“This is a fucking mess,” I muttered to Hernandez.

He gritted his teeth as an old man with white hair and a Ralph Lauren polo bumped into him. The man shot Hernandez a dirty look for getting in his way, even though he hadn’t moved in five minutes. Ignoring him, Hernandez said, “You’re telling me.”

We stood at the airport with our luggage surrounding us. Hordes of people pushed by us, each more annoyed than the one before because flights were being cancelled left and right. People were stranded for the holidays, moods were low, and everyone looked two seconds from punching the person blocking their path to possible freedom.

I’d never missed the private jet more so than I did now.

Our flight wasn’t due out till eleven in the morning, but my father-in-law and Riley’s father decided to show up to the airport the night before because they were hoping to get a different flight out. As of now, they had not succeeded because all the flights were booked up, cancelled, or overbooked. Big shocker there.

I paced back and forth, holding my third coffee of the night. It was only three in the morning, which meant we had another eight hours of hell to go. “Where’s Riley and Ben?”

Hernandez tipped his head. “Over there.”

Riley was passed out with his head on Ben’s shoulder…and Ben was equally passed out with a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes. I grinned and chuckled. “Now, that’s just perfect.”

“I may have Snapchatted it to them both using the elf filter on them.”

I laughed even more.

It was a miracle I could even laugh right now, but if anyone could make it happen, it was Hernandez. He’d known me for longer than anyone else in my life…minus Carrie’s parents.

They didn’t count, though.

“We’re getting home, man. One way or another.”

I rubbed my forehead. “I know, but I just wish we weren’t dealing with this shit in the first place. If we’d just scheduled the flight last night, or taken our jet…”

“I know.” Hernandez clapped me on the shoulder. “It’ll all work out, though.”

I dropped my hand. “I can’t miss Christmas with my family. If I have to walk barefoot through the snow—”

“—both ways, uphill—”

I flipped him off. “Fuck you. I’ll do it.”

“I know you will,” he said, laughing. “Because you’d do anything for your family.”

Nodding, I glanced at my father-in-law, who was making his way toward me. His tie was still perfectly in place with his suit jacket buttoned up. I’d undone mine ages ago, and my jacket had gotten shoved into my carry on. My tenure as a security guard was almost over, and then it was back to reality. Thank God. I didn’t miss this life. Didn’t miss constantly being on guard…

Although, in all honesty, I was always on guard, anyway.

It just wasn’t my job anymore.

I liked the life of a computer programmer. No one shot at me or my wife. No one threatened us. All I did was sit behind a desk for eight hours, hit the gym on my way home, and go back to my family by six p.m. It was the perfect life. Life with Carrie was perfect.

Jesus, I was fucking ridiculous.

Pining away for my girl like a teenager.

I wouldn’t have it any other way, though.

“Finn?” my father-in-law asked.

I faced him with a calm expression. It wasn’t his fault we were in this mess, and I wasn’t about to take my frustration out on the man who had been like a father to me ever since mine had died. “Yeah?”

“Are you okay?” he asked, rubbing his jaw.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“We’re getting on that plane, one way or another.” He flexed his jaw. “I’m not willing to miss Christmas with them any more than you are.”

I nodded. “Glad we’re in agreement.”

The attendant behind the desk picked up the microphone and cleared her throat. “I know a lot of you are here early for Flight 2206 to Long Beach, California, so I’m going to make this announcement here, as well as putting the information up on the board. Your flight is not cancelled, but it is being moved up to seven a.m. We are hoping by doing this, we will get out before the storm hits, and get you to your families. Please stay tuned for any changes in schedule, plans, or flights. Thank you, and have a wonderful flight.”

Mr. Wallington smiled. “See? God is on our side.”

“Yeah. Totally,” I said, forcing an optimism to my voice I didn’t feel. “Storm’s supposed to hit at six, though, so I’m not sure that’s going to be early enough.”

My phone buzzed, and I glanced at it. Carrie’s smiling face flashed on the screen. “That’s Carrie.”

“Take it,” he said, patting my back. “Tell her we’ll see her soon.”

I forced a smile. “Will do.”

Excusing myself with a nod, I headed to a quiet corner of the terminal. When I’d talked to her last night, she’d seemed to be in high spirits still, but I knew my girl. She was probably in full blown panic mode by now. I might be there, too, but I wouldn’t let her see it. The second I lost my shit in front of her would be the second she knew things were in jeopardy, and I wouldn’t worry her like that. Even if I was drowning and about to die, I wouldn’t let her see me panic.

She didn’t need that in a man. She needed me to be strong.

“Hey, Ginger,” I said, smiling even though she couldn’t see me because I swear to God she could tell when I was faking it if I didn’t. “Shouldn’t you be asleep?”

She scoffed. “As if.”

“What’s up?” I asked lightly.

“They moved your flight up?”

I let out a laugh. “Stalking the site?”

“Of course,” she said, her voice tight. “I can’t sleep until I know you’re on your way home to me.”

I rubbed the spot between my eyebrows. “What did I tell you?”

“That you’ll be home for Christmas, but—”

“No buts.” I gripped my phone. “Nothing, not rain, snow, storms, bombs, accidents, or acts of nature can keep me from getting home to you, Carrie. I’m coming home.”

I heard her take a deep breath. I could picture her sitting in our bed, her eyes closed and her lips parted on a sigh. It was like I was with her, in that bed, and this was all just a nightmare I’d dreamed up in the middle of the night. “Okay.”

“I love you, and I’ll see you soon.” I hesitated. “I promise.”

“I love you, too.”

Turning back to my group, I watched as Hernandez sat and stretched out, yawning long and wide. He looked seconds from falling asleep, and I wished I could join him, but I wouldn’t be. If something went south, and our flight got cancelled, we needed a plan B.

I had to be awake to make one.

“Get some sleep, Ginger. I plan on keeping you up late tomorrow night.”

She let out a low laugh. “Is that another promise?”

“You know it.”

I could practically hear her smile through the other end of the phone. “I look forward to collecting on that.”

“I look forward to delivering on that.”