A few seconds of silence tick by. “You’re not joking, are you?”

“No.”

“Oh, God, Chloe. I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

“I’ve never been better.” I wish she could see the smile on my face. “Because he’s my boyfriend now. I’m going to his house this weekend. In Chicago,” I add.

“I’m going to need a lot more details than this.”

I slip my carry-on bag over my shoulder and get up, going to the large windows so I can look at the planes coming and going as I talk. “He kissed me, and I told him I couldn’t have a one-night stand with him because I’ve loved him for years. And then he said he’s been in love with me too, he regrets not chasing after me that night at the party, and has wished every day for a way to make things right.”

“Fuck.”

“I know, right?” I get a goofy smile on my face again.

“You believe him?”

I wasn’t expecting her to say that. The smile comes right off my face. “Yeah. Why would he lie?”

“To get in your pants,” she says like it’s obvious.

“He went through a lot of effort just for that, and why would he invite me to stay with him this weekend if he was just trying to get in my pants.”

“To get in your pants again.”

Frowning, I shake my head. “No, Sam isn’t like that. He doesn’t need to con and trick someone for sex. He could easily get anyone he wants. Flying back and forth to each other is the most involved booty call I can think of, and kind of the opposite of what a booty call is supposed to be, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, you’re right. I have a hard time trusting someone after they’ve hurt me or someone I love.”

“I know, and that’s what makes you such a ruthless bitch and a good best friend.”

She laughs. “Thanks. I just want to make sure you’re not letting your heart overrule your head here.”

“It does have a tendency to do that.”

“And that’s why you make a good best friend.”

“I trust him. He’s grown up a lot since that stupid party. He goes to bed early and doesn’t drink alcohol very often.”

“Wow. He has grown up a lot,” she laughs. “Now, I have an important question.”

“Shoot.”

“Does he really have a big dick like everyone said he did in high school?”

Heat creeps over me as I think back to having sex with Sam. “It’s huge, like I wasn’t sure it would fit inside me without splitting me in two.” I turn and realize a couple of teenage boys are within earshot, staring at me incredulously. I pull my hat down, hoping it’s a good enough disguise and I don’t get recognized today. Without Charles on my arm, I’m easily overlooked.

Farisha laughs. “That’s all I’m going to be thinking about the next time I see him.”

“I’ll try to sneak a dick pic for you when he’s sleeping.”

“I know I should say no, but if he’s as well-hung as you—oh shit, my mother-in-law is here. They’re visiting from India and have been staying with Prasad’s sister. She’s still single and they keep trying to arrange her marriage.”

“Ugh. Poor girl.”

“Right? I got lucky my parents valued education and didn’t push to arrange mine like my grandmother wanted. I got to fall in love the old-fashioned way, and I still ended up with a ‘nice Indian boy’ who my grandma approves of.”

We laugh and she says a rushed goodbye, needing to quickly hide dirty dishes in the sink before her mother-in-law criticizes her housekeeping skills. I end the call, go back to my seat, and get out my computer. I told myself I’d try to write five thousand words from the time I got to my terminal to the time I landed in LA. I have an hour and a half left before we even board the plane, and at least an hour and a half hour plane ride back home. That’s plenty of time to write that much. I can write it in just about three hours if I concentrate, but my mind is preoccupied.

I don’t want to put any merit into what Farisha said. She wasn’t there, she didn’t hear our conversations or see the way Sam looked at me. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was a little scared. Not because of Sam, but simply because I’ve wanted this so long I’m terrified something is going to come in and take it all away from me…that the universe will punish me simply for being me.

I squeeze my eyes closed, trying to center myself, and reread the last chapter I wrote. It’s good and gets me amped up to continue. I stick my headphones in and crank up my music, not looking up until I finish this chapter. We board soon, so I quickly load up my stuff and use the bathroom. Sam calls just minutes before I’m called to get on the plane.

“Hey,” he says, and hearing his voice quells all the nerves I have inside me. “I only have like a minute before I have to go back inside, but I wanted to call and just say hi.”

“I’m glad you did. I’m just about to get on the plane.”

“We just have to make it through tomorrow,” he says. “And then we can say we’ll see each other tonight.”

“I cannot wait.”

“What do you want for dinner? I’ll pick something up on the way home from the hospital.”

“Chicago pizza,” I say without having to even think about it.

“Sounds good. I’ll get—fuck, I’m being paged. I’ll call you tonight. Love you,” he rushes out before ending the call. I’m all fluttering inside, and hearing a call for Dr. Harris is so fucking hot. I’ll text him Friday and remind him to bring home some scrubs so we can role play sexy doctors on TV.

Friday is going to take forever to get here.

“Hey, big guy,” I whisper, sliding Spartan’s stall door open. It’s late, and most of the horses are settling down for the night. Only Olivia is here, one of the trainers, and she was getting the barn ready to be closed up for the night when I pulled in the parking lot. “Did you miss me? I missed you.”

My big gray horse comes over, nosing my jacket pockets for treats.

“Really?” I laugh and reach inside, pulling out a peppermint. His nostrils flare and he impatiently waits for me to undo the plastic wrapper. I give him the treat and then move to his side, wrapping my arms around his neck. I landed in LA not long ago, and sat outside on my patio talking to Sam. He sounded tired and said he had a very long second half of his day at work. There was a bad car accident and several victims were brought to his center, needing to be rushed into surgery.

I fell asleep on the plane, and now I’m not tired. Instead of doing what I should do and focus all my energy into my book or take some melatonin, going to sleep and then getting up early, I drove out to the barn to visit my horse. Makes sense, I know. It’s late and the horses have a decent routine here, so I only stay for about fifteen minutes, running a brush over Spartan’s soft fur. His tail has been braided, and Olivia told me the barn girls even added flowers. Spartan had to have just eaten up all their attention…and the tons of treats I’m sure they gave him.

I leave the barn feeling refreshed, as I always do, and end up staying up late again writing. At some point, I should get myself on a sleep schedule, but this works for me now and I don’t have to get up early tomorrow.