Crossroads (Book Three)

Chapter 1

Lyla

Oh, how I hate flying, I think and I grip the armrests of my chair as I feel the plane bounce up and down again. I glance down at my knuckles and see they have turned white from the death grip I currently have around the small armrests. The pilot had come over the intercom about ten minutes ago and given the standard warming to buckle up as we were approaching some rough skies ahead.

I praise the fact that this flight is almost empty, so I have the entire row to myself and don't have to fight over an armrest or have someone trying to reassure me that everything is fine as we jerk around in the sky. I close my eyes and focus on taking deep breaths as the cabin continues to bump up and down.

"Flight attendants, please prepare for arrival."

Thank fucking God. I peek one eye open and watch a few of the flight attendants quickly zooming down the centre aisle to check everyone's seatbelts are latched before they disappear into the back to strap into their own seats. The plane does some sort of dip in the air and my stomach drops at the sensation. I will myself not to throw up. I've almost made the whole ride without getting sick and I refuse to fail now and have puke breath for my reunion with Shawn.

Shawn. His name brings an image of him to my mind and slightly calms me as I anticipate our reunion less than a half hour from now. This summer had been the cruelest torture being apart from him. Sure, there was texting and Facetime, but it somehow only made me want to be with him more.

To run my fingertips along his forearm down to his hand to grasp it in mine. To lean into his chest and feel his arms around me, his hands resting on my back as his thumbs traces circles along my skin. To inhale and be met with the comforting scent of his body wash and cologne. To feel the roughness of his hands as he glides them along my body, touching me in ways only he can and only he has.

Going ten weeks without any sex when your boyfriend looks like mine is not a fun task. Not that I had any choice in the matter. We took full advantage of many, many phone sex sessions. Each one left me satisfied, but still yearning for him to be there with me. I know Shawn's in the same boat as me, I have heard the many jokes about his wrist developing carpal tunnel and the curious stares he received from the clerk at the pharmacy when he eventually caved and purchased the bulk size bottle of lotion.

I feel the plane start to bounce underneath me and I know we have landed as I open my eyes to look out the window. I watch the runway fly by as the pilot slows us down until we are casually taxiing along to make our way to the gate. I can see the airport terminal in the distance and lean forward to grab my bag from underneath the seat in front of me.

I pull out my phone and turn airplane mode off as I wait for my data to reconnect. My phone starts to vibrate with notifications that I ignore as I immediately pull up Shawn's name and text him that I have landed. I get a response right away and he lets me know he's waiting at the gate for me.

Nervousness starts to flood my body as I prepare myself to see him. I can feel my body temperature spike as my hands start to sweat and I curse myself for reacting this way. I tug off the sweater I'm wearing in hopes that it will help to cool me off and prevent me from breaking into a full on sweat. Last thing I need right now is to smell like body odour when I'm reuniting with my boyfriend after a summer apart. I glance out the window impatiently as we come to a stop, mentally rushing the airport staff to hurry the hell up.

Within a few minutes, I watch the first few people at the front of the plane start to file down the aisle. I grab my bag and shove my sweater inside before I sling the straps over my shoulders. I'm wearing black yoga pants and a white t-shirt, mainly going for comfort on the three hour flight. Plus, I know Shawn is a fan of these pants.