About to take off. Can’t wait to see you!!! Jxxx

So, he really was going to show up. I was both relieved and terrified, which I can assure you, is not a fun mix. I tucked the phone away, deciding to reply after I’d checked in and was through security and immigration. Hopefully, by then, I’d no longer be a giant ball of anxiety.

I looked up at the screen to see where to check in, which turned out to be the counters marked “A”. Of course, I was way down the other end near “K”. Maybe a brisk walk from one end of the airport to the other was exactly what I needed to shake off my nerves.

What I didn’t need, however, was having to navigate through a giant tour group of retirees, all sporting the same red and white polo shirt. They didn’t seem to care that I said, “Excuse me!” three hundred times. They were sticking together come what may! I needed Cat. She’d just bully through, elbows out.

I finally made it to the “A” counters, discovering that there was only one person ahead of me in line. My plan to arrive at the airport three-and-a-half hours before my flight—just in case—had paid off! It was only when I took my place behind him, that I saw the sign on the counter saying check-in wouldn’t open for an hour-and-a-half.

Hmm.

I’d have to reply to the text. Otherwise, he might take off before I had the chance, and maybe he’d spend the whole flight wondering if I was going to show up, which would suck. I took my phone out.

Me too! Fly safe. See you there. Sxxx

There. Now I definitely couldn’t back out. I was going.

I’d take a ten-hour flight, then a taxi from the airport, and I’d meet him at the hotel. Of course, I only realised after our flights were booked that I hadn’t timed that very well. He was arriving before me and we’d be reunited before I had a chance to take a shower—after a long-haul flight! What had I been thinking?!

Although I’d paid for my own flight, he had insisted on taking care of the accommodation—apparently, he got good deals through a loyalty program. I told him that was fine if we shared the car rental and everything else—going Dutch, holiday style. He only agreed when I told him I wouldn’t come otherwise.

My phone bleeped in my hand, pulling me away from my thoughts. It was a smiley face blowing a kiss—no words, just the emoji. Josh was such a Millennial. Yes, I know I’m technically one too, but I’m right on the cusp and most of the time, I feel more like a Gen-Xer.

I smiled down at the little kissy face on my phone. Despite my qualms, I really was looking forward to seeing him. We’d texted, emailed, and FaceTimed a lot in the months leading up to our trip to Maui, but I’d missed being with him.