The chilly winter air was settling in Illinois, whipping me in the face while I removed my luggage from the back of Stephanie’s Prius. She shooed the cab driver from my driveway, insisting she drop me off instead.
I think she wanted to make sure I packed the barely their scraps of fabric she demanded I buy. Lingerie wasn’t something I wore, even when Martin and I were first together. I refused to try any of the undergarments on in the store, so who knew if they even fit.
Stephanie strolled to the back of the car, meeting me by the trunk. “I want you to text me the minute you get to your first layover, then every other one after that.”
Zipping my hooded sweatshirt, I gave her an appeasing nod. She didn’t need to be concerned, but at the same time it felt good to have someone who cared. “I’ll text you. Thanks for the ride.”
She threw her arms around me, squeezing me tight. “Of course. You’re literally one of my closest friends. I know that may sound weird because we’re neighbors, but I do care about you.”
“You just like me for my words,” I teased, hugging her back.
“Maybe a little,” she kidded.
We released each other at the same time. “Be safe,” she said quietly. “I know you’ve talked to him for a long time, but people on the internet aren’t always who they seem to be.”
And there it was. The same fear that was buried deep inside of me. I felt like I knew him, but did I really know him?
“I will. I promise.”
A car honked at us. “Alright, I’m moving!” Stephanie shouted, waving at the impatient car. “Damn pick-up lanes are full of cranky people. Talk to you soon!”
Throwing my purse over my shoulder, I stacked the rest of my luggage and headed for the check-in line. O’Hare was such a pain in the ass. I’d never maneuvered around without Martin. It was a whole new experience. Although I was terrified, it was thrilling at the same time.
After checking my bag and clearing through security, I stood in front of the giant screen of flights, moving back and forth between my ticket on my phone and the endless flight numbers. After locating my gate, I headed there, snagging a coffee on the way. I made it with two hours to spare. Finding my way around the airport on my own was easier than I anticipated. Being independent might just work out for me.
Glancing at my phone, I debated what to do with the spare time. My gate was loading the flight before mine, leaving plenty of spaces to lounge until my plane arrived.
NZThrillWriter: You on your way to the airport?
AuthorCoraKart: Sitting at my gate.
NZThrillWriter: Why are you there so early? That excited to see me?
AuthorCoraKart: I didn’t trust myself to not get lost a few times. Not really sure what to do with myself.
NZThrillWriter: Plug in and write. Didn’t you say you had a deadline?
I bobbed my head back and forth. He was right. Maybe the busy airport would be a big enough change of scenery for me to start outlining.
AuthorCoraKart: Good idea. I’m going to do that.
NZThrillWriter: I do have the best ideas. I’ll stalk you in the air. Enjoy your flight, Love.
AuthorCoraKart: Message you later :o)
My heart pitter-pattered when I read the word Love. I shook my head and shoved my phone in my front hoodie pocket. He always called me Love. It was simply a friendly nickname.
Searching the area, I found a spot near an outlet. Rummaging through my bag, I grabbed my charger and plugged in, setting myself up comfortably for the next few hours. The internet and my phone weren’t going to distract me. I was determined to zone into an idea and write my heart out.
I managed to write 200 words, only to delete 160 of them. How on earth was I going to write thirty thousand in four weeks at this rate? Truth was, I just couldn’t do a sappy love story right now. I’d been abused by someone who so called ‘loved me.’ I was mixed up inside on what those feelings were.
Unless I started a mystery read. The main character could be friends with a man she’d never met in person, or had even seen, only to fall for him because of his personality. I arched a brow as I thought about the plot line, refusing to compare it to my situation. We were only friends.
My fingers flew on the keyboard with the idea, only to be shut down with the flight attendant announcing it was my time to board.
“Figures,” I mumbled, shutting down my laptop and slipping it into my bag. I’d have to keep my focus and try to pick up where I left off on the plane. I had a short flight compared to what my second one would be, but it’d give me time to grasp the smidgen of an idea and sort it out in my head.