Stoked (10 page)

“Right.” I pull them out of the pocket in the front of the pack where I decided they should stay. “Electra told me that it helps to have a system when you travel, so you always know where things are. Do it always the same way and then when you get all strung out, you still have the system.”

“Smart.” He takes my free hand and we are silent as the line moves toward the podium where a woman in a uniform is checking credentials. Ten people ahead of us. Eight, seven. Three. Two.

He slides his arm around me fiercely and kisses the top of my head. “Promise you’ll have a really good time, Jess. Promise.”

I hug him back, my arm tight around his lean waist, his chest against my cheek. Waves of terror and sadness and excitement and loss weave through my lungs, making it hard to breathe. “What am I doing, Tyler? I can’t believe I’m flying 10 billion miles away from you.”

He tilts my head backward and cups my head. “You have me. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

We kiss then, fierce and deep and wild, a kiss that has to last—how long? I don’t even know.

“Next.”

It’s my turn. I take a breath and give him one last look then move forward and give the woman my passport. “Heading home?” she asks, looking over my shoulder at Tyler.

I glance back at him, and before he can hide it, I see the loss in his face, then he smiles and lifts a hand. “Epic,” he says with a fist to the air.

I nod. “Kind of,” I say. She waves me through.

I turn to wave to Tyler one more time, but he’s gone.