Chapter 28

Bella

Four Months Later

“We’re here.”

With my head resting against the glass, I stare out at the familiar airport before whacking Dave’s headrest.

“Thanks, Dave. I appreciate all the rides you’ve given me since I joined St. Michael’s.”

When he doesn’t answer me immediately, I peer around the seat, noting his closed eyes and pained expression. Aw, is he as sad as I am that this might be the last time he gives me a ride?

“I know. I know. I can’t believe it’s the end either, but don’t you think dropping me off at the airport is a real full circle moment for us?”

He grumbles, which I can only assume is because he’s too choked up with emotion to speak.

Opening my door, I round the car to find Dave already at the trunk with my two full-sized bags ready to go. That’s new. He never usually helps me. I hold my hands out and scoff in surprise. “Woah, D. What did I do to deserve the five-star treatment from you?”

“You’re leaving for good,” he says with no emotion.

I tilt my head and pout my bottom lip out. See. He’ll miss me. It’s not because he’s happy I’ll be gone. It’s that he’s sad to see me go.

With my arms still open, I expect him to come in for a hug, but he pushes my bag in the empty space between us instead.

Frowning, I grip onto the suitcase and pull it up to the sidewalk. “Good luck with everything, Dave. I hope with each ride you give, you get closer to your destination.”

Dave doesn’t respond to my pleasantries; he just walks over to the carts and rolls one out for me. Again, something new, and I smile as he loads the bags up. He grunts as he drags my suitcases onto the cart. I probably didn’t need two full-sized cases for London, but I didn’t want to leave anything behind at Hope. Besides, I’d heard the weather in the UK was as unpredictable as my feelings for Drew, so I’d say it was a good thing to have more options than less.

“I’m not good with goodbyes, so let’s leave it as I’ll look you up next time I visit my dad.”

He didn’t need to know that would likely never happen. To say my relationship with him has been strained after the whole Drew fiasco would be an understatement. He thinks I’ve ruined his chances for another championship this year, and I think he ruined my chance at real love.

Unfortunately for him, my guilty conscience wouldn’t let Drew take the fall for everything, even though my dad begged me to keep it quiet. I didn’t. I told the Dean it was me in the video, and I was the one that broke in. I was politely told that I would need to find a new place to finish my studies at the end of this semester, which was fine by me.

My dad and I need time apart. Like Drew said, I need to find myself and figure out what I want.

Without another word, Dave rounds his car and jumps back in. As the door shuts, my phone buzzes with a message from the airline.

Due to overbooking, your flight to London has been delayed. Please get in touch with Alpha Airlines at your earliest convenience to reschedule.

“What the fuck? Dave, wait. I might need you.” His wheels screech away before I have the chance to stop him. I watch as his car drives away with a frown. What am I going to do now? He’s gone, and I’m stuck at the airport again with two giant suitcases and no flight to board.

“Fine,” I huff out, bracing the handle of the cart. I’m not going to let this defeat me. Determined to fix this mess, I stomp into the airport, looking for someone to talk to.

Two hours later, my intended flight has left without me, and I’m staring at the same attendant that ruined my plans last Christmas. With my elbow resting on the desk, I toy with my passport, ticked off that I’m having the exact conversation again. “And you have no other flights to London until next Saturday?”

The attendant sighs and nods. She does a little typing, and her exasperation suggests that she remembers me from the last time. “Unfortunately, no. If you want to go earlier, then you need to travel to one of our international hubs. Since the overbooking was our fault, you would get the flight to the hub as part of your ticket on top of the six hundred dollars we’re already giving you for the inconvenience.”

“Where are your international hubs?” I ask, tapping my passport across the countertop. I only ask the question because I want to pass the time. Going back to St. Michael’s isn’t an option, so I guess I need to choose from one of these hubs.

“Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles…”

“Los Angeles?” That location makes me perk up. I stop tapping my passport and look at the attendant as though she’s changed my entire life.

Maybe she has.

What she doesn’t realize is Southern Collegiate is in LA.

Drew is in LA.

He got a new number so we haven’t talked in four months, but I know he’s there, training with his new team because I’ve stalked him on the social media account Southern Collegiate forced him to create. There’s nothing personal on there but being able to see his face every once in a while, helped to pass the time without him.

Every morning and night, I’d check to see if there was a post, much to Marissa’s dismay. She thinks I’m a lost cause. That Drew’s over me, and if I was just looking at his feed, I’d think the same. There are always pictures of him with girls. He’s smiling, and happy, but I know it’s not real. I know his genuine smile, and that isn’t it.

The attendant types away before smiling. “Yes, I know it’s in the other direction, but it looks like Los Angeles has the most flights to London this week. We have a flight leaving for LAX in an hour.”

Could this be fate? Are Drew and I meant to talk again? It’s in that moment I realize I need to see Drew. I’m moving to London and before I can really put myself out there, I need to talk to him, and if anything, get some closure.

Not that I’d pick closure. If Drew offers me more than I’ll take it. I just need to be realistic.

“If you get on the next flight, I should be able to have you on a flight to London tonight as well.”

I smile because this has got to be fate, or maybe karma making up for all the other shit it put me through. “I’ll take it,” I squeal in excitement. The attendant rolls her eyes as she prints off my ticket

My hands shake. My body vibrates, and I almost can’t fathom that something I only ever dreamed about happening is about to come true.

I’m going to see Drew.

He may not know it, but I’m going to see his beautiful smile and deep eyes in the flesh again.

“Perfect.” The attendant grins and swiftly hands me a ticket. “It’s gate 15. Boarding will start in the next ten minutes.”

As I walk away from her desk with an extra six hundred dollars in my bank account, I turn around. “Wait a minute.”

The attendant’s smile fades. “What now?”

“I need more time. Can you change the flight to London and book me a hotel in LA?”

She stops her lip from curling and looks down at her screen. “I can change your flight, but I’m not your assistant. You’ll have to figure out your hotel arrangements”

“Of course.” I shake my head, feeling foolish that I even suggested it. It’s not my fault. I can’t think straight when it comes to seeing Drew, and this might be one of the biggest moments for us.

I’m putting myself out there. Showing him I’m willing to go all in for him. I just don’t know if he’ll let me.