Then I’ll be there. Send me the details and I’ll see you in two weeks.
Stetson:
Just be at the little private airport south of town by noon on the second.
Me:
What? The airport?
Stetson:
Just be there.
That might’ve been easy, per George’s definition, but unfortunately, I think that was the only part of this whole damn thing that was going to go that smoothly.
“Do you have everything?” Maggie’s voice sharpened next to me.
I buzzed through the mental checklist I’d already run through at least a million times while standing at the back of my Jeep, staring into the trunk.
“My outfit, makeup, boots, and clear purse are all in my line of sight. Anything else can be bought in Nashville if needed,” I answered. “Maggie.” I stopped. My Jeep was not even in a parking spot but perched right next to a literal plane. “This whole thing is wild.”
“Yes. This is in fact a little bat-shit crazy…” Her eyes widened like a little kid on Christmas morning as she gave the situation a once-over. “But what do you expect from a man like Stetson Walker who is trying to do whatever he can to win over a girl?”
“Who said he’s trying to win me over?”
Maggie’s eyes practically rolled out of their sockets. “Oh, I don’t know, the private plane that’s sitting only a few feet away from us, ready to whisk you away to Nashville for a concert…”
“I told you, I’m going to support Stetson as afriend,” I emphasized.
“You keep tellin’ yourself whatever’s necessary to make sure your ass gets on that plane, but you can’t lie to me. I know you better than you know yourself. And once you realize that it’s okay to give yourself a chance, you’ll see that giving him a chance is even easier.”
“Everyone keeps saying that everything is going to be easy, but all I can think about is the major bomb I’m going to drop on him and how that might make things not as easy as everyone thinks.” I inhaled slowly, the smell of fresh air dancing through my nose, and shut my eyes.
“Maybe. Or maybe he’ll understand, just like the rest of us. Hell, maybe it’ll make him understand you even better. Because once someone knows what you’ve been through, it’s a lot easier to understand why you are the way you are.”
Her comment had imaginary bubbles popping in my belly, because maybe she was right. Maybe he would understand and then I could explain everything, tell him that I had never felt this way about anyone, ever.
“Ms. Carson, can I get your bags for you?” an older gentleman asked, walking down the steps of the plane and yanking me from the clouds.
“Oh, yes, thank you!” I responded.
I hugged Maggie, looped my purse over my shoulder, and ascended the steps into the plane. “Well, either way, it looks like I’m committed now,” I shouted. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she said, blowing a kissing in my direction.
The tiniest spurt of electricity flickered inside of me, implying that maybe lost among the fear was a bit of excitement.
I settled into the plush, sand-colored leather seat, giving myself a moment to take it all in. I didn’t get long before my phone pinged.
Stetson:
Harry said you’re getting ready to take off, so I just wanted you to know I’ll be here to pick you up when you land. I’m really excited that you decided to come. Fly safe.
Me:
I’m excited too.
Me:
