Chapter Seventeen
Tanna was just feeding Hobbes his breakfast the next morning, when the doorbell rang. She opened it to find Howie standing there.
�Oh. Hi!� Tanna looked at her watch. �Shit! I had no idea what time it was! I�ll just get my coat and leave a note.�
Howie laughed as she scurried off. When she was ready, they headed out to the car, where everyone was waiting.
�Gee! Took you long enough.� Drew griped as Tanna opened the door. Tanna rolled her eyes and got in.
The half-hour drive out to the airport was intermittently noisy and quiet. It was noisy when they all relived the five days that they had spent together. Then they became quiet when they realized that in just a little while they would have to say goodbye.
�I think the best part was the look on the girls� faces when we first showed up.� AJ said with a grin.
�No, no! The best part was seeing Drew on the ice. Again, and again�� Howie laughed.
�Truce guys!� Tanna said as Drew reached over to whack him.
�What about Tanna�s mini-golf shot that nearly hit those other golfers?� Nick suggested.
�Yeah. That was classic!� Brian agreed, and the four who had been there laughed.
�Or how about when AJ was knocked off his feet in the water park by that big wave?� Mackenzie said. �Too bad we didn�t have a camera to catch his expression! It was too funny.�
All too soon, they arrived at the airport. They all piled out and unloaded the luggage. Then AJ offered to return the rental car and meet them inside. The guys checked their luggage and got directions about which gate to go to.
They had just been sitting in the lounge for a few minutes when AJ came up. �We�ve got 45 minutes to say goodbye.�
�Okay, well, um� We�ll see you guys a bit later.� Nick said as he and Drew got up and moved to an isolated area.
�Yeah, us too.� said Kevin as he and Mackenzie went in the opposite direction.
�Gee, I�m so glad that they decided to go be mushy in private!� Tanna smiled ruefully. �There�s nothing wrong with mushy, per se� it�s just that seeing them at it was not what I had planned for this morning.�
The three guys laughed, and nodded on agreement. Brian caught Howie�s eye. Howie understood, and nudged AJ�s arm.
�Come on, Bone. Let�s check out the magazine rack.� AJ was unconvinced. �Besides, I�ve got to call home. You can call Beth.�
�Fine. Let�s go.� AJ got up and followed Howie.
�What was the big hurry to get out of there?� AJ asked Howie. �We both know you didn�t have a sudden rush of homesickness.�
�I was getting the distinct impression that Brian wanted to be alone with Tanna for a while.�
�Oh, okay. Let�s go get Mickey Dee�s, I�m hungry.�
Nick and Drew sat together in a quiet part of the airport lounge. They were on the floor; Drew circled in Nick arms.
�I don�t want to go.� Nick said softly.
�I don�t want you to.� Drew replied in kind.
�So why am I going?�
�Because you have to.�
�But I don�t want to.�
�You have to.�
�You don�t want me to, and I don�t. So why do I have to?� Nick�s voice took on a petulant tone.
�Because you have an obligation to the other guys in the group. Now stop whining, there are better things we could be doing.� Drew turned around so that she was facing Nick.
�Really? Like what?� Nick feigned innocence and na�vet�.
�Oh, I don�t know. We could�� Drew paused for effect. �Play monopoly!� her sarcasm was evident.
�Yeah, we could do that. Or�� Nick didn�t finish his sentence, and leaned forward towards Drew. He raised his eyebrows questioningly. Drew smiled and met him halfway to kiss him. He kissed her back, then broke away. �You do realize that we�re in public, right?�
�Does it look like I care all that much?� Drew said scornfully. Nick shrugged and Drew kissed him again, and again. Her arms went around his neck and she threaded her fingers through his hair. His hand went around her waist and inside the back of her shirt.
�I�m going to miss you so much.� Kevin looked down at Mackenzie and took her hands.
�I�ll miss you, too� She replied softly. Kevin smiled and enfolded her in his arms. She laid her head on his chest and hugged him fiercely.
