Anywhere With You (2 page)

Jack

Did she know I loved her?

If you were to ask me if I believe in fate, I would tell you that no, I do not. I believe in making things happen. I believe in preparation, in showing up, and playing full out. But I guess if there is such a thing, what happened that day at the airport was as close to fate as it comes.

You see, the truth is, I had been plotting how to ‘run in’ to her for a few weeks by that point. I’d perused the likes of Google, and then the brilliance of social media, to try to find out as much as I could about her whereabouts and what she’d been up to. But then I decided that ‘accidental run-ins’ are for pussies. If I wanted to see her, well, then she should know it. It wasn’t exactly like she didn’t
not
want to see me, and honestly, I missed her. Probably more than I’d ever missed anyone. Maybe even more than I missed my mother. And she’s dead. So that says a lot. What to do about it, though, I hadn’t quite figured out. Not the part about my mother, of course. The dead thing tends to figure itself out. I mean the part about Amelie.

So I hadn’t figured it out, and I don’t believe in fate, and yet it happened. Whatever you want to call it—fate, serendipity, the stars aligning—your guess is as good as mine.

But there she was.

The day before Thanksgiving. McLaren Airport. Terminal Two. I was headed home from Vegas following a mostly successful business trip when I saw her. It was the legs I noticed first. Skirt. Expensive heels. Typical Vegas. I hadn’t necessarily been looking for a skirt. But I hadn’t
not
been looking either. And what better place than a crowded airport in which one was about to be trapped in a metal vessel hurling through the air for the better part of three hours to find someone to fill the time with? Anyhow, so there they are—such a great set of legs, and I knew even before I saw her, the owner of them had to be my type. I wasn’t usually wrong. She was bent forward rummaging through her bag, her hair, hanging down, covering her face. I watched her for a moment before she sat straight up and her eyes locked on mine. Amelie. Strangely, she was just as—if not more—breathtaking than the last time I saw her. Twenty-five months and four days ago.

I watched her expression change as her mind registered what, or more importantly, whom she was seeing. Judging by the look on her face, I couldn’t quite tell if she was indifferent or devastated. She certainly didn’t seem happy, that’s for sure. I did my best to keep my expression neutral as I made my way over to where she sat.

Stopping just shy of her, I dropped my backpack at my feet.

“Fancy meeting you here,” I said, more excitedly than I’d intended.

She stood. “Jack… Wow. What you are you doing here?”

I looked around at the weary travelers as they filed past us. I paused for a moment before answering. Then I reached in for a hug. Just shy of her ear, I whispered, “What I assume everyone else is doing.” I squeezed her tight without letting go right away. She hugged me back and then pulled away as she eyed me up and down.

“You look…”

“Older?”

She smiled though just a little. I noticed it didn’t touch her eyes. “Well, that too.”

“Oh, you meant sexier. Yeah, I get that a lot.”

Amelie rolled her eyes. “I’m sure.”

I glanced toward the window where a plane was taxiing in. “So, it looks like we’re on the same flight.”

She looked over her shoulder toward the gate, and once again, her expression changed. “Oh… no. I just stopped here because I can’t seem to find my phone.” She motioned toward her bag. “I had it in the cab on the way over—so I know it’s here somewhere.”

I swallowed hard as the realization that our encounter would be brief sunk in. It took me a second to recover. “Ah. Well, I could call it. You have the same number?”

She nodded slowly and then studied the floor.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed by pressing her name on the screen. Suddenly, I felt her eyes searching mine, but I didn’t look immediately look up.

“I’m surprised to see that I’m still on your favorites list,” she mentioned, never one to miss a thing.

“Always.” I smiled and then my eyes met hers.

She looked away.

“I didn’t mean for it to end, you know.”

Her phone rang and she reached toward the sound.

“I just had to get back,” I told her, trying and failing to get her to look my way.

Amelie didn’t respond for several minutes as she messed around on her newly found phone. Finally, she looked up. “Yeah, I know.” She shrugged slightly. “I mean… I understand.”

“You do?”

She pursed her lips. “Sure.”

“Then why didn’t you ever write back… why didn’t you call.”

“I don’t know.” She bit her lip. “But I can think of a few reasons.”

I waited, but instead of speaking, she shifted and waved me off. “Ah, well, you know… It’s all water under the bridge anyhow. That was practically a lifetime ago.”

“It was twenty-five months ago. I wouldn’t exactly call that a lifetime.”

Her face broke into a smile. “Yeah, but who’s counting?”

Overhead, I heard my flight being called for pre-boarding.

“Sounds like that’s you.”

I didn’t budge. “I have time.”

She shifted backward on her heel. “It was really great to see you, Jack,” she said, her voice losing its edge.

I watched as a toddler squirmed just enough to break free from his mother’s grasp. Once free, he ran full-speed toward the window. Amelie followed my gaze and I shifted my attention back to her.

