He opened his text messages again, but he didn't reply to Calvert.

Instead, he sent Evelyn a text message saying, “I'll wait for you. We can always change flights."

He wouldn't believe that asshole.

Evelyn felt much better when she saw his message.

"Okay," she replied.

She went over all the things she needed to talk about, making sure that she could recite the speech fluently by then to save every possible second.

An hour and ten minutes later, Sheffield received a call from Joshua.

“Hey, Bro. You guys boarding now? Have fun there. Wish I could go, but

I'm stuck here working—"

“Evelyn isn't here yet," Sheffield interrupted him.

“What? Isn't your flight supposed to take off soon? Like ten minutes from now? Unless my watch is wrong." Joshua double-checked, taking another look at his watch. No, he was right. So why wasn't she there?

Then he checked the time on his phone to make sure. Same result.

"No, we had a slight change of plans. She got held up." Sheffield's tone betrayed no emotion.

“What happened? Where's Evelyn?"

“I don't know!" After that initial text, he got nothing more from her.

So he really had no idea where she was, or how quick she'd be there.

He called her ten minutes ago, but no one answered.

Just then, a voice was heard on the intercom.

"Mr. Sheffield and Miss

Evelyn, your flight is about to take off. Please report to Gate 293 for boarding. Sheffield and Evelyn. It's time to board the plane." They had taken a passenger count, and they knew they weren't aboard when they checked the manifest.

Joshua heard this over the phone.

After a moment's silence, he reminded Sheffield in a low voice, "Time to board, man. You'll miss your flight."

Sheffield stood in front of the Large-paned French window, one hand in his pocket. He looked at the plane outside and said, “So what? It's not time to take off yet. If she gets here, we can board together. If not,

I can always change my flight."

Joshua sighed. He knew Sheffield better than anyone else. He may project the image of an uncaring playboy, the love-em and leave-em type who went through women like a chain smoker went through cigarettes.