Perfect Fifths_ A Jessica Darling Novel - Megan McCafferty [67]
“You know, I think I could benefit from thAIRapy. I always feel so out of my body when I travel. Like I’m not where I was and I’m not where I need to be. I feel totally disassociated from everything; I’m not really anywhere.”
“That’s good stuff, Jessica. Keep talking, keep walking. Hahhhhh … I think I’m safe now.”
“You’re safe. I’m clearly in the company of a madman.”
“It makes sense, the purgatorial feeling. We are in a terminal, after all.”
“No, no, no. You can’t just pretend you weren’t acting like a total maniac. Are you going to tell me what was up with your girlfriend back there?”
“Jonelle?”
“Oh, is that her name?”
“We … er … met earlier.”
“Oh, really? I’m not surprised. According to an Axe deodorant body spray poll, Newark Liberty International airport was voted the number one airport in the nation for making a love connection.”
“Really? Is that true?”
“Yes, from no lesser authority than the digital billboard right behind you. So, far be it from me to get in the way of you and Jonelle. I don’t want to be responsible for Newark’s drop in the rankings.”
“Trust me, I’m not interested. She’s an aeroanxiety specialist under the misguided impression that she can cure me.”
“Are you anxious?”
“Since you ran over me? Extremely.”
“You hide it well. Oh, wait, here’s the gate and … This does not look good.”
“That all depends on your definition of ‘good.’”
“There seems to be quite a number of people who also need to get to St. Thomas this evening. Wait here while I talk to the customer ser vice rep. Or, uh, don’t. I mean, you don’t have to wait for me.”
“I’ll wait, Jessica. It’s fine. I’m looking forward to dragging this out to its maximum awkwardness.”
[Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.]
“What’s the word?”
“The word is: screwed. There are, like, a million people ahead of me on standby. It looks like I’m in Newark until tomorrow.”
“Do you need to call Bridget and Percy?”
[Sigh.] “I already told Hope to tell them I wasn’t going to make it. I was hoping to surprise them by actually arriving on time. I’m afraid if I call them right now, I’ll just… Shit.” [Sniffle.]
“You tried, Jessica.”
“I know.”
[Pause.]
“Well, I’m definitely not crashing in the airport overnight. I’m so over this place.”
“I’m not crashing here, either.”
“You’re not? I figured you’d be the type to rough it. Camp out right here in the terminal, under the fluorescent lights, curled up on the crummy carpet on which millions of passengers have trod before you, using your duffel as a pillow, the recorded reminder to please maintain contact with your luggage at all times—mantenga el contacto con su equipaje siempre, por favor—your bilingual lullaby …”
“As romantic as you make that sound, hell no. I’m headed for the shuttle train that goes to all the airport hotels. I’m getting a room.”
[Pause.]
“I guess I should, too.”
“I hear good things about the Here hotels.”
“‘If you can’t be where you want to be, you might as well stay Here.’”
“Or their new motto: ‘Wherever you go, Here you are.’”
“Veeeeery bumper-stickery.”
“Hey, don’t hold that against Here E-Dub. Let’s see. Free Wi-Fi… high-def plasmas … A complimentary breakfast buffet… Oh, and we can get to know our fellow guests with the hottest selection of interactive gameplay…”
“Have you been paid by a guerrilla marketing firm?”
“I’m reading the digital billboard over there.”
“Oh. Right. So. Uh.”
[Pause.]
“Want to get a room?”
“At Here E-Dub?”
“Yes. Or wherever.”
“Like, together?”
“Yes, together. We can pass the time. It makes sense, doesn’t it? I’ve enjoyed talking to you. And I would prefer to be in your company instead of all alone in front of the high-def plasma TV. So how about it?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Why not? You were just lamenting how it was too bad that we didn’t have more time together, and now we do. Or were you just saying that to be nice?”
“There you go again, accusing me of being nice.”
“Seriously, Jessica. Why not?”
“I don’t think we should push our luck.”
“Push our luck? What are you so afraid of?”
“Doing—I mean, saying something I’ll regret.