Page 9 of The Geek and the Sheikh

She studied his expression. "It's about time."

His dry laugh mixed with the pilot's announcement of their impending arrival into Heathrow. Junebug eagerly peered out at the city in the early afternoon light. Excitement built inside her. This was the first leg of her journey. She had many more to go, but she had done it! Bugs had taken the first step to taking control of her fears.

"I hope this guy you love appreciates how lucky he is," Craig said.

Her heart fluttered in response, and she rested her head against the window, her eyes glued to the ground as it grew closer and closer.

I hope so, too.

Three

Two hours later, Junebug gave up and admitted she was totally, completely lost—and she hadn't even made it out of the airport. She turned the map in her hands in circles. Nothing on the map looked like it did in the real world. There was no coffee shop where the map said it would be. If she could find the coffee shop, she knew she was heading toward the right exit.

Panic began to build inside her again. She looked up from where she was standing next to the women's bathroom, saw a row of metal benches bolted to the floor in the center of the walk way, and focused on reaching them. She sank down on the bench and reached into the deep pocket of her skirt, pulling out one of the numerous phones that she had stashed in different places on herself and in her luggage.

With trembling fingers, she turned it on. She almost dropped the phone when an explosion of texts and voice messages sent the mobile device into a buzzing frenzy. She had linked all the numbers she used to the numerous phones she was carrying.

A choked giggle slipped from her when she saw all the messages from Midnight. She read and listened to each of them before she touched the call back icon. Midnight picked up before the second ring.

"Are you crazy? Do you have any idea of how dangerous the world is?" Midnight answered in a breathless voice.

Junebug huffed. "No, yes, and I'm okay. I made it, Midnight! I did it. You and mom would be so proud of me. I almost had a panic attack but there was this guy named Craig who was really annoying but it was a good thing because he distracted me and when I thought I would freak out I did like you suggested and I played a game in my head," she blurted out in a long, breathless explanation.

Silence greeted her rambling account. Junebug bit her nail as she waited with growing anxiety for her sister's response. If Midnight said anything else… like asking her where she was… she knew she would break down and beg for Midnight to come help her. She closed her eyes as tears burned their way to the surface.

No, I won't. Midnight deserves to be happy. If I don't do this, she will always think she has to protect me.

Midnight's heavy sigh sounded in Junebug's ear before she spoke.

"Just promise me you'll get in touch with Jam-man, tell him where and when to meet you, and… and be careful. I love you, Junie-bug," Midnight said.

Junebug smiled, opened her eyes, and stared at a group of tourists following a woman with a sign. The woman stopped outside of the restrooms. Her followers chatted while they took turns watching each other's luggage and visiting the loo.

"Does this mean you're going to let Junayd kidnap you?" she asked light-heartedly.

Her sister's husky laughter filtered above the airport's constant chatter. "Yes…" she said, the notes in her voice hinting at shyness and indicating that someone was there with her, listening.

"Are you with him now?" she asked archly.

"Yes," Midnight replied in her exasperated and amused How-Do-You-Know-Everything tone.

"I'm so happy for you, Mid! You don't have to worry about me. I'm not a kid anymore. Trust me. I've got this. I've got to live my life, and I can't do that if I don't try. I promise I'll get in touch with Jam-man. I'll meet you in Jawahir. Don't blow this! He really loves you. I've got to go. I love you, Mid," she said, watching the group with growing excitement.

"I won't, I promise. Love you more."

* * *

Junebug followed the large tour group as if she belonged with them. No one said anything when she boarded the double-decker bus and climbed the steps to the top. She sat behind two girls not much younger than she was. They were excitedly speaking in Japanese.

Her love of anime meant Japanese was one of the many languages she was fluent in. She had watched every episode of One Piece. Knowing perfectly well that she could speak with the girls, using her skills in person for once, she decided not to. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and stared at it a moment before she logged into her Discord account. A ping popped up within seconds and she grinned.

Where RU?!

London

OMW. Keep your phone on.

Who told u?

---