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“Now, if you’re serious about her, I have to tell you that she’s probably on her way to the airport.”
“The airport?”
“She’s supposed to fly home to see her Mom, but I have it on good authority that her Mom doesn’t want her to get on that plane.”
Annabelle lifts a brow, and then I get it.
I know how to get her back.
Fuck the big romantic gesture.
I’m going to do this my way.
THE TAXI STOPS outside of JFK and I throw money at him before jumping out. I dart past security, and run towards domestic departures. I scan the screens for a late flight to Charlotte but when I don’t find it, I head towards the information booth. The lady working behind the desk is chatting away on her cellphone, so I grab it out of her hands.
“Hey! What the -”
“I need to find the terminal for JetBlue or Delta airlines domestic departures.”
She scowls at me, and once I hand her phone back, she reluctantly pulls up the information on her computer screen. She grumbles the terminal numbers, and I set off running towards the first. Scanning the boards for Delta Airlines, I growl in frustration when I spot no flights to Charlotte. Next is Terminal five, for JetBlue Airlines, and my body sags as soon as I see a flight to Charlotte.
Dammit.
It’s boarding.
I find the check-out counter, and ask the lady if all the passengers have already boarded.
“I’m sorry, sir. Unfortunately, the gates are now closed, and all passengers are on the aircraft.”
My fist comes down on the desk, and she jumps.
“Fuck!”
I look around, hoping against all hope that Kadence chose not to get on that flight. I don’t see her anywhere.
I start towards the exit, contemplating my next move and when I step outside, I find Alfie waiting for me at the curb. He says nothing as I climb into the backseat, and I’m grateful for it. Not that he ever says much, but I know he took quite a liking to Kadence, and I half expected him to chew my ass out for giving up so easily.
I ask him to take me home, rather than back to the party. My Father and I planned it so that he could continue should I be indisposed. And by indisposed I mean running half way down the fucking street while Kadence tries to get as far away from me as her heels can take her.
Planning to run after her if she left just seems silly now, especially when there was no guarantee that she would even show up.
I loosen my tie, and pull it off before removing my jacket. After all the pointless chasing, I feel stifled by the confines of my clothing.
That’s when I realize it has nothing to do with my clothing at all and everything to do with the possibility that perhaps I wasn’t meant to find Kadence and stop her from leaving. It’s the thought of not being with her that’s stifling me, and now I will always wonder if I tried hard enough. I rub my hands down my face, cursing myself to hell and back for not doing more. I should have bought a damn ticket to Charlotte if that’s what it would have taken, but instead I admitted defeat.
Perhaps it’s better of this way.
Perhaps it’s time to acknowledge that Kadence may be better off without me.
Even if I’m not better off without her.
Almost an hour later, Alfie stops outside the Puck building and I greet our doorman, Paul, before taking the private elevator up to my penthouse. Of all the emotions fighting for space in my head, it’s disappointment that wins. Disappointment in myself for being reckless enough to throw away the best thing that has ever, and will ever happen to me. Disappointment in knowing this could have possibly been my last chance. I flick the lights on, and stop in my tracks when I see Kadence standing in front of the glass doors leading onto the terrace. She’s still in her gown, and I can’t help but think she’s a figment of my imagination. I want to see her so badly that my mind is conjuring her up. Then I hear her voice, and I know she’s really here.
“Everything is so small from up here,” she murmurs, keeping her back to me.
“You’re supposed to be on a plane,” I reply. Seriously? The love of my life is here and that’s all I can say?
Dumbass.
