Josh's POV
9:40 PM CST

While I was on the flight to Jackson, I connected to the in-flight WiFi, my fingers frantically scrolling through options for flights out of there. Time wasn't on my side, and I couldn't waste a second once we landed.

I came across a flight leaving for Los Angeles in exactly one hour. My heart raced as I clicked on it, but my stomach dropped when I saw the dreaded words: Flight Full

"Damn it." I muttered under my breath, leaning back in my seat for a moment, trying to think. I wasn't ready to give up. I knew firsthand that airlines often held a few seats for last-minute emergencies, and I could only hope I'd be lucky enough to snag one of them.

The flight attendant walked by, and I leaned over to catch her attention. "Any chance you know if the flight to L.A. is still scheduled to leave on time?"

She paused, her brow furrowing in thought. "Last I heard, yes. It's one of the few flights still set to depart tonight. But you might want to hurry—it's cutting it close. I could make a call letting them know you're coming. But I didn't see anyone connecting to that flight on our manifest." she said, her tone cautious.

"I couldn't book it."  I admitted, my voice tinged with desperation. "It said it was full. Please tell me that's not true. I really need to get to L.A. tonight."

She gave me a small, understanding smile. "I'll see what I can do when we land."

I exhaled sharply, a wave of relief washing over me, though I was still on edge. "I'd appreciate it so much if you could. My girlfriend is alone right now, and I shouldn't have gone to Chicago anyway. I had to make something happen for her, but now I'm stuck flying four hours south, just to fly another six hours west—if I'm even able to make the flight. So, please, if there's anything you can do, I'm begging you to help me."

Her smile softened as she nodded. "I'll try my best. Let me check with the ground crew and see if there's anything I can do to get you on that flight."

"Thank you." I said, my voice firm with gratitude and a hint of desperation.

As she walked away, I leaned back into my seat, my mind still racing. This wasn't just a trip. This was my shot to prove to her—and to myself—that no matter how messy things got, I was in this for her. For us.

I glanced at the flight tracker on the screen in front of me. We were about fifteen minutes from landing in Jackson. Fifteen minutes to mentally prepare myself for the next leg of this journey, and to brace for whatever awaited me at the gate.

I quickly typed out a draft message to send as soon as we landed:

Made it to Jackson. Working on the next flight. I hope you're not upset with me. I love you.

The plane jolted slightly as we began our descent, the flicker of cabin lights reflecting off the window. My heart raced, and I clenched my jaw, determination burning through the exhaustion. I hated just sitting here.

I whispered to myself, as if the universe might somehow hear me, "Please let me make that flight."

I tightened my grip on the small box in my pocket, steeling myself for what was to come.

The plane touched down, and as we slowed down and taxied to the gate, I unbuckled my seatbelt before the flight attendant even had a chance to remind us to stay seated. My leg bounced with nervous energy as I waited for the plane to reach the gate. Every second felt like an eternity, and I couldn't afford to waste even one of them.

"We've arrived in Jackson." the captain's voice crackled over the intercom. "Local time is 9:55 PM. For those making connections, please check the monitors in the terminal for updated flight information. Thank you for flying with us, and happy holidays."

Happy holidays. Sure. I glanced out the window at the dark, rain-slicked runway, my mind racing. I grabbed my phone and quickly hit send on the draft I'd typed earlier.

The moment the plane reached the gate, I was out of my seat, grabbing my bag from the overhead bin. "Excuse me." I muttered to the passenger in the aisle seat as I squeezed past.

"Somebody's in a hurry." he said with a chuckle, but I didn't even acknowledge it.

As soon as the cabin door opened, I bolted into the terminal, weaving through the slow-moving crowd of passengers. I barely registered the festive decorations strung up in the airport or the Christmas music playing softly over the speakers. My focus was locked on finding the gate for the flight to L.A.

I spotted the nearest departure screen and scanned it frantically. Gate D3. Boarding now.

I swore under my breath and picked up my pace, my bag bouncing against my side as I dodged people like a running back. My lungs burned, and my legs were already screaming from hours of travel, but I didn't care.

As I turned the corner, I saw the gate in the distance. A small crowd of passengers was still gathered at the desk, and the boarding door was open. Relief flooded me, but it was short-lived. I had no ticket. No guarantee I'd get on that plane.

I slowed as I approached the gate agent, trying to catch my breath. "Hi." I said, my voice strained. "I know this flight is full, but is there any chance—any chance at all—you can get me on it? Please. I'll pay whatever."

The agent looked at me, her face unreadable as she continued typing into her computer. My heart thudded in my chest, each beat louder than the last. This was my last chance to make it to her tonight, and everything seemed to hang on her next words.

