“Hey girl, I’m outta here. You gonna be okay? You can still come home to Kentucky with me and London.”
“That’s okay, thanks though.” I waved at PJ as London met her at the doorway.
“Well, just in case you change your mind, there’s a surprise for you on your bed. YOU’RE WELCOME!” She shouted as the glass doors closed behind her.
I laughed as I made my way to the front of the store to close up. As I reached for the lights, I couldn’t help but look around me and be thankful for what I did have. I may not have the man of my dreams, but I did have a job, school, and eventually…a very promising career. I quickly locked up and ran across campus to my dorm room as it began pouring rain. I wasn’t exactly sure what waited for me behind the door to my room, but at this point, what could I really lose?
I swung open the door, and immediately began stripping off my soaking wet clothes. I laid them across the radiator, and then tugged on my most comfortable pair of sweats and matching sweatshirt as I walked over to my bed. There sitting in the middle of my comforter sat a round trip ticket to Kentucky. There was a small note attached to it, and I plucked it off of the ticket before throwing myself onto my mattress.
Don’t be an asshole, Kentucky is waiting for you.
Hugs,
PJ
I let out a small laugh as I sat there, thankful for the one person who had become my constant in a world full of uncertainties. As I rolled onto my back, I found myself wondering why I tended to shut so many people out, even when they fought like hell to get in, and when I couldn’t come up with a good enough answer, I got up off of my bed and began packing my bag. Tomorrow I was determined to start anew. Make myself do the things I have always been too afraid to do. There was no holding me back anymore.
~~~~
I arrived at the airport about an hour earlier than I needed to, but I wasn’t leaving anything up to chance anymore. I was taking life by the horns, and living every day as though it was my last…or some shit like that. I was standing in line getting ready to check my bag, when a familiar voice came from behind me. I immediately turned and threw myself into Ryan’s waiting arms. Though we may have not made it as a couple, we were working on being friends.
“Small world, huh?” He laughed.
“Sure is. No going home to sped time with your family?”
“Nope, I’m actually headed to Hawaii.”
“By yourself?” I glanced around, but saw no one waiting for him.
“Um…not so much. I’m actually going with…”
“Ryan, I’m sorry I’m so late.” A cute little brunette came running up to Ryan as I stood back in shock. She was absolutely stunning, and I could tell that she most likely hailed from Hawaii, hence the reason he was going. “Oh hi, sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“No worries. Hi, I’m…”
“This is Hadley. Hadley this is my girlfriend Lelani.”
“Oh my gosh, the Hadley?”
“One of the same.” I joked. I held out my hand to shake hers, but she pulled me into a tight embrace, completely catching me off guard.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I laughed.
“Oh, you too. I’ve heard so much about you, I feel like I already know you.” She smiled.
“Well, we should get going. It was really good to see you, Hadley. I hope you’re doing good.”
“I am, and hey, it was good to see you too.” I watched as my ex-fiancé and his new girlfriend headed off with their arms tightly wrapped around each other, and the pain of it all hit me harder than I ever thought it would.
I shook my head, and started making my way back through the forever long line to check my bag. I wasn’t sure what it was exactly about seeing Ryan move on, but I suddenly felt like I could move on and try to be happy. I was genuinely happy for him, regardless of how we ended things, he really was a good guy, just not a good guy for me. I was lost in my own thoughts when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
“I think you’re up.” The man behind me laughed.
I walked up to the ticket attendant, and handed her my ticket. She clicked a few keys on her keyboard, then looked up at me with a smile. “It looks like you’ve been selected to be upgraded to first class.”
“Is that going to cost anything? I mean, I really can’t afford to upgrade.”
“No, honey. You’re being upgraded…for free.”
I looked at her, confused. “Are you sure?”
“Of course I am. Here is your new boarding pass, and I’ll take your bag. Have a safe flight, Miss Smith.”
“Thank you.” I replied hesitantly, as I took my boarding pass from her and started making my way towards security.
I was still staring at the thin piece of paper in my hand when I reached the TSA agent for my line. I handed her my boarding pass and ID, and she glanced at both documents, and then back at me before finally waving me through. As I made my way through the terminals a short while later, I found myself wondering how Declan could just walk away from me so easily. How was it that one day he looked as though he was falling for me, and then the next he was gone? I knew by now that I should be over it, but something about it just didn’t sit right with me. Unfortunately, this plagued me my entire flight to Kentucky.
When I arrived, I quickly sent a text to PJ, but it wasn’t needed. As I walked through the small hallway on the opposite side of security, I saw bright red curls bouncing up and down. And I instantly knew that she was already here. I took off running towards her, and landed right in her arms.
“Oh my god, how did you know I’d actually show up?” I hugged her tighter, as I thanked my lucky stars for this amazing girl in front of me.
“Because I know you.” She laughed.
I pulled back from PJ, and looked beside her. I could feel myself getting lightheaded as I took in the gorgeous man before me. As if the heaven’s above had heard my plea, there he stood, all six feet four inches of him, and god was it an amazing sight. I fell back a little as everything began to fade to black, but then he caught me. His strong loving arms reached out for me, pulling me gently into his chest, and suddenly everything felt right in the world. When I looked up into the amazing sea of blue, I opened my mouth to speak, but he wasn’t having it. His lips were instantly on mine, moving at a dizzying pace. I gingerly wrapped my arms around his neck and held him as close as I possibly could, because this time, I wasn’t letting him go…ever.
EPILOGUE
Hadley
As we walked over to get my checked luggage, I couldn’t stop staring at Declan. Now that we were finally able to be together, there wasn’t a chance in hell I was letting him out of my sight, and I was pretty sure he agreed with me. His arm stayed wrapped tightly around my waist, and I swear I could hear him breathing me in every few minutes.
“I’m really here.” I laughed.
“I know.” He smiled as he kissed my heated cheek.
I was just about to reach for my bag when my cell phone began vibrating in my back pocket. I glanced at the screen to see who it was, but I didn’t recognize the number. I was about to shove it back into my pocket, but something told me to answer.
“Hold on guys, I’ll be right back.” I slipped out of Declan’s grasp and walked a few feet away from all the noise. “Hello?”
“Is this Hadley Smith?” The man’s voice on the other hand was completely unrecognizable.
“Yes, this is she.”
“Ms. Smith, do you know a young woman by the name of…Ellie Smith?”
My mouth fell open, and my cell phone crashed to the ground as I fell to my knees in shock. I could hear the voice on the other end calling my name, but I was frozen in fear. I watched as Declan and PJ came running at me in slow motion. Time stood still and I could feel my heartbeat slow to a glacial pace as I realized that Ellie…was still out there.
To be continued…
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Simple Lies Page 17