“What time does your flight take off?”

She checked the time on her phone and frowned. “About five hours and fifteen minutes from now.”

I choked. “What?”

“It’s a long story…”

“You couldn’t get an earlier flight? I asked, confused. “Where are you headed?”

She shook her head. “Boston.”

“Ah.” I could tell she didn’t really want to expand on the topic so I let it go.

Another call for boarding came overhead.

But as soon as the silence had grown just awkward enough, I realized I had to know. “What’s in Boston?”

“A friend.”

“I see.” I nodded and then studied the pattern on the floor. “Well… that’s one lucky friend,” I remarked, eventually meeting her gaze.

She smiled. “Something like that.”

“I could catch a later flight and wait with you.”

“Oh gosh, no. That’s crazy,” she scoffed.

I reached into my pocket for my boarding pass. “I’ve been called worse.”

“I bet.” Amelie grinned and then I watched it fade. Her tone turned serious. “But seriously, no. Go get on that plane. We can catch up later. You should call me some time…”

I waited for her to say something else. Anything else. And when she didn’t, I leaned in and hugged her. Then I kissed her cheek and slowly pulled away. “I will,” I promised, taking her in. “It was so good to see you. I’ve really missed you.”

She nodded curtly before reaching down for her carry-on. “Happy Thanksgiving, Jack,” she said once again meeting my eye.

I reached for her hand, took it in mine, and gave it a squeeze. “Happy Thanksgiving,” I whispered.

I gave her one last look up and down. I smiled. So did she.

And then I turned to go.

I actually had boarded that plane with the full intention of landing in Texas. I took my seat and stared out the window as the workers scurried around down below. But still, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop my thoughts from drifting back to the encounter with Amelie. My heart raced as I poured back and forth over what I’d said, what I hadn’t said, what I should have said, and I just couldn’t let it go.

I searched my phone, scanning through the two dozen emails that had landed in my inbox since I’d last checked an hour ago. But they were a blur. Everything was a blur. I couldn’t help wanting nothing more than to dial her up right then and there. I wanted to set the record straight. And more than that, I realized I wasn’t ready for the conversation to end.

To make matters worse, seated just across the aisle from me were a pair of lovers—honeymooners, I’d guess if I were a betting man. I watched from the corner of my eye as they laughed and kissed, and later, when I looked over, her hands were tangled in his hair. I sighed loudly, I’m sure, and slunk back into my seat. Sitting across from those two for the duration of the flight seemed just about more than I could handle. The girl briefly met my eye. My annoyance only seemed to entice her performance as she began biting at her lover’s earlobe. I shot her a ‘go to hell’ look and shifted in my seat where I did my best to focus on anything but Amelie and the love-fest ensuing around me.

Once I’d just about succeeded, I heard the words that would ultimately change the direction I was headed that day. ‘Tell me you love me,’ the girl squealed. And just like that, I was out of my seat. For no good reason, and for every good reason. I grabbed my bag from the overhead bin and squeezed through the line of weary passengers trying to board, who unlike me hadn’t purchased first class seats.

All I knew was I had to get off of that plane and find her. I had to tell her something—what, I wasn’t quite sure—mostly, I just wanted to hear her voice for a few moments longer. It was ridiculous and rash—but I didn’t care.

I’d half expected to see her standing there waiting for me as I deplaned. Only she wasn’t. She wasn’t at my gate, and once I’d located hers, I found she wasn’t there either. Maybe she’d decided to get on another flight. God, I hoped she hadn’t decided to get on another flight.

I searched faces through the crowd. The airport was teeming with people. There were so many people. And yet none of them were the one I was searching for. None of them were her.

Eventually, I pulled out my phone and pressed the button to dial her. Seconds that felt like hours later, somewhere just over my shoulder, I heard a phone ring. When I turned toward the familiar sound, there she was. Hands on her hips, a disapproving smile on her face.

“Hey,” I called out ending the call. “What the hell? I’ve been looking all over for you!”

“I can see that.” She smirked. “But, damn it, Jack—you should’ve stayed on that plane…”

I waved my hand in the air. “There will be others.”

“Touché,” she said as I closed the gap between us.

Amelie studied me for a second, tucked her phone away, and began walking. She quickly picked up her pace, so much so, that I had to hustle to keep up. “So, hold up… you saw that I was searching for you, and you…you just let me keep looking?”

She pressed her lips together and raised her brow. “Yep. And it was pretty fun.”

“But how did you know I’d…”

She stopped suddenly and looked from side to side, clearly in search of something. I’d just about bumped into the back of her and nearly tripped in the process of attempting to avoid a collision.

“I know you, Jack,” she said as she picked up the pace once again.

I didn’t immediately follow. “Wait. Where are we going?”

“Somewhere I can get a drink,” she called back over her shoulder.

I cocked my head. “It’s not even noon.”

She paused then and turned. “My point exactly.”