"What's your name?" she asked, breaking the silence.

"Joshua Fatu." I replied quickly, my voice steady despite the nerves coursing through me.

She paused, her eyes scanning the screen. "Oh," she said, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

My heart dropped. Oh? What does that mean? Was it bad? Was I too late?

Her eyes met mine, and the hint of a smile grew. "We held a seat for you."

Relief and disbelief washed over me in equal measure. "Wait—seriously?" I asked, blinking as her words sunk in.

"Seriously." she said, "The flight attendant from your last flight called ahead. You owe her one."

A laugh of pure relief escaped me, and I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face. "I definitely do. Thank you. Thank you so much."

I quickly reached into my pocket to grab my card before she could change her mind. I didn't care what the price was—I'd pay anything to get home. Without hesitation, I handed her my card.

She swiped it and processed the payment with efficiency. As she handed it back along with my boarding pass, she gestured toward the gate. "Better hurry." she said with a small smile. "We're about to close up."

I nodded, gripping the boarding pass like it was a lifeline. "I'm on it. Thanks again."

With my bag slung over my shoulder, I walked briskly toward the jet bridge, each step filled with purpose. I couldn't stop the surge of gratitude and determination coursing through me. This wasn't just a flight. It wasn't just about getting to L.A.—it was about making it to her. To us.

10:26 PM CST

As I stepped onto the plane, the tension I'd been carrying all day began to ease. I found my seat quickly and settled in, leaning back as the soft hum of the engines filled the cabin. Exhaustion tugged at me, but the relief of knowing I was finally on my way overpowered it. This was it—just a few more hours, and I'd be with her. I clearly wasn't going to make it tonight, but I was going to make it.

Can't have everything we want the way we want it.

I pulled out my phone and tapped her contact without hesitation.

"Hello?" Her voice came through the line, instantly making my heart beat a little faster. A smile spread across my face as I pictured her.

"Hey baby." I said.

"Heey." She said, her voice soft and calming.

"I'm on the flight to LA." I said, my voice steady but filled with excitement. "We're about to take off in a minute. I just wanted to call and tell you I'll be there in a few hours."

There was a pause, and then she said, "I'm so happy to hear that."

"Yeah." I replied, a small chuckle escaping. "We can both finally exhale and relax a little."

Before she could respond, the flight attendant's voice came over the intercom, reminding us to put away electronics and switch devices to airplane mode.

"Aight, baby." I said reluctantly. "I gotta go. I'll see you soon. I love you."

"I love you too, Josh." she said, and my heart skipped a beat at the way she said it, like she meant every word.

I ended the call and slipped the phone back into my pocket, my hand brushing against the small box I'd been carrying all day. I held it for a moment, letting its presence ground me.

Leaning back in my seat, I closed my eyes and let out a long breath. The day had been chaotic, but it was all worth it. Soon, I'd be where I needed to be—right by her side.

***********

Kris' POV
8:26 PM PT

I sat on the sofa, my blanket wrapped tightly around me as I stared at the twinkling lights on the tree. The fire crackled softly in the background, filling the silence of the apartment. My phone sat on the coffee table, and I found myself glancing at it every few minutes, hoping for an update from Josh.

When it finally rang, I grabbed it immediately, my heart racing as his name lit up the screen.

"Hello?" I answered, trying to keep my voice calm, though relief was already washing over me just hearing from him.

"Hey baby," He said. I felt so much relief hearing his voice.

"Heey." I said.

"I'm on the flight to LA." he said, his voice steady but filled with excitement. "We're about to take off in a minute. I just wanted to call and tell you I'll be there in a few hours."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "I'm so happy to hear that."

"Yeah." he replied with a small laugh. "We can both finally exhale and relax a little."

The warmth in his voice calmed me, easing the knot of anxiety that had been sitting in my chest all day.

But then I heard the faint sound of the flight attendant's voice in the background, reminding passengers to put their electronics away.

"Aight, baby. I gotta go." Josh said, a hint of reluctance in his tone. "I'll see you soon. I love you."

"I love you too, Josh." I said, my voice soft but certain.

The call ended, and I placed the phone back on the coffee table, staring at it for a moment. My chest felt lighter now, a small smile creeping onto my face.

He was really coming. After everything today had thrown at him, he was making it happen.

I leaned back into the sofa, staring into the fire as a sense of calm settled over me. The ache of loneliness I'd been fighting all night didn't feel so unbearable anymore. He was on his way, and soon, he'd be here. That thought was enough to keep me going for now.

