Page 130 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
Why the hell was I so emotional?
It wasn’t goodbye; it was “see you later.”
I wasn’t leaving forever.
“I’m good, I um…” I said, and my mouth went completely dry. A couple of cars honked their horns as they moved in and out of the drop-off area, and my heart raced with anxiety.
“Okay, beautiful. Happy release day. I’m so proud of you. Be safe and call when you land.” He pulled me in for a hug.
“Love ya.” The muffled words left my mouth as a loud whistle blew from right behind me, and I startled and nearly fell before I jumped back.
“Love ya”? Is that what I just said?
“I’m going to need this truck moved now, or I’m writing you a ticket,” the buzzkill security officer said, and I had a deep desire to flip him the bird.
He’d just ruined my airport “I love you” and turned it into an epic fail.
Archer nodded, leaned down, and kissed me once more before glancing at the man in uniform glaring at us. “Got it.”
He jogged around the truck and jumped in the driver’s seat. I waved as he pushed the controller to put the window down.
Say it.
For the love of God, please say it.
“You’ve got this, Winnie,” he told me. “Don’t worry about us. Have a great time.”
“Have a great time”?
I forced a smile just as a woman with an oversized rolling bag slammed into me, and Archer pulled away from the curb.
“Ouch!” I grumped, pulling my foot away after she’d completely wheeled over it.
I replayed the events of the goodbye as I made my way through security and then again through the entire flight to Seattle.
He’d definitely heard me, right?
I’d told him that I loved him, or at least a more casual version of “I love you”—and he’d told me to have a good time.
But from the moment I landed in Seattle, where Laney was waiting for me, I was forced to focus.
Our itinerary was packed, and after my arrival at the airport, we’d gone straight to a bookstore, where I signed fifteen hundred copies ofWhisper Sweet Nothings.
I didn’t have time to think about the fact that I’d whispered a sweet nothing into my boyfriend’s ear when we were saying goodbye, and he hadn’t said it back.
So maybe I had some time to think about it.
But I forced myself to be present.
It was release day, and I needed to get my head on straight.
Everyone helped by opening the flaps of each cover to make things move along faster. It was exciting and overwhelming all at the same time.
Laney and I made our way to the hotel to change clothes quickly. Then we hopped in a car to get to an in-person signing at another bookstore, with readers who were there to celebrate my release with me.
I glanced down at my phone to reread the text Archer had sent when I landed.
Not exactly what I was hoping for.
