“I’m open to coming whenever.”
“Don’t your family and friends want to talk to me?” Chase asked.
“I don’t have any. I can come any time.”
Chase’s happy expression turned sad, and I knew it was going to be very difficult to say why I was totally alone. We both just stayed quiet for a minute, and I tried to keep a smile to lighten the mood a little.
“How abo
ut in two days? I’ll get a ticket for you in the morning on Thursday. Message me your full name and date of birth, so I can get it booked. I’m sorry you don’t have anyone, Jordan.”
His words hit me in just the wrong way, and I suddenly burst into tears.
“It’s okay,” I said as my tears flowed down my face.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
I saw the genuine sadness in his eyes, and I thought he had to be who he said he was. I couldn’t explain it, but I just didn’t feel like a scam artist type of guy would have been sad for me when I said I didn’t have anyone. A scam artist couldn’t show that much emotion or, at least, so I thought.
“Well, I have a mother and a best friend. But they are both gone. They have moved on without me. I’m left alone here now.”
“Okay. So, come here with me. We can get to know each other more, and I can take you on a date,” he said with a smile.
I felt such electricity between us, and I really did want to meet him. I hoped that there would be the same kind of electricity between us in real life. I had never met a man who I felt that attracted to in real life. Most of the men I met kind of repulsed me. My chemistry and the guy’s chemistry just never seemed to be right, not that I had a ton of experiences dating.
I knew it was because I wasn’t around any good guys. But I really didn’t think there were any good guys at all in my entire country. I was convinced all the cute, good-looking guys had left Liechtenstein and went to other countries.
“Okay,” I said as I shook my head yes. “Okay, I’ll come.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I started to jump up and down with excitement. It was totally out of my character to do something like that. In fact, if my mother or Ana had done the same thing, I would have lectured them for hours. But I needed to change my life, and I felt sure that there was a connection with Chase.
Life is about taking bold steps, and I took the leap and said yes to go to visit Chase. It felt invigorating to do something so out of character for me. I hadn’t felt that alive in a very long time. I wasn’t one to use drugs, but I suspected the feeling I had at that time was exactly like the high people got when they did drugs.
“Okay, send me your information and I’ll get the ticket booked through my company.”
“Okay.”
“It was really nice meeting you, Jordan. I can’t wait to meet you in person.”
“You, too, Chase.”
“Okay, I’m going to get back to work. Message me later and we can chat some more. I’d love to talk to you more about your nursing and stuff.”
“Yes, I will. Talk to you later, Chase.”
“Later, Jordan.”
When we hung up, my whole body surged with energy, and I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I was crazy excited, and I needed to run and jump as much as I could. Nothing like that had ever happened to me before. I felt like I was in the middle of a fairytale, and I had just met my Prince Charming.
Of course, I was leery that it could all not be real at all. But I just felt like Chase was who he said he was. If I ended up being wrong, that would totally be my fault and I knew it. I was tired of taking the hard road and tired of always doing the right thing. For once in my life, I wanted to take the easy road. I wanted to meet a man who would care for me.
My heart wanted to go meet Chase, so that’s exactly what I was going to do. I was following my heart for once, instead of my brain. Speaking of my heart, it fluttered back and forth as if I had just finished running a marathon.
I looked around my apartment and started to grab all the things I knew I would have to take with me to America. If all went well, I would never have to return home again. Or maybe, just return home to visit my mother if she decided to live there.