CHAPTER TWO:TWICE?!

Evan’s POV;

The kiss was still on my lips.

Or at least, it felt that way.

I bolted out first, trying to walk like a normal human being and not like someone who had just swapped saliva next to a sink.

 I didn’t look back. 

I Couldn’t. 

If I did, I might’ve dragged him back in there and missed my flight for round two.

As I sped walked toward the gate, I realized I couldn’t even remember his name.

It was like a one-night stand, except with more…mouth.

I found my gate, grabbed my suitcase, scanned my boarding pass, and walked onto the plane still dazed. 

The flight attendant smiled at me, but I probably looked like I’d been struck by lightning. Sexy, airport-bathroom lightning.

I found my seat; the middle seat and collapsed into it, one deep breath away from a complete existential crisis.

And then?

He sat down next to me and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

Of all people.

I blinked at him. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

Hazel Eyes. Killer jaw. Coffee-stained shirt (now mostly dry). The Greek god airport stranger was casually flipping through a business magazine like we hadn’t just been groping each other ten minutes ago.

“Excuse me?” He raised an eyebrow 

“I mean… just. What are the odds?” I gestured vaguely between us. “Same gate, same row, same side of the plane?”

He didn’t laugh. He just looked at me for a second too long.

I swallowed. “Okay. Not funny. Got it.”

I sank into my seat, awkward and warm and very aware of the man next to me. My body still hadn’t recovered. My brain definitely hadn’t.

I fidgeted with the hem of my sweatshirt. “Look, about what happened… in the bathroom. I didn’t mean to cross a line or—”

He interrupted softly. “Don’t apologize.”

I blinked. “I just thought maybe I came on too strong—”

“I liked it.”

Oh.

That shut me up.

I stared ahead, grinning like an idiot. I felt his eyes on me again, but I was too high on adrenaline and hormones to speak.

The plane began to taxi, and I snuck a look at him again. He was flipping through The Economist. He looked so calm. 

About twenty minutes into the flight, I pulled my tiny tray table down and started snacking on the sad bag of pretzels and mini cola they gave us. His brow was furrowed, mouth slightly pursed. It was unfair how hot he looked while concentrating.

“You travel a lot?” I asked, needing to fill the silence.

He nodded. “For work.”

I tilted my head. “Do you always end up making out with strangers before takeoff?”

That earned a ghost of a smile. “No. First time for everything, I guess.”

I smiled too.

We talked about flying, mostly delayed flights, airport food, how overpriced popcorn in cinemas was. Somehow it started to feel normal again. Like we weren’t trapped between two armrests and tension.

But just when I thought I was calm, that shift happened again.

The one where you realize you’re one glance away from doing something gloriously stupid. 

I stood up. “Excuse me. Bathroom.”

This time, I really was just going to calm down. Not make out.

I needed space and  a reality check.

I squeezed into the tiny toilet, ran water over my hands, and stared into the mirror.

“You’re not in a romance movie,” I whispered. “This is not a thing. You kissed him. It was good. Let it go.”

I heard a soft knock and I opened the door thinking it was a flight attendant.

It was him.

Before I could speak, he slipped in and locked the door behind us.

“I followed you this time” he said, voice rough. Needy.

I forgot how to breathe. The space between us felt tiny.

He looked at me, his voice quieter now. “We don’t have to do names. Or details. But I want to kiss you again.”

I swallowed. “Then do it.”

And he did.

Right in that cramped bathroom.

This one was slower. More deliberate. Less frenzied, more I’ve been thinking about this since the first one. My back hit the sink. His hands landed on my hips. 

I gripped his arms again, still as strong, still as solid. My lips moved against his like I’d been doing it for years.

He tasted faintly of coffee and something warmer. His tongue slid against mine, teasing, testing, and I kissed him back like my life depended on it.

We broke apart only when we heard someone knock outside.

We returned to our seats brushing hands as we sat back down like we hadn’t just made out again.

I sat down, dazed, heart thumping.

As we prepared to land, I couldn’t stop glancing at him.

He didn’t say anything.

Neither did I.

But I couldn’t stop smiling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At arrivals, I didn’t even have time to feel disappointed when he disappeared into the crowd.

Because suddenly I heard my name being shouted like it owed someone money.

“EVAN!”

I looked up, just in time to be tackled by a blur of pink bangs, glitter liner, and high-top sneakers.

“Hailey!” I practically squealed.

My best friend since forever, a bisexual menace who was not beating any stereotypes soon.

“I missed your face, you dramatic little goblin!” She smiled widely.

“Missed you too Hailey Wang”

“Eww, you smell like airplane,” she said, wrinkling her nose. 

I laughed. 

We pulled apart and started heading to the Uber pickup. She had a giant tote bag slung over one shoulder and a phone covered in frog stickers.

“You look different,” she said, peering at me. “Like…flushed. And smug. You kissed someone.”

I blinked. “What? Noooo….okay, yes.”

“WHO?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t—”

I grinned. “Okay, so, I tripped over his suitcase at the airport, and he was like, model hot. Like, Wall Street prince hot. We talked. There was chemistry. Then I went to the bathroom and he showed up after getting coffee spilled on him—”

“Please tell me you jumped that hunk”

“No, Hailey. I kissed him. Like full-blown, pressed-up-against-the-sink kiss.”

Her jaw dropped. “IN THE AIRPORT BATHROOM?”

“And then again on the plane. In that bathroom.”

“TWICE?!”

“I kid you not”

She whistled. “Damn. I go to airports and end up fighting with kids. You get kissed by hot Wall Street men.”

I laughed. “He never told me his name though.”

“Okay, mystery airport zaddy. We’ll find him. I’ll start investigating.”

“Please don’t.” I know she’d obsess over it till she found at least his social media accounts.

She bumped her shoulder into mine. “Was it good?”

“The best kiss of my life.”

We got into the car, and I stared out the window as we drove through the familiar blur of Queens. Streetlights. Pizza places. Stoops I’d walked past my whole life.

Hailey blurted, “I saw the hottest girl at the gate. She was giving goth Angelina Jolie. I think I’m in love.”

“You’re in a relationship, Hailey.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m in a situation. There’s a difference.”

I laughed, leaning against the window as the city blurred past.

Queens was starting to look familiar again. Street signs, corner bodegas, the rumble of the train somewhere in the distance.

But all I could think about was him.

What was his name?

Where was he going?

Would I ever see him again?

Probably not.

But God, I hoped I would.