Page 7 of Saltwater Cowboy

“Did it help?” This man was suddenly self-conscious about his dad joke.

“Yeah.” The lie rolled effortlessly off my tongue.

“Flight attendants, please prepare for landing.”

I kept my hands folded in my lap and my eyes shut tight as I braced for landing. The wheels smashed the runway, and we all jolted forward. My hammering heart realized we were in the clear and started to slow back down to normal range. I rested my heavy head in my hands, bracing against my knees.

“See, you made it, trooper.”

I didn’t respond to the titan’s remarks, reaching for my phone, turning off the airplane mode. No messages came through—not that I was expecting any, but I still held out hope that Thad would see the error in his ways and follow me.

“That’s a nice picture.” Mr. Orange commented, looking at my home screen. It’s a photo of Thad and me at his company’s holiday party last year. During the few years we were together, we always attended all the fancy black-tie events he had to go to, but never did I feel as beautiful as I did on that day back in December.

“I should probably change it,” I answered honestly, my eyes glued to the screen that went dark.

“You’re right. You should crop the douchebag out.”

The corner of my lip lifted slightly. This guy didn’t know my story, but he was spot on with his character evaluation of Thad from a picture.

“I should change it, regardless.” My heart sank at the thought.

The cabin door was opened, and everyone started filing out. I stood once the row in front of us had started to make their way to the exit.

“Do you need help with your carry-on?”

I reached up and grabbed the too-full suitcase. “I’ve got it,” I paused. “Thank you, though.”

“No problem.” He tipped his baseball cap brim towards me.

My legs immediately started carrying me towards the exit, the bag of orange Skittles in my hand. I spun on my heel and handed the bag to Mr. Orange. Better to give them to someone than throw them away.

“That’s really kind of you.” I heard him stop walking behind me. “Sorry, I never caught your name.”

I kept walking.

Blythe: I tracked your flight and saw you landed a few minutes ago. I should be there in fifteen minutes.

Thankfully, the Wippowa airport isn’t huge, and I was able to make it to baggage claim quickly. I said a silent prayer on the way down here that my row-mate hadn’t checked a bag because I was at wits’ end and one more awkward interaction with that guy would’ve sent me into a tailspin.

I watched as the first of my big suitcases made its way around the conveyor belt. I reached up and grabbed it. The second wasn’t too far behind. Then the third came rolling around.

The three large suitcases, the one small one, and a massive tote bag were going to be a challenge to get out the door. By sheer willpower, I managed everything.

Now I’m here—outside an airport terminal—with all my belongings waiting, once again, for my life to begin.

EXILE

I haven’t been to Wippowa when it wasn’t warm and sunny. The lack of humidity was alarming, and the amount of rain being dumped from the sky was a pretty accurate representation of how many tears I had to let out as soon as I was home.

Where is home?

A cool breeze blew through Arrivals, and I shuddered. I thought I had left the cold in Seattle, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

A gray pick-up truck rolled up, and a wave of relief washed over me. Blythe. It’s been my safe space since we became friends at work. From that fateful day six years ago, we’ve been each other’s ride or die.

When Blythe called and told me her vacation had turned into a move to Wippowa, I felt the gamut of emotions. I was sad we wouldn’t be able to have coffee dates anymore, but I was thrilled she followed her heart and started fresh—hell, she needed it after all she went through.

Blythe parallel parked in front of me and raised an eyebrow through the windshield. The “where is Thad” look. She sprinted around the truck to me, enveloping me in the biggest hug she’s ever given me. I melted into it, finally feeling safe.