seat was followed by a quick glance and Jasper clearing his throat. It was hopeless. Should I run? Would they dare stop me, physically, with their hard bodies? Or would they just run alongside until I wore myself out and fell over?
I pulled the unmarked envelope out of my pocket and set it on top of Alice's black leather bag. She looked at me.
"My letter," I said. She nodded, tucking it under the top flap. He would find it soon enough.
The minutes passed and Fredward's arrival grew closer. It was amazing how every cell in my body seemed to know he was coming, to long for his coming. That made it very hard. I found myself trying to think of excuses to stay, things I could tell myself so that I could see him first before running off to get torn to shreds. But I knew it was impossible, that I was too unreasonable and too stubborn, and too much my own woman to let anyone get in the way of me achieving my own goals.
Several times Alice offered to go get breakfast with me. Later, I told her. Not yet.
I stared at the arrival board, watching as flight after flight arrived on time. The flight from Seattle crept closer to the top of the board.
And then, when I had only thirty minutes to make my escape, the numbers changed. His plane was ten minutes early. I had no more time.
"I think I'll eat now," I said quickly.
Alice stood. "I'll come with you."
"Do you mind if Jasper comes instead?" I asked. "I'm feeling a little... " I didn't finish the sentence, instead making a wibbly-wobbly hand gesture. My eyes were wild enough to convey what I didn't say.
Jasper stood up. Alice's eyes were confused, but—I saw to my relief—not suspicious. She must be attributing

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Chapter 22

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