She throws her hand up in a regal wave. “Fucketh you, Lady Federov! Why dothen’t you call me the second you landed?” she yells enthusiastically in a weird Shakespearean-sounding accent.

That has to be Dawn. Jamie’s favorite person. I hope she likes me. Jamie texted while I was still in Denver to have Dawn call as soon as she realizes I’m not her.

My stomach does a front flip. Will anyone ever realize that now?

Dawn moves to stand at the bottom of the moving staircase. I’m still descending to ground level. Could this escalator go any slower? Her long dark hair is curled at the ends and it sways when she walks.

As I step onto solid ground, she embraces me in a tight hug. It’s been months since I’ve hugged or been hugged by anyone, and it feels wonderful.

“I missed you so damn much,” Dawn spurts. “You haven’t called me all week!”

Dawn doesn’t let go, so I wiggle my pinned arms up and wrap them around her to hug back. I inhale her hair. Her shampoo smells deliciously fruity. I should try to find a recipe that creatively utilizes fruit. I could look one up in the car … well, I can’t on Jamie’s phone, but as soon as I get to her computer—

Someone nudges my back and I realize we’re in the way. We sidestep, still half embracing, before I finally step back.

My heart stutters. This girl is looking at me like I’m the coolest human to ever walk the earth. She’s so attractive. How am I going to pretend to be Jamie around her? I can barely string together my own thoughts at the moment. She has dimples.

“Hello?” Oh, she’s shaking me. “Jamie! Are you alive in there? Why aren’t you speaking? Did you take a vow of silence? Was it my hug? Dude, what is wrong with you?”

Yeah, I can’t do this.

“Uh, yes?” I reply belatedly.

Dawn narrows her eyes. “Did you volunteer to do divorce stand-up for the plane or something? Did you bomb on the plane?” She cocks her head sideways. “That doesn’t sound right.”

I stutter for the right words. I don’t know what Jamie would say. She’d say something funny. Something random.

“The plane was cold,” I tell her.

What the intercourse?

Dawn looks concerned.

“I really like your hair,” I say. “And your outfit is like amazing, amazing. Top notch.” What is it that Jamie says? “Aces!” I yell.

Dawn cocks an eyebrow. “Have you been drugged?”

I feel a sigh coming on. I hold it in. “Yes?”

Dawn presses her lips together before pivoting and slinging her arm casually around my neck. “Are we doing a bit?” She leads me toward the automatic doors. “Grams is circling the airport waiting for us, so we’ve gotta roll out.”