Look East | A Hozier Fanfiction |

24

Molly navigated her suitcases through the Arrivals terminal at Dublin Airport, narrowly avoiding a toddler running in front of her. She was tired and cranky and running on fumes. The airport had been decorated for the holidays with Christmas trees and festive lighting. It was a far cry from the way she'd seen it when she'd left five years ago in the late summer.

The flights over had been murder. She'd forced herself to stay awake on the first flight, hoping to get some sleep on the second one from JFK. Unfortunately for her, the people around her didn't feel the same. She'd been squeezed in between a businessman with a serious case of manspreading and an older gentleman with more hair in his ears and nose than on top of his head. Sleep eluded her even further when the baby a few rows back began to cry and didn't stop until thirty minutes before landing.

She managed to breeze through Customs and now found herself searching the crowd. He must have spotted her first because he was striding toward her by the time she registered his presence. Her heart leapt a little in her chest. He stopped just short of her when she looked up at him. He'd gone for an inconspicuous beanie pulled down low over his forehead and a pair of glasses. If not for his height, he'd have blended in quite well.

"Hi," he smiled at her.

It was the first time they'd physically been close to each other since she'd ended things and the tension was thicker than concrete.

"Hi," she replied.

She took a step forward and he closed the gap, opening his arms to hug her. It felt comfortable to feel his body against hers. He held her for several seconds before releasing her.

"Got everything?" he asked, taking one of her suitcases from her and tucking his free hand into his jacket.

"Yeah," she replied, following him.

"How were they, your flights?" he asked over his shoulder as he led her out of the terminal.

The cold air hit her like a brick wall, sucking the oxygen out of her lungs. She gasped as the sudden change, her Los Angelean sensitivities severely insulted. Andrew watched her as they walked, a grin on his face.

"Ugh, long as all fuck," she sighed. "I drank a triple shot cappuccino in LAX to stay awake on the first leg so I'd sleep coming in from JFK since it was an overnight flight." Her bags echoed as they rolled on the ground of the parking garage. "Then I got sat in the middle of two guys and I swear to God, one of them must have thought his balls were the size of grapefruits so he needed to spread out. Then there was the crying baby, as well."

"Jesus," he chuckled. "That sounds like Hell."

"It was," she remarked. "They should have given out t-shirts."

Andrew came to a stop in front of a navy blue mid-size Nissan SUV and pulled his keys from his pocket. He hit a button and a beep sounded as the trunk raised up automatically.

"Fancy," she joked, giving him her bag and walking toward the passenger side door.

He came up behind her. "Other side," he remarked, close to her ear, making her jump.

"But -," she started. Then she remembered that the driver's seat was on the opposite side from cars in America. "Right."

He smirked as he watched her walk around the back of the car and get in. "Its Ireland, baby," he joked, getting in.

Molly rolled her eyes and buckled in, eager for the drive to their final destination to begin so she could take a shower and a nap.

"So I've been wanting to ask this since you called: what exactly is this long story you said you had?" he asked as he navigated through the parking garage.