Best Friend Next Door (Love Next Door Book 2) *Rough Draft*

Chapter 43

It wasn't hard to figure out. He knew Melanie. When he noticed everyone at their seats in front of their place cards and Melanie's chair empty. Either she was playing one crazy game of cat and mouse, or there was something more important somewhere else.

He stood up just as appetizers were being served. "Excuse me." He said as he walked back toward the double doors into the hallway just outside the lobby. He called her. What else could he do? What does a man do when the only woman he's loved since he was ten once again decided to take a long hiatus from his life?

"You okay, man?" Christian walked out of the dinner still in his white tux.

"No." He said pressing the phone to his ear, "I'm not okay. She could just talk to me."

Christian blew up his cheeks and shrugged, "I guess she needs her space."

"I can't accept that." He barged toward the front door.

"You are going to have to." He heard Christian call behind him, "At least for now."

He jerked around, "And what wait another three years? Forever?" He breathed and looked at the front door. Before he could think his legs were taking him in that direction. He'd give her her space but he had to get everything off his chest. He had to do something. Truthfully, he had no idea what he was doing but sitting around and letting her walk away just didn't sit right.

He hopped in his rental swerving out of the parking lot. He wasn't even going to call her again. Screw calling her, and screw her damn voicemail what he had to say to Mel, she needed to hear face to face.

The the airport was moderately sized and not too crowded. He didn't know how big a head start he'd given her but he'd figure that out. Then there was a matter of knowing where she lived. He didn't think that through either, but hopefully he'd convince Valerie when he got there. That is if she didn't suddenly decide to move, or lay low for a few days. If he had to spend his spring break camped out in front of her apartment, she'd hear him.

He approached the counter looking at the screen with the departures the closest flight was Savanah. He'd take that. It may have been a two hour drive, but if she didn't know he was coming that was even better.

He checked in and with his carry on in hand barged into the plane. It was a smaller plane than he was used to but that didn't matter. He'd be scrunched up like a sardine, this was life, that was possibly...no, this was his future wife. He'd spent too many years doubting it, trying to prove to himself he was stupid to think that way, but for the first time he was trusting his heart. His heart said Melanie was the one and he wasn't giving her up, without one hell of a fight.

Isaac had to admit he was never a big fan of flying. The trip to the wedding site was one thing, but now the though a small tin can flying through the sky made him queasy. The flight attendant was a nice lady in her late thirties. She seemed very maternal and eager to hear his story. It was strange because in a way it was like talking to his mom. His mom was a lot like her, except for the auburn hair.

She told him about her kids, and her husband that was her high school sweetheart. He'd gotten the opportunity to play basketball overseas and she wanted to go to Arizona State. She even gave him an ultimatum and he chose basketball. She'd ran into him years later at a concert, and they'd reconnected. Years later they were married raising a boy and two girls, now she was a retired nurse her kids grown and she vacations with her husband when ever she got the time.

Her story soothed the tensions of flying that was until the plane began to shake. and the scratchy voice came over the intercom, "We are experiencing some turbulence."

He was glad that the flight attendant stayed with him to and held his hand. He couldn't help but think he would never get the chance to apologize to Melanie. He wondered if they would find his body. He'd always wanted to be buried in Vincentville next to his mom and dad, he want kids. He wanted kids with Melanie. At least two or three...maybe four.