Play Along

I love you

I watch him smile as he reads it and texts back.

I love you more.

I tuck my phone into my backpack and clasp my hands in my lap and smile to myself. Not long now. We are nearly there.

“Cabin crew, prepare for landing,” the captain’s voice echoes through the cabin. The flight has been long and uneventful. I am looking forward to getting Stace alone. It seems ridiculous that I could miss him after not being able to sit with him on the flight. I turn in my seat to look back at him. He is seated four rows behind me with three guys. They seem to be getting along famously and I have sporadically heard them laugh as they talk. Better than my damn trip. I’m sitting next to an old lady who had five strong drinks and then went to sleep and snored the whole damn way. It annoys me that I depend on him so much. For a month now, it has just been him and me. We haven’t had anyone with us, no family network. I think that’s why it feels so intense. Our life together isn’t reality… although it is for me, I’ve always been kind of alone. I just hope that when we get out of this mess we work out, I can’t see how it won’t. We are crazy about each other. I wait for the lights to go on and I immediately take my phone off airplane mode. I text.

Nice flight?

A text bounces back.

Yes, you?

I smile.

Dull.

The plane slowly travels down the runway to our destination and with it my nerves begin to rise, they could be here waiting for us in the airport. A text comes through.

You know the plan?

I text back.

Yes.

I love you

A text immediately pings.

Tell me the plan.

Fuck’s sake.

The plan is I’m going to kill you if you don’t stop making me repeat the plans

A ping sounds as the woman next to me struggles around in the overhead.

Don’t make me come up there.

Tell me what the fucking plan is!

I blow out a breath and shake my head. This man is infuriating, I’m not a child and I’m bloody nervous, too.

I walk out and go straight into the ladies’ restroom and wait for your okay

“Do you want me to get your bag?” The lady asks me.

“No, I got it, thanks.” Why is everyone treating me like a damn baby?

Good girl

Wait for my instruction.

The plane comes to a slow halt and I shuffle through the line to exit the plane. Funnily enough, the walk up the makeshift corridor into the airport is the longest walk I think I have ever done. My mind is racing. What if they out there waiting? What if they just shoot me on sight in front of everyone? No, that won’t happen. What if the police are here and arrest Stace? Does anyone even know we are here? I could be worrying for nothing. I try to calm myself down knowing this is not helping me act casual. Don’t be stupid, they won’t shoot us, of course they won’t. Stace said I’m safe in the airport. Hell, maybe I should just live here forever? My stomach is churning, I’m starving and tired, and I don’t bloody need this shit. We just have to get through customs now and hopefully everything will be fine. Stace has the money strapped around his body and if he does happen to get searched we are totally screwed. It was the only way to get it into the country, and seeing I am carrying millions of dollars in stolen diamonds in my handbag, it was unfortunately left up to him. Thank God sniffer dogs don’t pick up cash. Our eyes meet as we wait in line to get through customs and he looks away. He’s nervous.

I’m nervous.