I'd been sitting here for hours, lost in my thoughts, replaying my life in pieces. Somewhere in that silence, I came to the realization that I was supposed to go through this tonight. I don't know how or why, but it felt like the universe was nudging me to sit with my feelings, to stop running from them, and to try to make something of them—or at least understand them.

Maybe it was about more than just loneliness. Maybe it was about acknowledging all the things I had bottled up: the regret, the fear, the self-doubt. Those feelings I kept pushing down because they were too hard to face. Tonight, there was no one else here, no distractions to drown them out. It was just me, the fire, and the quiet truth of where I was in life.

I didn't have all the answers yet, but I felt like I was starting to see things a little more clearly. Maybe it was okay that my life didn't look the way I thought it would by now. Maybe it was okay to take the long way around to figuring things out.

Josh's call had reminded me that I wasn't alone, even in the moments when it felt like I was. And maybe that was the lesson I needed tonight: to sit with myself and my feelings, but also to remember that someone cared enough to fight through delays, detours, and exhaustion just to be with me.

I let out a long breath, my gaze still fixed on the fire. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a glimmer of hope—not just for tonight, but for everything ahead. Maybe I was going to be okay after all.

I thought about the cookies I'd attempted to make earlier. At the time, I couldn't bring myself to do it, but now the idea didn't seem so bad. Baking might be exactly what I needed to fill the time and keep my hands busy while I waited for Josh.

I got up from the sofa, pulling the blanket off my shoulders and tossing it over the armrest. Walking into the kitchen, I turned on the light and opened the pantry, scanning the shelves for the ingredients I'd pulled out earlier. Flour, sugar, chocolate chips—they were all still sitting there, untouched and ready.

Rolling up my sleeves, I grabbed the mixing bowl and got to work. Measuring the flour, cracking the eggs, and mixing the ingredients together gave me something tangible to focus on, something simple and comforting. The rhythm of it was calming, and I found myself smiling faintly as I stirred the dough.

By the time I scooped the dough onto the baking sheet and slid it into the oven, the apartment was starting to feel a little warmer—not just from the oven, but from the shift in my mood. The smell of chocolate and sugar slowly filled the air, wrapping around me like a hug.

As I waited for the cookies to bake, I leaned against the counter and glanced at my phone again. No new messages, but I knew he was in the air now, making his way to me. That thought was enough to bring a sense of peace.

For the first time tonight, I let myself relax, letting the soft crackle of the fire and the sweet smell of cookies remind me that things weren't so bad. Josh was coming, and we'd end this night together. And for now, that was enough.

After I finished baking a few dozen cookies—far too many for just Josh and me—I cleaned up the kitchen, wiping down the counters and putting away the ingredients. The warm smell of chocolate and sugar still lingered in the air, wrapping the apartment in a cozy, welcoming aroma.

I decided to make it a little fancier and pulled out the dessert tray I rarely used, the one that had been sitting in the cabinet gathering dust. If tonight was about creating small joys, then this was a good start. I carefully arranged the cookies on the tray, stacking them in a neat, tiered display.

To make it feel more festive, I added a handful of candy canes to one side and a few small bowls filled with marshmallows and chocolate chips to the other. It wasn't extravagant, but it looked inviting—something that said, Welcome home. You're here, and everything is better now.

I carried the tray into the living room and placed it on the coffee table, adjusting it slightly until it looked just right. The twinkling lights of the Christmas tree reflected off the glass surface of the table, giving everything a soft, magical glow.

I stepped back, admiring my work for a moment, and smiled. The dessert tray, the tree, the fire crackling in the background—it all came together in a way that made the apartment feel a little less empty.

I settled back onto the sofa, pulling the blanket over my lap as I glanced at the clock. It was only 10:45—just over two hours since I'd spoken to Josh. It felt much longer, even though I knew time always seemed to drag when you were waiting for something—or someone—you cared about.

I reached over to the dessert tray, taking one of the cookies and savoring the first bite. For a moment, I let myself enjoy it, letting the flavors remind me of simpler, happier times.

When I finished, I set the blanket aside and laid down on the sofa, resting my head on the armrest. The fire crackled softly in the background, and the glow of the tree filled the room with a quiet warmth. I pulled the blanket back over me and let out a long breath, trying to relax.

The night had been such an emotional rollercoaster—anxiety, loneliness, hope, and now, the calm anticipation of knowing he was on his way. It was exhausting in a way I hadn't expected, and as I stared at the twinkling lights of the tree, I felt my eyelids growing heavy.

"Just a quick nap." I murmured to myself, closing my eyes. Josh would be here soon, and I wanted to be awake to welcome him. But as the warmth of the fire and the softness of the blanket wrapped around me, my body started to give in to the pull of sleep.

*

What are your thoughts about Part two?
Update tomorrow!