Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
It’s another twenty minutes before I’m at baggage claim to collect my suitcase off the small carousel, and honestly, despite the multiple lists and planning I’ve done over the last two days, I have no idea what I’m supposed to do from here. There’s not exactly a taxi bay or a million Ubers waiting around to take me back to Blushing. Don’t get me wrong, I certainly tried to hire a driver and figure something out, but from the looks of it, the one driver I did manage to book has clearly bailed.
Shit.
Even during all my college traveling, I never really had this issue. Pop was always here when I landed to give me a ride. Now I have to fend for myself.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I make my way out into the chilly December air, cringing as I take in the snow-covered landscape. Don’t get me wrong, New York can be bitterly cold this time of year, but my collection of cute ankle boots, heels, and athletic shoes is not cut out for the knee-deep snow here in Blushing.
My gaze sweeps up and down, trying to figure something out, and after realizing just how alone I am, I scurry back inside and park my ass on a small bench. My thin wool peacoat isn’t going to cut it, so I pull it off and scramble through my suitcase. I pull out an old sweater and shrug it on over my head. It doesn’t exactly match my outfit, but layering my coat over top of it will be much warmer.
The bite in the harsh breeze outside warns me that we might be in for a storm tonight, and I pull my phone out of my handbag, scrounging through my contact list trying to figure out how to get my ass home. It’s been over a month since anyone has entered that house. I’m not even sure if it still has electricity or running water.
Scrolling past my high school best friend, Sarah, my thumb pauses. I haven’t spoken to her in years, but she’s the kind of person who would have dropped everything to help someone out. Guilt soars through my veins, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and I press her name before shoving the phone against my cold ear.
The phone rings three times before I hear Sarah’s hesitant voice coming through my small speaker. “Hello?” she says as though asking a question, probably certain that I’ve pocket-dialed her.
“Hey, Sarah. It’s Blair Wilder. How are you?” I say, trying to sound chirpy despite my current situation.
“Oh, hey,” she replies. “It’s been ages since we’ve talked. I’m doing really well. What about you?”
“That’s uhhh . . . that’s why I called,” I say with a cringe. “I’m so sorry to dump this on you like this, but I’m kind of in a tricky situation. I’ve just flown in, and I’m stranded at the airport. My driver bailed, and I can’t seem to order an Uber. Is there any way you’d be able to help me out? I’d absolutely pay you back.”
“Oh shit, Blair. I’m so sorry. I’m actually working as a nurse now, and I’m on shift at the hospital, but give me a minute. I have a friend who works out that way and he should be finishing work around now. I’ll see if he can swing by and grab you.”
“Oh my God. Thank you so much,” I say, letting out a heavy sigh of relief. “You have no idea how much that would save my ass right now.”
“Trust me, I know. It looks like we’re in for a storm tonight, and the last thing you need is to be stranded at an airport, or worse, stranded on the highway somewhere.”
“You’ve got that right.”
Sarah chuckles a small laugh. “Plus, I’d really prefer not to end my night having to admit you as a patient. I’d rather catch up over coffee instead.”
“Consider it a date,” I say as my first real smile in days spreads across my face.
“Okay, give me a minute. I’ll call Oxley and see if he can grab you,” she says as my mind begins to swirl. Oxley? Why is there something so familiar about that name? It sits right in the forefront of my brain, waiting to be plucked out and formed into existence, but before I can think about it anymore, Sarah continues. “I’ll text you in a minute and let you know what he says.”
The relief is so great that all thoughts of familiarity fall away, and all that matters is the idea that I might just get back to Blushing before the storm hits. “Thanks, Sarah. I owe you one.”
“You absolutely do not,” she says, and with that, the call goes dead.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I settle into my seat, trying to get comfortable, but the hard bench isn’t doing my ass any favors, especially after being stuck on planes for the majority of my afternoon. It’s only a minute before my phone beeps with an incoming text and I glance down, smiling at Sarah’s name as it appears on my screen.