One More Shot At LOVE

lia

the flight attendant urged passengers to "wait until the

rty-four hours, two layovers, and too many time zones to tally. She was lucky enough to have completed the customs process upon

The only bright spot was that Julia could get sidetracked by Zoë, Amelia's sister, and the hurried wedding planning. Amelia intended

was coming home. Even though Amelia wasn't sure she was ready to cope with "home"

rs, attempting to get off the aeroplane. Rather, she turned to face the tarmac outside the window. As airline baggage handlers and other suppor

Melbourne was in the high thirties. A day and a half later—which, with the time difference, was three days, despite the entire flying time only being about twenty-two hours (not in

d? She was ignorant. Amelia had never once giv

e would live and die, but at

p and retrieving her carry-on bags from the overhead bin. She exited the aircraft with the remaining survivors,

rt while she was out and about. She let out a sigh w

'll text you an estimated time of

er fiancé, Blake, had already arrived, or they had

blouse immediately. The scarf and overcoat, which she had discarded upon boarding the aircraft, now weighed excessively on her arm. Perhap

y to run straight into a wall of masculinity. She bounced off and was about to fall,

s she stepped back and gazed up at

hing

ords. They were in an airport, she was jet tired, and she wasn't ready. This was not how it was intended to happe

hough nine months wasn't much, she could see he had changed based on the tightness in his jaw and the fatigue arou

ense, given that his blonde hair appeared brighter, as though he had spent some time in the sun. Although she wouldn't describe him as little, he was slimme

wever, she was aware of her more subtle changes. Even by her admission, she had grown up. Upon reflection on their five-year relationship, Amelia realised she b

that was not how rel

to speak. What did it matter if her eyes were gobbling him u

l that made her blood b

ly glancing at one another as th

d your heart, what in the wo

ing balls

mel

ia is

ed amazing

nt. Her appearance le

ilky, honey-coloured strands. She smelled just as he remembered. Smith had heard that scents could elicit st

oat, and the trousers she wore hugged her contours. He wanted to breathe her in and bury

ons. She remembered how, with her nails sinking into his exposed

for words. Although he knew he might run into her in the t

those months ago, he had been a filthy coward and had allowed her to leave his life. He ought to have pursued her, but he chos

d in his work that he'd barely seen his family. He was finally home for real; his contract expired, and the idea was to start moving on with

y gaze went

r that he was stil

way she carried herself, the way her shoulders were straight, and her chin tilted toward him rather than the earth. He thought it was good. Though he had always appreciated everything about Trina

wet dreams he'd experienced all those years before, he was

ly stopped loving her, could i

ere gazing at one other longer than was appropriate,

snapping out of the strange bubble that had e

a," he remarked as he lifted h

o move. What was the purpose? Now, Amelia had another life entirely without his presence. She moved on, realising that he had lost his shot with

x hundred

s taking off, and had been funding her trips for the last nine months. He was incredibly proud of her and longed for her comp

d through the airport and into the parking garage. As much as he wanted to

the driver's seat. He didn't let himself take a deep breath unt

He hadn't fully considered everything when he accepted the offer. Though he felt Amelia would be there, he had no idea how surreal it would

e too hurried to extend his agreement with the mines? He shook his head in disagreement. If he decided to go back to the Pilbara, Mia, his