The Secret Between Us (Unedited)

23: The Dreaded Discussion

Ain't Love Strange - Stanaj

     Sunday morning came annoyingly soon. Sooner than I would have liked.

"Ads, it's only a week," Nicholas chuckles, his arms wrapping tighter around my waist.

We were standing in the middle of the slowly crowding JFK airport, ignoring everyone that passed by and scowled at us for blocking their path.

I keep my mouth shut, hugging him as close as humanly possible. I didn't want to let go.

Who knew what was beyond this point. This moment.

"Call me. Everyday, okay?" I pulled away slightly in order to address him with a serious and stern facial expression.

Rolling his eyes, he's the one who pulls me back into him, his face nestled into the top of my head. "Okay," he whispers softly before placing a sweet gentle kiss to the top of my head.

When an older feminine voice spoke from over the intercom, she informs the airport full of travelers that gate number fifty-three was now boarding.

My heart drops dramatically in my chest. Nic's flight.

I don't know what's going on with me, but I've been acting like one of those really annoying clingy girlfriends. It made me cringe just thinking about it, but that's what happens when my brain doesn't want to agree with my heart.

"Adalyn," Nic says, his tone soft.

I blink once, snapping back into reality.

When I realize I'm still clinging onto him, I instantly take a step back, forcing my body to listen and cooperate with my brain.

"Sorry," I mutter barely above a whisper, casting my gaze to my feet in order to hide my now frequent girly action. I blush. Feverishly.

A moment later, Nic's hands come up and envelope my face, our eyes locked once again.

"I'll see you really soon, alright?"

Nodding, I bite the inside of my cheek in order to stay quiet.

Who knew what I would do if I spoke. I was turning into a whole other person with all these unwelcomed emotions.

When his lips brush against mine a second later, I allow myself to be vulnerable.

Another announcement from over the speakers all around the large airport is what breaks us apart.

"See you, Dominski." With a sly wink, Nic drapes his duffel bag over his shoulder and slips into the ever growing line of people waiting to get onto flight JE5318.

I stand there for a few minutes, watching as my boyfriend hand the attendant his airline ticket.

Maybe I was awkwardly standing there watching him just to see him leave my sight. Or it could be the alarming fact that when I arrived back at the apartment, Preston and I would have that little chat I've been avoiding all fucking day.

Another five minutes went by before I forced my feet to take small, slow steps to one of the many exits of the airport that seemed to be getting more and more crowded by the second.

I kept my hoodie raised, not wanting to scare anyone off with the deep scowl on my features that was desperate to stay permanent.

The moment I stepped out onto the sidewalk, the blazing sun hit me harshly, almost blinding me in the process.

Pulling my hoodie further up, I make my way further down the street, not in any rush to get back to what was waiting for me.

After window shopping for a few minutes—okay, maybe hours, I finally gain the courage to hail myself a cab.