Just my cup of tea

Cut!

"Flight AXC420 Is now boarding. Please line up at gate C." I stayed seated waiting for the line to get shorter, the plane wasn't going anywhere just yet. I must have pictured my meeting with Kate a thousand times and each time I couldn't get passed the initial greetings. It usually goes the same each time; I see her walking towards me and freeze in awe. I mentally kick myself as I try to pull it together. We say hi and hug where she let's go way to soon for my liking and then it ends there and starts all over again.

If I'm going to see her I need to be fully mentally prepared for it and so my plan was to play out the most likely scenario but it's got to be from the beginning to end. Luckily I had more than enough time with literally nothing else to do but prepare.

"Hello sir welcome aboard, can I see your ticket." Sir haha. "Hello." The air hostess looked at me in horror. "I'm so sorry miss." I giggled, "No problem at all, it often happens. Don't sweat." She still looked embarrassed but tried her best not to show it. "You're on the left. Again am so sorry about that." I waved and gave her a smile as I went on to look for my seat. Lord please have mercy for me and don't put a kid behind me. I seem to have the 'best' luck when it comes to public seating. I always get stuck in front of a kid who proceeds to kick my chair for the entire duration of the event.

This time however I see an older gentlemen and silently thank God. I place my backpack in the overhead compartment and make myself comfortable. Just as I'm buckled in a lady pops up, "Excuse me, sorry, I'm in the next seat. Can I just scoot by?" I smile and get back up to let her pass. Ok right time to formulate situations and get mentally prepared.

Scenario 1:

I wait in the car and stare at what am pretty sure is the right exit of her workplace. I make a mental note to send her a pic of it when I really do arrive to be sure. She steps out and...wow...no no stop it, no 'wow' or rather tame the wow. Ok so, She steps out and yay...yeah 'yay' seems better. She walks over to the car and I step around to greet her.

"Finally I get to see your dumb face." No no too much. Tone down. "Hey dweeb! Long time no see!" That's much better. More chilled. Now calm your smile. How could I possibly be smiling so much from just the mere thought of seeing her. Well it's good, gives me a chance to practice. Gentle smile, chilled hug which does not need to be long! But I couldn't stop the quick thought of hugging her really tight and saying "I missed you more than anything."

Cut! It's like I want to send her running for the hills. Come on now! Focus. Ok, hug and she says something like, "Yes! Good to see you. Let's make a move now to be safe." Good good yeah that sounds close enough. We hop in the car. "I got one rolled already" I say. "Wasting no time I see." Definitely especially because each second with you is precious. CANNOT say that. "As always. Where are we headed to by the way?" She let's out a chuckle. "Had the spliff ready but don't know where we going." I grin, "Priorities."

This is going well, smile is relaxed. No blushing. No stupid confessions. Good. This I can work with. "I actually do have an idea but you gonna have to tell me how safe you think it would be." She lights the spliff. "Alright, let's hear it then." There is a private beach not too far from here, not sure if you know it?" "I don't think I do...ok let's try it and see."

We make our way to the beach pleasantly chatting about work and school and general life. It's still chilled and I'm getting more confident about this decision every second. "This is it, been here before?" I peak at her as she scans the area. "No don't think I have." We get out and head down the trail to the beach while finishing off our spliff. "I rolled one too. This time you do the honors," she says as she pulls out a spliff from her bag. "I'm not the only one not wasting any time huh." I take the spliff and light it.

We smoke as we walk along the sand. I tell her about my UX design projects and she tells me more about her drawing at work and everything is running smoothly. *Flash* My hand slips into hers. No. No. Ok hands not holding hers. *Flash* I pull her into a tight embrace. Stooop! No. No embraces no hands no *flash* Our mouths clash in a desperate attempt to finally be one again. What the actual fuck Alice?

"Excuse me, would you like a blanket?" Thankfully I'm drawn out of my daydream as the air hostess waits patiently for my reply. "Yes please, thank you so much." Maybe I need a break. I scroll through the movies and tv shows on the in-flight service not paying nearly enough attention. I find Schitts creek and settle down to watch a few episodes. Determined not think of what I just thought, I start counting the number of times Alexis says "David" in an episode.

Our meals are served, the options were the same; chicken or beef. I manage to finish most of the chicken and all of the ice cream, You should never give up ice cream. Then decided to have another go on my mental preparations.

Refusing to think about what I thought, I picked up from walking on the sand and talking. We talk about Sky, Kate's family, my family and China. I decide to show her some pictures and videos of my kids at school, apartment and basic life in China. She takes it all in and we start heading back to the car. Good this is going good.

We reach the car and *Flash* She grabs my sleeve and whispers ever so gently, "I really missed this." I turn to her. We stare at each other with the same intensity as before. I drop my keys, she drops her bag and our lips meet. She feels so soft, so comfortable, like I'm exactly where I should be. I pin her against the car as she grabs my shirt on either side pulling me closer into her.

Alice you loser. This is the complete opposite of what I need to be thinking. Nap. That's it. I'm going to take a nap.

Author's note: Thank you to my one reader from the previous chapter 😅😂 I really appreciate you taking the time to read my work. I hope you are enjoying it!😊