Last-Minute Love (from 2nd book in the Year of the Chick series)

Chapter Three

I gazed out the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the planes take off.

Feeling a bit nervous, I rummaged through my bag until I pulled out a chocolate bar.

Then I went to town on it.

My best friend Laura was sitting across from me in the departure lounge, next to her tanned and luscious boyfriend Dave. Laura and I had survived our first jobs together after graduation, high up on the seventieth floor of a ruthless corporate monster. The only other things that could’ve brought us any closer would’ve been war...or lesbianism. At the moment my non-lesbian Laura watched me inhale the chocolate with a look of concern. “Romes, it’s nine a.m.”

“I’m stress-eating,” I said between bites.

Laura’s blonde curls and petite curvy body were the perfect match for Dave’s cropped dark hair and muscled frame. They were the cutest Italian-Canadian couple this side of Toronto.

They were also wearing matching blue T-shirts and jeans.

It was cute and revolting, actually.

Laura continued to look disturbed by my now half-eaten chocolate bar. “Look, I know it’s not the best destination,” she said. “But you didn’t even give me two weeks’ notice. And I already had this planned!”

I crumpled up the wrapper and squeezed it in my hand. “I honestly thought I could handle it...but now we’re just hours away and I’m not so sure. I mean NEW YORK? That’s me and James! I should’ve just gone somewhere alone.” I sighed.

Laura nearly leapt from her chair and grabbed me by the shoulders. “Like where? Hawaii?! Where were you going to go with ten days notice? And how much money would you have blown when you’re supposed to be dreaming of Paris? Hmm?” Oh right, I forgot about that pipe dream. “Instead you’ve got four solid days in New York, with Dave’s company paying for the hotel.” She smiled. “AND you’ve got me. So maybe you don’t have James right now, but this can be our no-man trip!”

She retreated back to her chair but I frowned. “How come YOU brought a man? Dave’s wang is a direct violation of the girls’ trip code.”

Dave, looking slightly embarrassed, quickly rose from his chair. “I have to use the bathroom.” He walked away at a much more hurried pace than his usual swagger.

Laura shook her head at me disapprovingly. “Don’t forget that his ‘wang’ is attached to his business trip and your free accommodations.”

I nodded sarcastically. “Yes, yes, bow to the wang!” All I knew for sure was that this trip would need some memory-numbing alcohol.

New York, my new nemesis...

***

A ninety-minute-and-counting delay later, we were still waiting around in the departure lounge. Dave had tuned out the world with his headphones, while Laura’s head was buried in the latest Hollywood gossip mag. Meanwhile I flipped the next page of “Eat Pray Love” with a snort. “Yeah, ‘cause you just waltz into Bali and magically find your soul-mate.”

Laura looked up from her magazine. “Isn’t that a true story?”

I rolled my eyes. “Wildly embellished, I’m sure.”

Laura’s expression suddenly changed. “So what did you tell your parents about this trip? It was pretty out of the blue and all.”

I smiled. “I said it was a business trip, like usual. This time they didn’t even blink; too much craziness and arguing over wedding preparations.”