Ignite

“No thank you. I just need to lie down I think.”

Tara motioned with her head toward the back of the plane. “You go right on ahead. I won’t bother you unless I need to.”

I gave her a weak smile and made my way back to the private bedroom.

“Good lord, is it just dawning on me there is a freaking bedroom on the plane,” I said to myself as I opened the door and let out a gasp.

“Please dear God, let Emmit have a bedroom on his plane. Please.”

Pulling my phone back out, I sent Emmit another text. Time to kick it up a notch.

Me: All I can think of is you, Emmit. I can’t hide it anymore.

Emmit: Holy living hell, Addie. Hide what?

Giggling, I knew Emmit was probably getting himself all worked up but I couldn’t help myself. Shit, I hope he wasn’t about to qualify.

Me: What are you doing this very second?

Emmit: Running back to my bus!

I chuckled as I pictured Emmit doing just that.

Me: Have you qualified yet?

Emmit: Yes! Yes! Yes! What can’t you hide anymore, Addie?

Here it goes.

Me: I want you, Emmit. I’ve never stopped loving you and this past week . . . it’s led me to this insane desire to be with you.

Emmit: Damn, Addie. Baby, I’ve never stopped loving you. Please forgive me for being a total fucker.

My heart felt as if I had just fallen from a ten-story building. Closing my eyes, I softly spoke, “Oh, Emmit.” I had wanted to tell Emmit all of this in person, but fear of rejection pushed me into blurting it out over text.

I was flying to Tennessee to give Mr. Elliot my answer on his job proposal. He wanted to bring a nurse on to his team. When he told me he wanted me to come to work with him as the team’s personal nurse, I almost burst into tears. I’d had a hell of a time trying to find a job. No one really wanted to hire fresh-out-of-school nurses.

I could do my job and be with Emmit while he did his. While Mr. Elliot had been talking, I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

Me: We both made mistakes. Can we start over?

Emmit: No. We can pick up where we left off.

Pulling up his number, I hit it and held my breath as it rang. Thank God for the invention of Wi-Fi calling.

His voice was barely above a whisper. “Addie,”

I wasn’t prepared for the reaction I was going to have when I heard him say my name. A small sob escaped my lips as I said, “Emmit, I’m so sorry. I was only doing what I thought was right for both of us . . . I . . . I’ve always loved you.”

Emmit made a noise and said, “Jesus, Addie. We were both young and stupid. Baby, please tell me we can pick up where we left off. We’ll make this work, Addie, I swear to God we’ll make it work.”

I covered my mouth with my hand as I held my sobs back while tears rolled down my face.

“Baby, talk to me, please, Addie. Say something.”

Wiping my tears away, I nodded even though Emmit couldn’t see me. “We’ll make it work, Emmit. I know we will.”

Emmit released a breath. “Thank you, God.”