They sat down in the empty seats that were nearby. The two of them had two rows to themselves. The only person who was near was an old man snoring three rows over. Kevin leaned down and kissed Mackenzie softly.
�I had so much fun this week,� Mackenzie said when they broke apart. �Thank you.�
�I�m glad that you did, but it�s me who should be thanking you. Just seeing you for a while is all I need.� Kevin replied, and reached up to brush a curl away from Mackenzie�s cheek. �Or almost all.�
Mackenzie smiled and squeezed his hand. Then she leaned forward to kiss him once again.
�Is Howie close to his family?� Tanna asked.
�Huh? Oh, yeah.� Brian was startled out of his reverie.
�What�s the matter?� Tanna asked, concerned.
�Oh, I was just thinking that I really hate to leave.� Brian answered slowly.
�Yeah, I hate to see you guys go, too.�
�Really?�
�Yeah. We had a lot of fun these past five days. I�ll cherish these memories for the rest of my life. Especially the one of you guys showing up on my birthday. That was really special. Whose idea was it?� Tanna asked.
�Mine.� Brian said quietly. �But Nick chose the song.�
�Yours? That�s so sweet. Thank you so much.� Tanna leaned over and hugged him. He held her close. When they let go, he took her hand.
�Tanna, may I ask you something?� When she nodded, he continued. �I was wondering if� maybe you�d� will you go out with me?� He finished in a rush.
Tanna�s heart swelled, and her eyes misted. �Oh, Brian. You know how I feel about long distance relationships. And this one would be longer than most.� It hurt Tanna to have to say that.
�I know that you�ve had bad luck with long distance relationships before, with Charles, but they don�t all have to turn out like that. We could make this one work.� Brian said earnestly. �Look at Nick and Drew. Or Kevin and Mackenzie.�
�My head hears what you�re saying loud and clear, but my heart is still hurt and wary from the last time.� Tanna said apologetically.
�I�m so sorry that your ex-boyfriend was such a jerk and an idiot for letting you get away. But honey, he�s nothing like me. I wouldn�t hurt you for anything in the world.� Brian leaned forward and took both of her hands in his.
�Oh, Brian.� Tanna leaned her forehead on his shoulder. �That�s is the most beautiful and amazing thing that anyone has ever said to me.�
Brian let go of her hands, and put his arm around her shoulder. �Would you consider a trial period?� He asked softly.
�Even a little while is enough for my heart to get hurt again.� Tanna said.
�Look at me.� Brian tilted up her chin and looked into her eyes. �I said that I would never hurt you. And I meant it with everything that I am. Trust me?�
Tanna nodded silently. Brian leaned forward, touched his lips to hers gently at first, and then once encouraged, a little harder. Tanna brought her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. A moment later, when they parted, they smiled at each other and Brian pulled Tanna to him for a hug, as if to seal his promise.
�I think it�s almost time to catch your flight.� Mackenzie said, checking her watch.
�You�re probably right. Let�s go back to the others.� Kevin reluctantly agreed. They stood up and walked toward where they had left AJ, Howie, Tanna and Brian. As they approached, they saw Brian pull Tanna towards him.
�I�m guessing that they need just a few minutes more.� Kevin said, and steered Mackenzie in the direction that Drew and Nick had gone. �Let�s go get the other two and then come back.�
�Sounds like a plan.�
When they stumbled upon Drew and Nick, they found him with his hand up her shirt, and hers in a similar but opposite direction.
Kevin cleared his throat. �What�s wrong with this picture?� he said conversationally to Mackenzie.
�Is that a trick question?� She answered mildly. Nick and Drew looked up, blushing.
�Enjoying yourselves?� Kevin�s voice was heavy with sarcasm.
�What did it look like?� Drew retorted.
�Let�s go. We have to leave soon. I�ll talk to you about this later.� Kevin said to Nick.
�Yeah, yeah. I know.� Nick muttered under his breath. �You always do.� The pair got up and straightened their clothing.