Page 38 of Cruising for Christmas
“I see.”
As if reading her mind, he muted his phone and stuffed it into his pocket, the vibrations still audible. “It’s over, Norah. There was nothing there.”
“But she’s still texting you?”
“She’s trying to justify dumping me.”
Norah's heart sank. Had she been a rebound? Her voice came out quiet. “She dumped you?”
“It’s not what you think,” he said.
Linda walked over. “We really need to check into our flights.”
Norah looked at her watch. They only had an hour and a half before takeoff, and the security line was already long as far as Norah could see.
“Give us just a minute,” Ian said.
Linda nodded and walked away.
Ian took Norah’s hands. “I promise you weren’t a rebound. I know what you’re thinking, but this was as real for me as it was for you.”
“Okay,” Norah whispered.
“I don’t want to walk away from you like this.”
Norah looked over Ian’s shoulder and could see the worried look on Shay’s face as she glanced repeatedly at the growing security line.
“I don’t think we really have a choice. Let’s talk about it later. Call me?”
Ian nodded. “I will.” They hugged one last time and parted ways.
18
Ian pressed the heel of his hands against his face. He had landed in New York only a few hours ago and immediately tried to call Norah, but the call went to voicemail. She was likely still in the air since she had further to travel than he did, but it didn’t stop him from trying. He needed to talk to her.
And that need only grew stronger the longer he stood here. Kelly stood before him. She was waiting in front of his apartment when he got back. Of course, she hadn’t been waiting long. She knew exactly what his travel plans were, since she was originally supposed to be on the trip with him.
So much had changed in one short week.
“Are you even listening to me?” Kelly asked.
Ian ran a hand over his hair. “Why are you here?”
He reached down and scratched his dog on the head. Ian had just picked Rex up from the doggy daycare, and Rex was prancing eagerly at Ian’s feet, wanting all his attention.
She sighed loudly and stomped a foot. “Ian, I’m trying to tell you I made a mistake. I want us to be together. Didn’t you see that from all my text messages?”
The truth was, after he parted ways with Norah, he didn’t read any of the texts from Kelly. It was overwhelming, and he didn’t care what she had to say.
He blinked at her. “Come again?”
She stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’ve missed you.”
He held his hands in the air before gently setting them on her shoulders and pushing her back.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“What am Idoing? What areyoudoing? We broke up. Or did you forget?”
