Tori hopped out, water dripping all over the floor, and went to check.
It was from Jessie, her friend at the airlines who’d gotten her the pass to fly this weekend.
We just had one flight canceled for tomorrow and the other flights are oversold. If you want to fly back, you’ll have to leave tonight. There’re still some seats on the 7:10 and 9:15. You’d better hustle either way. Otherwise, I can’t get you out until Monday afternoon. I’m so sorry, Tori! Let me know what you decide.
“Oh no.” Tori’s stomach dropped as water pooled onto the bath mat beneath her feet.
For a minute, she played with the idea of staying until Monday. But she couldn’t. She’d already called in sick Friday, and she couldn’t exactly tell them she was stuck in Idaho. This was a new job and she needed to be on her best behavior.
She’d have to leave tonight.
With a lump of disappointment in her throat, she typed back.
The 7:10 is too tight. I’ll do the 9:15. Thanks so much for looking out for me, Jessie.
She’d have to let Aidan know.
God, what crap luck.
The disappointment grew, and a stress headache started as she finished her shower. Once she’d finished, she spent the next fifteen minutes tossing things into her weekender bag.
“Well, there goes a night of amazing sex.”
She googled Aidan’s hotel, but when the operator answered, she hesitated.
“I... can you get a message to the guest staying in room 208?”
“Of course, ma’am. I’m also happy to transfer you, if you’d like?”
The thought of talking to him and hearing the disappointment in his voice was more than she could deal with right now.
“A message would be better.” She closed her eyes. “Could you just tell him, ‘Nadia says she’s sorry, but she can’t make it after all’?”
“Of course.”
Tori ended the call and sighed. Why hadn’t she added something fun and cute? Affectionate, even. Or a line from the comic that only he’d get. So at least then, he wouldn’t think she’d just bailed on him.
With a glance around the hotel room to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything, she slipped the strap of her bag over her shoulder and left the room.
Three hours later, she was on the plane, squished in the middle seat between an older woman and businessman.
She went to grab her earbuds from her backpack, and her hand grazed the Funko figurine she’d won.
Just like that, the ache of regret came back. And she knew, without a doubt, that anytime she saw this little prize, she’d think of Aidan.
It was a reminder of him and their day together that she’d treasure forever.
She closed her eyes and popped in her earbuds.
Though another orgasm would’ve been a nice reminder too.
Chapter Twelve
Monday morning didits damnedest to exemplify its negative reputation.
James had the hangover from hell, and it had nothing to do with alcohol. It was the usual Comic Con hangover, and it was made worse by the fact that Nadia had vanished from his life as quickly as she’d come into it.
She hadn’t even bothered to call his room and tell him herself, but had asked the front desk to give him the message.