All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.

not beta'd

storyline - Laugh

prompt - resort

I don't want to lose you. If you loved me, why did you leave?

Late night, and I was a little loose-tongued thanks to the several bottles of wine I'd shared with Alice and Rose at the lounge. I drummed my fingers impatiently on the desk, wondering if he was even awake. And if he was, if he was online.

He was.

I told you, this promotion meant a lot to me. I didn't want to not take it and then resent you. If something great came up for your job, wouldn't you have taken a chance?

My response was immediate.

Not without you.

He didn't reply right away, and I knew I had him.

You love Seattle. I didn't think you'd want to leave.

I huffed to myself, making a face at the screen. Seriously? We could've talked about it.

We didn't talk about a lot of things in the end, Bella. You didn't really want to.

I flinched; he was right. I was too afraid of losing you and I did anyway so I'm trying a different tactic.

What do you want me to do?

I took a deep breath. I was just going to throw it out there. Pick me up from the airport, Friday at 9pm.

Are you serious?

Had my fingernails not been bitten down to the quick, I'd have gnawed on them some more.

Yes.

What airline?

American

What would you have done if I wasn't able to make it?

What would have kept you? More work dates? Or God knows what else?

I sent the last message before I'd really taken the chance to consider what I was trying to say. Then I decided that it was how I felt, and there was no point in being polite. Frig polite. Love was war and all that.

I'll be there at 9.

Ok.

How long will you stay?

The weekend, leave Sunday night.

Ok.

I squinted at that little word, trying to figure out if it was a relieved "Ok" or a disappointed one. Guess there was little point in trying to decipher Edward through a Gchat conversation. I'd be seeing his face soon enough.

I'm going to bed. I yawned, sort of hoping he'd try to keep me online.

Me too. Thanks, Bella.

For what?

For not going to bed mad at me.

My heart melted a little. I wanted to hate the hold he had on me, but I couldn't.

Alice thought I was nuts to just hop a plane and go see Edward, but she loved "the romance of it all". She was incurably romantic. It was rather shocking, to both her and me, that the ever-pragmatic Rose had been the one to suggest the trip.

Then again, maybe cutting through the crap and confronting Edward was pragmatic – for our relationship.

I wasn't sure what I would've done had Edward expressed he didn't want me to come. Initially, I wasn't even going to tell him, but then I decided that was silly. I'd never even been to Phoenix; I had no idea what to expect or where to go. I had his mailing address, which I assumed was also his physical address, but in the end I decided that sneaking over in a taxi was a last resort.

I preferred knowing he wanted me to come. Or, at least, was not opposed to the idea.

None of that took care of the nervousness, though. I couldn't help but feel like, while he'd been running toward an opportunity, he'd also been running from me.

He seemed so open to staying close, long distance. I wondered what it would be like when we were close in proximity. Would it be awkward? Would we fall in to old behavioral patterns?

"You're quiet," Rose remarked, taking the exit that led to the airport.

I nodded, fiddling with the zipper on my bag. I'd stuck the bedside photo of us in there at the last minute. Sentimental fool.

"You're doing the right thing, I think," she continued.

"I think so, too," I said softly.

For the first time since Edward left a tiny sprout of hope was blooming in my heart. I was near overcome with anxiety, but at least I wasn't depressed.

I supposed a lot was riding on the two days ahead of me.

The airport drop off area loomed a lot faster than I'd been prepared for. I hugged Rose good bye and carried by lightweight little suitcase into check-in.

Once I was seated at the gate, I shot Edward a quick text. "Boarding in ten. See you soon."

His message back was prompt. I'll be there.