Wes said good-bye and disconnected. He raked his hand through his hair, forcing his mind to engage. She’d flown all the way out here, driven herself from the airport, only to find him kissing Melissa.
“God can’t be that cruel. ” He sat back and whipped the truck around, driving the direction her car had gone. “He can’t. ”
He called Rubi’s cell three times in a row, disconnecting when her message came on. At a stoplight. he texted her.
WES: WHERE are you?
When he didn’t get an answer, he dialed Lexi.
“Hi, Wes,” she answered.
“You sound guilty already,” he said. “Where is she?”
“Um…I don’t want to get in the middle—”
“Lexi, she flew all the way out here just to turn around and go home? Come on. You’re her best friend. You know we’re good together. That woman needs to get out of her own goddamned way. Now tell me where she is. ”
A pause. Then a heavy exhale. “The airport. ”
Wes stomped on the gas. Hope flared. “Which airline?”
“United. Her plane leaves in forty-five minutes. Wes?”
“Yeah?”
“She’s…upset. She’s trying to pretend she’s not, but…she’s fragile right now. And as much as I love you, if you break her heart, I’ll break yours. ”
That made Wes smile. “Understood. ”
As soon as he disconnected, his phone buzzed with a message.
RUBI: I’m where I’m supposed to be and you’re where you’re supposed to be. Everything’s good.
“No,” he murmured to himself, sliding his phone into his pocket. “But everyone’s going to be right where they should be real soon. ”
He reached the airport in ten minutes instead of the twenty it should have taken, parked illegally, and ran into the terminal. He purchased the cheapest ticket he could get—a commuter hop from St. Louis to Des Moines—just to get to the gate. Security was excruciating. But he spotted one of his childhood football buddies working TSA and got rushed through. He sprinted through the United terminal like one of those idiots late for their plane and pulled to a stop in front of a departure board. There were two flights leaving for LA.
“Now boarding passengers for flight 5612 to Los Angeles. ” A woman’s voice filled the terminal. “We invite disabled persons, military personnel in uniform, and Global Services to board now. ”
Wes’s chest burned with a punch of panic. “No, no, no. ”
He swiveled on his heel, searched for gate numbers, and ran down the corridor. He slowed just before the gate, scanning the area. He was breathing hard, sweating. His heart pounded quickly in his chest.
“Where are you?” he whispered, his gaze darting from person to person at the crowded gate. People were already in line to board according to group number, blocking his view.
He couldn’t find her. Fuck. His heart sank. Blood drained from his head, leaving him dizzy.
Wes pulled out his phone, hit the speed dial number for Rubi with his thumb, then watched the passengers and listened for the ring. But got nothing.
“Dammit. ” Could she have anticipated Wes coming? Given Lexi the wrong airline?
He pushed a hand through his hair and walked past the gate, now searching for the restrooms. He turned in a circle, spotted them, and watched the women going in and out for a moment.
“We now invite group one to board. ” The woman’s voice filled Wes’s ear.
Group one included first class. That would be Rubi.
He turned again, scanned the line. Searched the gate seating area.