Permanent Ink [PUBLISHED]

o n e

Whoever operates the volume for the announcements system at Sea-Tac airport needs some serious firing. Why is it so goddamn loud? I can't hear myself think. And I need to think! I need to come up with a game plan. I was going to make a list of options during the seven-hour flight from New York to Seattle but I got distracted by the free vodka cranberries and new release movies.

Do I hug him? Kiss him? Leap into his arms? A handshake? What? What the hell do I do? We're not officially dating, I've seen the man four times in the last year, yet I'm running through the arrivals terminal like a madwoman just so I can finally see him.

Is this problematic? Am I getting ahead of myself? Does he feel the same? Is he excited as well? He's picking me up, something he requested, ipso facto, he must like me. Right? But it's Blake. And Blake doesn't particularly come off as a touchy-feely type of guy and I don't want to scare him off by acting like a crazy woman.

I'll just play it cool. Suave. That's me. 'Sup Blake, how you doing? Oh God, no, too Joey. Scratch that. How about... Blake, wow, it's so nice to see you, you look amazing. No. Too forward. Too seductive. Maybe a simple 'hi' will suffice and he'll take it from there. Yes, that's good. I'll adjust my approach based on his reaction to my 'hi'. Solid plan. I got this. Be cool. Just be cool.

As I pass through the gates, I spot Blake leaning against the far wall, his sturdy and muscular body wrapped in an iconic black suit, his eyes fixated on the cell phone in his hand.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I stop dead in my tracks and hide behind a thankfully girthy column. Why is my heart beating so fast? I was never this freaked out when we met up in New York, granted Vanessa was always there too, my little buffer. But right now, no buffer, nothing! I'm flying solo.

Breathe.

It's fine. It's Blake. Just Blake. Simple, gorgeous as sin, Blake. The man who stole my heart with ten little handwritten letters. Words. He managed to turn me into this puddle of anxiety and googly eyes through words!

I can't hide here forever, I need to go. Move feet, move! Okay, maybe just a few more seconds to calm down. I close my eyes and take several deep breaths.

In and out. In and out. Good. We're relaxing. Relaxed and calm.

"Cassandra?"

Fuck!

He found me! He's here! Crap, what do I do? My eyelids spring open, a stream of nervous giggles escaping my mouth.

"Hi," I whisper, my gaze flickering up to meet Blake's inquisitive blue eyes. That was so not fucking cool!

"Hello," he says, smiling.

And that's it. That's all he says. Really? There's nothing to go on here! I need more tone, more inflections, more words. Damn it, Blake Pearson.