Page 97 of Hold You Close
“Would you like to step out of line, miss?” The guy behind him asks.
“No!” I say a little too vehemently, my spine snapping straight. “No. I’m going to New Jersey, sir. I’m leaving, because I have no reason to stay.”
“Just asking, because—”
“No one to love me,” I blubber on, my posture wilting again. “No one to care. Even my cat didn’t give a shit when I left him this morning. How is that for pathetic?”
Handkerchief gentleman puts his hand on my arm. “Maybe you should sit down,” he suggests.
“When is someone going to love me?” I throw myself at the poor guy, a stranger in the airport, clinging to him like a weeping toddler. “When is it my turn? Have I made all the wrong choices in life? How did I get here?”
He falls back a little because of the force with which I’ve launched myself at him, but he rubs my back, saying it’s going to be okay. Why couldn’t Ian do this? Why isn’t it his arms that are around me, giving me comfort?
Oh, because he’s a chicken-shit asshole who doesn’t know a good thing when it slaps him in the face.
“I’m sorry,” I sob into the guy’s shoulder, wetting his nice blue button-down shirt. “I’m so sorry.”
“Uh, it’s all right, but the line is really long, and if—”
“London!” A deep voice booms, echoing throughout the cavernous airport security area.
I pick up my head and sniff. I know that voice.
“London! Don’t go!”
Frantically, I look around. Am I dreaming this? Have I lost my last remaining tether to reality? Or is it really Ian I’m hearing?
The crowd around me murmurs and shifts. Something compels me to jump out of the line, leaving my small suitcase behind. I shove people aside and hurdle the yellow security ropes, not easy in heels and a skirt.
“There she is!” A younger voice, female.
I spin around, my jaw dropping open. Then I clasp my hands over my mouth. Running toward me is Ian, carrying Ruby, followed by Morgan and Christopher. The kids are in their pajamas, Ian is wearing sweatpants, flip-flops, and an old UNLV T-shirt—clothing I was sure he normally wouldn’t be caught dead in outside the house—and his hair is a total mess. He looks insane.
But I’ve never seen anything more beautiful than the sight of them rushing toward me, never heard anything as heartwarming as the sound of them calling my name, never known a feeling as deep and powerful as the love I feel for them as they reached me.
“London,” Ian chokes out, setting a smiling Ruby down and leaning forward, hands braced on his knees as he caught his breath. “Thank God.”
“What’s going on?” I shake my head, amazed and baffled. “What are you doing here?”
“He’s fighting for you!” Morgan claps her hands and jumps up and down. Even Christopher is wearing a grin.
“Hush.” Ian gently pushes his niece aside and takes my hands. “London. Don’t get on that plane. Don’t go.”
“I have to, Ian. I took the job like you told me to.” My eyes fill again. “Remember what you said? ‘There’s nothing here worth staying for.’”
“I lied.”
“What?” I shrink back a little and search his face, but it’s open and earnest.
“I lied to keep you from turning down the job for me. I didn’t want you to resent me for ruining your career, for holding you back.”
My heart is pounding. “But I told you I didn’t care about my career as much as I cared about you. About us. And you still told me to go.”
Ian squeezes my hands. His eyes are glossy with unshed tears. “I know. And I’m sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing by making it easy for you to leave, but I was wrong. And I don’t want to make the same mistake again.”
“Again?” Something prickles on the back of my neck. “What do you mean?”
Ian takes a breath. “The first time we were together, I hurt you on purpose so you’d use your scholarship and go to Northwestern. I couldn’t let you give up your education, your dream, just to stay with me. I wasn’t worth it.”
