurs from the people around me on the bus. She turns back to the bus driver and says something quietly to him before stepping off the bus.

I grip the backpack that’s resting on my lap, fighting the urge to pull out my phone and check the time again. Considering I had looked at it right before the tour guide spoke, I knew there was no way it had been more than a minute.

But as another couple steps onto the bus, finding two seats together and leaning into one another, the itch to distract myself is almost too much. It’s an effort to swallow the lump in my throat and divert my attention away from all the couples. As much as I don’t want to notice it, I can’t help but realize that I’m the only one alone. The bus has two seats on each side of the aisle, and as they fill up, I’m still the only one with an empty seat beside me.

Maybe I should’ve canceled the excursions…

No. I shake that thought away. Just because everyone else here is with someone doesn’t change the fact that I can, and will, experience these amazing views alone. I don’t need someone by my side.

Although, knowing someone would help ease some of the awkwardness threatening to consume me.

Once the bus gets moving and we leave the hotel, I know my doubt will start to fade away. However, until then, I continue to war with myself about staying put and getting off the bus before it’s too late. If nothing else, being the only single one here means I get to use the empty seat beside me for my backpack instead of setting it on the ground.

Unable to resist any longer, I unzip my backpack to dig my phone out. Telling myself I just need a distraction and will only send my sister the picture I took of the sunrise.

Thoughts of this morning with Noah cause my cheeks to heat.

When he joined me on the back deck this morning, I had been waiting for any awkwardness or regret of what we did to seep in. Instead, all I wanted was more of him.

The only time anything felt awkward between us was after we had finished watching the sunrise, and I told him that I had plans at eight o’clock. Even then, it was actually more of the uncertainty that hung between us, at least on my part, because I found myself not wanting him to leave. Still, it was as if my plans reminded both of us that we are strangers and only on vacation.

We fumbled through a goodbye, both saying how we hoped to see each other again, but didn’t make any commitments.

Because you shouldn’t be making commitments to anyone right now! Let alone a stranger.

I nod at my reminder and focus on sending my sister a text.

Me:

OMG! Ads, it hasn’t even been a full day and I already have so much to tell you. Going on a mountain & waterfall excursion tho. Text you details later… maybe ;) -XO

Attaching the picture from this morning, I hit send and giggle to myself, knowing she’s going to freak out on me for teasing her with that.

I’m tucking my phone back into my backpack when the tour guide starts talking again.

“Alright, once the last of you find seats, we can get going!”

Just as I’m zipping my backpack shut, a voice to my left makes me jump.

“Is it alright if I sit here?”

My cheeks heat, but not because I was startled. No, it’s because I don’t even have to look to recognize that voice.

But of course, I do look. I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face as I turn to Noah.

He’s standing in the aisle, staring at the front of the bus with a slight scowl on his face. His jaw is clenched and it’s almost as if he’s debating jumping off before they can drive away. I bite back a laugh at the fact that he doesn’t even realize who he just asked to sit next to.

When I don’t answer right away, he speaks while finally tearing his gaze from the front of the bus.

“Excuse me, can I… Bri?” He says my name with a mix of relief and disbelief.

I smile, feeling the anxiety of being here alone ease away. While I know that I could have done this excursion on my own, knowing that there is going to be a semi-familiar face close by today allows for excitement to finally trickle past the anxiousness that had been building.

My cheeks heat at just how familiar this man is with my body and force myself to not think about the delicious things he made me feel last night… and this morning.

“Well, hey there stranger,” I say with a light chuckle. He finally moves, dropping into the seat without ever looking away from me.

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