Play Along

I text him.

You need to get the tickets or they are going to close the flight.

He reads it and then runs his hand through his hair in frustration and texts back.

Five more minutes

For God’s sake. I text back.

Stop procrastinating and just fucking do it!

His eyes flicker up and he raises a sarcastic brow. I smirk and drop my head. He doesn’t like me telling him what to do, but that’s too bad. He needs to get us on this flight. He waits for a few minutes and then stands and goes to the counter with our two passports. I go and stand behind him in the line as if I don’t know him.

“Two tickets to Vegas, please.” He shuffles around in his bag and gets out our two identifications. “Seated separately, please.”

The stewardess frowns as she types in her computer. This could be a disaster. If we can’t get on the plane, then we have alerted them to where we are for nothing.

I hold my breath as we wait for her answer.

“The next flight is boarding in forty minutes, but you have missed the luggage.”

“We only have carry on.”

She glances to the two small bags we have with us. “Oh, okay. I can get you on that one then, if you want.”

“Yes, please.”

Relieved, I glance around at our surroundings. Life on the run isn’t as fun as you would imagine. I feel fifty.

He gets the ticket and leaves mine on the counter to collect, then he goes to walk in the doors and I walk up to the counter as a decoy. “Excuse me?” I ask the stewardess as I slide my ticket off the counter. “Do you mind me asking where you got that watch from?” I ask.

“Oh, it’s nice isn’t it?” She smiles.

I glance over at Stace as he disappears into the early check in lounge.

“Harrods in London,” she replies.

“Great, thank you,” I call as I take off after my love. That was so rude, but I don’t really want to know where she got her crappy watch. I walk through the check in gates and hold my breath as I walk through the scanners. Our five diamonds are scattered around the bottom of my bag with a handful of beads as if they are junk jewellery and the plan is, if I get picked up, to say that they were in a costume jewellery necklace I had bought. They wave me through and I see a trace of a smile cross Stace’s face as he slowly waits for them to check his bag in front of me. Happy with the result, he turns and walks in, and I follow and sit down two seats down from him. I take out my phone and text him.

Can we sit together now?

He texts back.

You know we can’t.

I blow out a frustrated breath and he looks over at me before he texts again.

You can sit on me when we get home.

I frown as I read his text and reply.

Where is home?

A text bounces back.

Wherever you are, is my home.

I smile, and for some stupid reason I tear up. I reply.