Instead, she tucked tail and ran, taking Ashton with her and leaving my heart behind.
Once I’ve finished packing, I spare two minutes to purchase a last-minute plane ticket. The price gives me no pause. My family is worth it. My family is worth more than my entire fortune. I’d give up everything for them.
Phil stands in the entryway when I make it downstairs. I skid to a stop, my heart hammering in my chest. I don’t know if it’s fear of being too late or hope I still have a chance. My friend rolls his eyes and gestures toward the door.
“Don’t just stand there. Move it!”
I shove the duffel bag into the backseat of Phil’s car then slide in beside it. Samantha glances at me in the rearview with a sad smile, one that I pretend not to see. As soon as Phil is in the passenger seat, his wife puts the car in drive.
“How’d you guys know?” I ask as she speeds down the road.
Phil turns in his seat to answer: “We put two and two together and wound up with four. I mean, you said you screwed up only days after she canceled a playdate? It was obvious something happened. We figured she’d go back to what she knows.”
“And the flight?”
It’s Samantha who responds this time. “We hoped you weren’t stupid enough to let her go like this. After all, you love her and Ashton. He loves you. She loves you. We aren’t about to let you lose them for whatever reason. So we figured you’d have gotten the first flight out.”
“And if I hadn’t bought a ticket?”
“I did for you, just in case,” she announces with a shrug. “Pay me back later.”
The car comes to a stop outside the airport forty minutes later, and it takes all of my willpower to move. To unbuckle my belt. To wrap my fingers around the door handle. Now that I’m faced with the reality of going to her, my courage is evaporating fast.
What if Luci is wrong? What if Dealla is ready to let the sun set on our relationship?
“Man, if it comes to that,” Phil says softly, “just know you won’t be alone.”
Surprised that I’ve spoken my fears aloud, all I can do is nod at his words. I’m certain it isn’t quite that simple, but I have no time to argue. I swallow, though my mouth is dry, and push open the door.
Every step toward the entrance hurts. Each impact of shoe to pavement echoes with the remains of fragile hope drowned out by terror of love lost. Voice swell around me, crash into my senses as a tidal wave of muffled noise, and I check the ticket the airline had emailed me. Finding the terminal, I brace myself for anything that may happen. My strength is waning fast, but I hope this house of cards remains standing.
Luci waits just outside the gate by the time I make it through the flight and security. Her lips curve into a smile when she sees me approaching. A fluttering kicks up in my chest as she hugs me tightly.
“You made the right choice,pobrecito.”
“Then why do I feel like this is going to blow up in my face?”
“Because love? It’s fucking hard.” Luci shrugs and leads me toward the exit; I follow like a lost puppy. “But I think this will be worth it. No matter what happens.”
“Does she know?” I ask quietly as we exit the airport.
Luci shakes her head, letting her sunglasses fall to cover her eyes. “Telling her you’re coming would only result in her rabbiting.” She catches the questioning look I send her and chuckles. “Okay, so her dad? Pretty damn loaded. I mean, not to your level, but definitely above comfortable. He’s basically funded her life while she took care of Ash and went to school. He paid for her to live in the apartment for five years without the need to renew her lease.”
“He didn’t cancel it when she moved out? Was he hoping we’d break up?”
Luci snorts, reaching over to pat my shoulder, and swears under her breath when someone speeds past us as we attempt to cross to the other side. “Of course not. He just wanted her to have a familiar place for y’all to stay whenever you visit. Look, he just wants her to be happy. He knows you make her happy. Therefore, he’s invested in the relationship. Don’t worry, he doesn’t know about this.”
I blow out a breath and don’t say anything as we approach her car. She turns on the radio once the engine starts, and the drive commences in silence. I stare without seeing out the window, at the shops and eateries zipping past, until Luci slows. I blink back to myself and stare at the complex she stops in front of. Rising high above the surrounding buildings, the sight is familiar and sends a sharp stab to pierce through my heart.
“Thanks, Luci. I can’t thank you enough. But… Why are you helping me?”
She shrugs and reaches toward the glove compartment; pulling out a pack of gum, she offers it to me. I shake my head. She takes a moment to pop a stick of gum into her mouth, chews twice, then turns her attention back to me.
“Because you make my best friend happier than I’ve ever seen her. If I didn’t think you were good for her, I never would have laid my bets on you. Now, with that said, good luck.”
“I screwed up.”
“Then, Romeo, I guess you should stop stalling and go fix it. Go get your Juliet.”
