I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Fifty-Eight

I dragged to the airport and made an imaginary call to her in my head. We bounced our way to Chicago—it would have been less stressful if they'd just driven the plane there. Once we landed I gratefully made my way to a restaurant in the terminal—not that I was hungry I simply enjoyed the novelty of sitting in a chair that wasn't constantly trying to chuck me off. After a glass of pop I wound my way around to the terminal Alex would be coming in at. I fidgeted and shifted from foot to foot when her plane landed and rolled up to the gate. She'd already have done the customs thing in New York at her changeover so at least I wouldn't have to wait for her to do that.

I was nearly bouncing around, trying to see over other people's heads as they disembarked. When I caught her pale hair I waved frantically. She smiled and began walking toward me. It took everything within me not to dash to her and throw myself around her neck like a shampoo advert. When she was a few yards away I could stand it no longer and jogged up to her. I squeezed her and took a big whiff of her hair and said into her neck, 'I missed you.'

'I missed you, as well, sweetheart.' She squeezed me back.

Still holding on I said quietly, 'Yay.'

She chuckled, 'Come on. Let's queue up by the baggage carousel for the rest of the day.'

I took her hand, 'Okey dokey.' I'd have responded the same way if she'd said, "Come on, let's go donate all our vital organs without anaesthetic." I pushed the trolley I'd hired for my luggage and ambled alongside her, grinning like a half-wit. Before she got off the plane I'd had so many things to say I didn't know where to begin, but now that she was there it was as though my mind had been wiped clean of every thought besides, "Alex is here! She's lovely and I love her!!"

Once we were at the carousel she said, 'Are you all right? You're awfully quiet.'

'I'm brilliant, thanks.' I hugged her again. 'I'm just glad to see you. That's all.'

'So glad you're not speaking to me?'

I laughed, 'So glad I don't know what to say.'

'I'm very happy to see you, as well.' She nudged her shoulder against mine.

'Are you tired? Do you want a kip?'

She shook her head, 'I'm all right presently, though I've never flown in this direction before so I don't know how I'll feel later.'

'Any time you want to have a nap, just let me know. The first time I flew back I thought my eyes would fall out—it's a very bizarre feeling.'

'I suppose that would feel odd. I slept on the plane, actually. I dreamt about you.'

'Yeah?'

'Yes. We were having a cuddle.'

My face fell, 'Get out of the room.'

She laughed, 'Is that so odd?'

'I dreamt that, too.'

She looked surprised, 'Really? That's rather amusing. I've never dreamt about that before, have you? I've dreamt about you, but not in that way.' She turned and looked at me quizzically, 'What?'

'You're chattering.' I smiled, normally I was the one who did that.

She smiled back, 'I suppose I am a bit giddy. I've missed you so much.'

'I wasn't being judgemental, only surprised.' She missed me! 'You've dreamt of me before?'

She nodded, 'Yes. I have frightfully dull dreams, though. You simply happen to be in them, hanging about.'