The gate agent signaled that boarding would begin in ten minutes. I looked at my first-class ticket, thankful that Claudio Velez had allowed me to come a few weeks early to Spain to get settled. The irony of my flight being on Valentine’s Day wasn’t lost on me. Everything and everyone I’d loved was here in Atlanta. My mother. Bella. My beautiful house. Porter. Especially Porter.
I was leaving them all behind; once again I’d fallen in love and once again, it cost me everything.
I headed toward the gate as the agent called for first-class seating. I took a quick look inside my bag, making sure my passport was there. As I handed the agent my boarding pass, I heard a familiar voice.
“Ari! Ari Marie James!”
I turned to see Porter, running toward me. His tie was loosened, the sleeves of his gray button-down messily rolled up. The sunlight from the massive windows shone directly on him like a spotlight. By the time he reached the gate agent, Porter was out of breath. Shocked, I excused myself and stepped out of line.
“Porter? What on earth are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at the groundbreaking for the stadium?”
“Ari, I quit.”
My mouth dropped open. “You did what? Porter, why?”
“I quit because… Let’s be honest. I’m not that great of an architect. Besides, working there every day is pointless if you won’t be there.”
“Porter! Are you serious!” Travelers near the gate stared at me, annoyed. I lowered my voice, apologetically.
“I’m dead ass serious.”
My jaw went slack. “I’m about to board a flight to Madrid! As in…now!”
Porter ran a hand down his face. “Ari, listen to me. I’ve been in love with you from the moment I saw you.”
My lips curled up into a smile. “When you saw me in a virtual state of undress in the middle of my office?”
Porter put his hands in his pocket, taking a deep breath. “No. From when I saw you on the train, heading to your first day. And the lady with the tiny dog…and the coffee cup…”
I looked at him, totally bewildered. “Say what?”
“I was on the train that morning. My car was at the mechanic’s, remember? The moment I saw you, my heart stopped. Then you were in my office. It was fate.”
I felt faint, as if I was going to do a ballroom style death drop to the floor. “You… You saw me earlier that morning? Why didn’t you say this before?”
Porter shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I was waiting for a more romantic moment. Like, when I proposed. Or on our fiftieth wedding anniversary.”
The gate agent began her last calls for the final boarding zones. I looked at Porter, panic-stricken. The last of the passengers were slowly making their way onto the plane.
Porter grabbed both my hands. “Ari, I have a ticket for the next flight to Madrid. If you want me, if you love me, I’ll come with you. If you don’t, I’ll turn around and go home with a broken heart and a non-refundable plane ticket. I’ll try to move on with my life, but I’m telling you now, I won’t be able to because my life means nothing without you. Ari, you’re my destiny. Since day one.”
What the entire fuck was happening? When had my life become a rom-com? Was I secretly Queen Latifah?
As Porter held my hands, I felt the prickly heat between his hand and my own. The sensation pulsed through my veins. No. I can’t do this. I let his hands go.
“Did you make partner?” I asked, hesitantly. “I mean, before you quit.”
Porter looked at me, then pinched the bridge of his nose. “No. They gave it to Greer. They were never going to make me a partner. Even if they offered it to me, I wasn’t going to take it.”
Stunned, I put a sympathetic hand against his cheek. Porter gently removed it, kissing my palm, pressing his warm lips into my hand. Tears pricked my eyes.
“Baby, listen to me. All your career you’ve sacrificed yourself. Let someone else sacrifice for once. Just say the word.”
Slowly, I inched my hand away. “I’m sorry, Porter, but I have to go.”
I turned and walked toward the gate agent who was doing last calls for the flight, handing her my boarding pass again. The agent, giving me an annoyed side-eye, took it and swiftly scanned it. As I walked toward the gangway, my feet felt as if they were filling with lead. I tugged my hands on the sides of my skirt. I mean, I was heading to Spain. Without Porter. Was I making a mistake?
I stood frozen, halfway between the airplane and the door to the gate. Late passengers pushed past me as I stood like a statue in a garden.