Page 50 of The Best Man: Unfinished Business

Before leaving Malibu, he heard Jordan on the other side of her bedroom door talking to somebody about her television project and setting up a meeting.

He made out the name “Evelyn.” Jordan said that she had the “answer” to her question.

Somehow, with “Evelyn,” she was just as cheery and engaging as ever.

A complete contrast to how she’d been coming at Harper just minutes before.

Jordan Armstrong could turn it on, boy. Maybe she should be a host…

What is up with this Wi-Fi? Is this shit working or not…?

“Excuse me?” Harper got the flight attendant’s attention as he was serving lunch entrées. “The Wi-Fi? It’s still not working.”

“Oh. Let me check again. Some of our seats are fine. I’ll try another reboot. More coffee? Or are you ready for your lunch?”

“Lunch is fine. Sure. Thanks.” Harper wasn’t hungry at all and huffed his frustration. He had always been able to compartmentalize. But every time Harper tried to engage with Unfinished Business, Jordan’s face miraged in front of him in a distracting and unproductive way.

“You haven’t changed one bit!”

Her words made his head hurt and his heart ache. The flight was only over Utah and there were at least twenty hours of travel left to relive every word.

“Your selfish ass!”

She was hurt, Harp. He began retracing the steps of the morning. Jordan wouldn’t even let him touch her. He was trying to be a good father, keeping a promise. He shook it off and wrote a text to Mia in anticipation of the Wi-Fi working.

Daddy will be there when you get out of school tomorrow. I promise.

The flight attendant returned with Harper’s unappetizing lunch. Before Harper could inquire again about the Wi-Fi he saw another flight attendant behind him approaching with a sympathetic smile and a pamphlet and pen between her hands. This was not good.

“Mr. Stewart. I understand you’re having trouble logging on to our Wi-Fi?” she said with rhetorical sympathy. Not good at all.

“That’s correct.”

“Right. We’re so sorry, but the internet is down for the flight,” she said. “We’ve tried to reboot it several times but we’ve had no luck—”

“What?” Harper was incredulous. “This is a eight-hour-plus flight. And I don’t even know if I’ll be able to connect on my layover. I have some urgent matters—”

“—Yes, sir,” the flight attendant cut him off with clearly practiced kindness. “We know and we know how loyal customers like you rely on us to provide you with all the services and amenities you’re used to.”

“And pay for,” Harper added while trying to remain calm but factual.

“Of course, sir.”

“Fuck,” Harper mouthed and jerked his head down and away from the eyes of the flight attendants.

“So, there’s nothing that can be done?” Harper pleaded. They both shook their heads with as much sincerity and empathy as possible.

“We are so sorry, Mr. Stewart. You are a valued customer, and we really appreciate your business. And by way of apology, we would like to award you with ten thousand miles….”

“What am I gonna do?” Harper asked, as if the attendant had any more answers than he did. “I have some really important emails and texts to send…my daughter, and my…I just—”

He didn’t know how to describe Jordan. His friend? His girlfriend? His lover? His soulmate? All he was given was an airline pamphlet with credit for miles.

Fuck.

“And if you need coffee, tea, or something stronger, we got you, sir,” the flight attendant said with a wink before leaving. “And you can keep the pen.”

Thirty minutes and a sidecar later, now over South Dakota, Harper did his best to shake off the feeling of not knowing anything from the outside world for the next several hours.

He tried to make progress on Jackson and Kendall’s story, but he found it incredibly hard to concentrate.

Somehow what had been smooth about their relationship over the last two weeks now felt inauthentic on the page.

Harper had a tough time separating Jordan from Kendall and Jackson from himself.

Everything was so… raw. He really wanted to—no, he needed to talk to Jordan.

He tried watching movies, reading a book, listening to music, but he couldn’t get his mind right.

Sliding back into his seat, Harper reclined to meditate and calm his nerves.

With deep breathing he counted down: ten…

nine…eight…eyes closed until he reached one.

Maybe he could fall asleep and wake up in Amsterdam… .

His heart would not settle, his mind would not stop firing.

All he could see was Jordan hurt, angry, pleading.

After a few beats Harper’s eyes snapped open and he lifted his laptop lid.

He addressed an email to Jordan. He wanted it to be the most carefully crafted and heartfelt love letter he could manage.

If he couldn’t reach her, he would write until he made it undeniable.

He just wanted to be clear and sincere. He wanted Jordan to feel what he was feeling.

When the Wi-Fi returned, it would be ready, perfect.

From: Harper Stewart

To: Jordan Armstrong

Subject: US

Jordan, I’m stuck on this airplane, with no Wi-Fi, going crazy because I haven’t heard anything from you.

I have no idea how you’re feeling other than how we left each other this morning.

I hated leaving you like that. I am sorry I made you so upset.

Leaving was a painful decision. Please know and understand that I did not want to leave.

I am devastated that you were hurt byit.

But I want to be clear, I’m never choosing anyone over my daughter. Mia will always have her father’s attention. I’m sorry if that is unacceptable to you and if it is, as painful as it is to say, then we can’t have a future.

Jesus. Even writing those words is causing me an ulcer, Jordan.

A pain in my heart because I can’t see a future without you.

Now that we’ve gotten here, Jordan, how can we go back?

Or worse, how can we NOT move forward? Together.

We can work this out. I know we can. I love you.

I’ve loved you since we were teenagers. I’ve never stopped loving you.

The past two weeks weren’t just a new love discovery.

It is us. It is our destiny. And it should be fulfilled.

You are what I’ve been waiting for, what I’ve been missing in my life.

I want to do so much with you and for you.

We belong together, Jordan. You can’t tell me that you don’t feel it too.

I need you, Jordan. I mean it. I know you felt it these past few weeks.

These have been some of the most incredible times of my life.

Now that we’ve crossed this barrier I can’t turn back.

Can you? Can you really say you don’t need me too?

That you don’t love me? I can’t. I need you, Jordan.

I have so many things that a person could want: money, success, loyal friends, a great career, but I don’t have you.

I’ve been kicked out of my life since Robyn divorced me.

Nothing fits anymore. You are my missing piece of the puzzle.

I can’t guarantee it, but if you’re back in my life in the way we’ve been in each other’s lives the past 2 weeks I KNOW we could be in this for the rest of our lives.

The rest of our lives is NOW Jordan. Whatever happened this morning isn’t insurmountable.

We can work this out. Say your piece and whip me into shape like you always have.

Maybe I’m not supposed to have it all, but damn it I want to try, Jordan. I hope that you do too.

I love you with all my heart, body, and soul,

Harper