Esme snorted. No, I wouldn’t call dating a famous hockey player normal.
Rolling my eyes, I let the comment bounce right off me. It’s not a normal or easy situation, I repeated, but maybe it’ll work out somehow. I’m hopeful that it’ll work.
Then we’re happy for you, Lia, Harper said genuinely, and Esme agreed. Especially because he seems to have gotten through to you about taking some time for yourself-which is great !
Lord knows we couldn’t do it.
Well, I was working through everything yesterday-
Which better be why you put off telling us about this relationship development for more than twenty-four hours, Esme cut in teasingly.
Guilty, I admitted sheepishly. But yeah, I was working yesterday and started planning out what I had left to do, only to realize I was actually ahead of schedule. I paused, debating on how to drop the next piece of news before coming right out with it. Which actually works out well, since Derrick invited me out to Los Angeles in two weeks.
He did what ?
Esme’s eyes shone with mirth. Oh my god, is this what your life is going to be like now ? Flying out for weekends with your boo ?
I don’t know, I mumbled, feeling a flush span across my cheeks. I mean, it’s not going to be like, every weekend, but if this is the only way we can see each other when our schedules match up, then I’m not going to say no.
She’s just teasing, Harper said, nudging her girlfriend lightly in the side. Don’t worry, we get that things aren’t the same in a relationship when you can’t see one another. Because while they’d been together for years, I knew there’d been a time when Harper had worked abroad for six months that had really tested their relationship. So hopefully you and Derrick can make things work.
Esme wriggled her brows suggestively. And find some fun ways to keep the chemistry alive.
Yeah, I sighed, so do I.
We’re beginning to make our descent into Los Angeles, so we ask that all passengers please return to their seats. We’ll make another announcement with deplaning instructions once we land and are heading toward our gate.
Murmurings of excitement could be heard around me as passengers began to look out the windows and get the familiar thrill that came with traveling. In contrast, however, I was wringing my hands nervously in my lap, wondering if this was truly the best idea.
Was I actually doing this ? Flying across the country to see my boyfriend, who I hadn’t even known three months ago ?
Yes, I was. Because somehow, this guy-this striking, confident, good-looking guy-had begun to chip away at my defenses to burrow himself into a small section of my heart.
Even across the country, he’d found creative ways over the past two weeks to convince me that giving him a true shot was in no way a mistake. There had been days when I’d woken up to sweet good morning messages waiting for me, phone calls and video chats nearly every night to catch up with one another despite the miles between us, and on the Monday after we’d made things official, I’d come back to my office after lunch to see a small bouquet of wildflowers waiting for me.
Which had made the conversation with my professor later that day an interesting one. Awkward for me and amusing for her. When I’d asked about taking a day off, she’d looked at me knowingly. I’m assuming that has something to do with whoever sent you the flowers today ? she said, and when I nodded, a breezy laugh fell from her lips. Lia, it’s fine. You’re ahead on your research, you don’t have lab time scheduled, and you aren’t missing any lectures. Everyone needs time off, so take those couple of days to recharge and come back ready to put the finishing touches on your defense.
And I’d taken her advice to heart, because for the first time since I started my PhD, I had left my laptop behind in Boston. The action had terrified the piece of my soul that was hellbent on being an overachiever and reaching my fullest potential, but I’d listened to the logical side of my brain as I left my apartment earlier this morning.
This weekend was all about spending time with Derrick, not staring at a screen for hours on end.
In town for anything special ? my seat mate asked, clutching the arm rests tighter with each meter we descended closer to the ground. Likely a few years younger than me, she’d been fidgety for the majority of the flight, but I could sympathize with the nerves and anxiety she seemed to have coursing through her body.
I gave her a shy smile. Just to visit my boyfriend for the weekend.
Oh, that’s sweet, she said, before grimacing as the wheels of the plane hit the tarmac and things got a bit rough for a few moments. She exhaled slowly once the airplane attendant came back on the speaker and we headed towards our gate. I’m here for a job interview.
What kind of job ?
Software designer.
Wow, I said, visibly impressed. That’s great.
She nodded, and whether it was because she was excited or nervous-or both-she launched into a spiel about how she was excited about the opportunity, as it was for a company that’d been founded by a group of women she’d looked up to in the tech industry all through her university career. And honestly, she had spunk. She was clearly thrilled at the chance she was being offered, and if she had the skills to back up ambition, she was sure to achieve a lot in her career.
That’s great, I said, offering her one final smile when we finally made it to our gate and everyone around us began to grow impatient. And good luck, though I don’t think you’ll need it. I’m sure you’re going to ace your interview.
She grinned. Let’s hope so.
Wishing her well as I grabbed my carry-on from the overhead compartment, I followed the line of people off the plane, pulling my phone out of my pocket as I made my way through the airport. Switching it off of airplane mode, a few texts came in from my friends that I’d missed before boarding, simply wishing me well, and two much more recent messages popped up from Derrick.
Hey, practice let out a bit late and I’m just leaving the arena now. Hopefully I’ll still be there in time !
I must’ve beaten the traffic, because I just found a parking spot. Heading over to the arrivals at terminal 5 now. Can’t wait to see you x
That second one had been sent only five minutes ago, so when I looked up from the screen as I turned the corner into the waiting area, I didn’t expect to see him.