Page 96 of The Love Hoax

“I have to go back to the gate. Someone can escort me. The woman I love is about to leave.”

“I’m sorry, sir. That’s not possible.”

“Okay, then I need a ticket on the next flight to Reno.”

The woman taps on her keyboard and shakes her head. “We have no tickets left. Everyone’s been rebooked due to the storm thatjust came through.” She looks up. “Anyhow, it’s currently boarding.”

“Ineedto get back on that plane.”

The agent looks at me like I’m missing half of my brain cells.

Steph smiles sweetly. “If you can get my brother on that flight, I’ll name my first child after you.” She squints at the woman’s name tag. “Say-oh-eers. Sow-ears?”

“It’s pronounced SEER-sha.”

I frown. “

“Sir, you’re holding up the line.”

I think a moment. “Okay, give me a ticket to wherever the gate next to hers is going to.”

Saoirse looks at me funny then begins tapping on her keyboard once more. “Cincinnati. One seat left.”

“I’ll take it!”

As I grab my boarding pass, Brad looks at me with fiery determination. “Come on!” he shouts.

And the three of us run together to the gate.

Chapter Sixty-Eight

Evie

“N

ow boarding flight five-three-two to Reno.”

Finally.

I rub a hand over my face and yawn, glad to see an airplane waiting at the gate. The snow has let up and only a few straggly flakes swirl in the wind. A group of passengers are already lining up to board. Exhausted from too little sleep, I must have dozed through the deplaning process.

I review my plan, such as it is. I’ll show up at Adam’s house and hope he still wants to see me. After a week of ignoring his calls and messages, he has given up. Hopefully not forever.

I grab my purse and pull out my boarding pass, getting in line behind a young Spanish-speaking couple. And hear a ruckus behind me.

The gate agent and couple lift their gaze, focusing their attention over my shoulder.

“Evie!”

A shiver goes through me and I turn around.

To my utter amazement, three people are running toward me.

Steph, Brad, and —

I must be hallucinating.

“Adam?”