Borrowing Amor Boxed Set

Chapter 3

3

Bev waited in front of her apartment building, bag in hand. She checked her watch for the fiftieth time. Katie wasn’t late, she reminded herself. Bev had just been so excited that she was packed and outside waiting half an hour early. Anxiety bubbled within her chest. After that first phone call with Julie, she hadn’t known what to feel. At first, Bev had been annoyed that Katie had entered her name into the drawing without telling her. Bev didn’t want her personal information floating around for anyone to use for their pleasure. Why take the risk of someone selling her email address when she had nearly zero percent chance of winning?

But then it had sunk in. Bev Miller had won something. That never happened. And it wasn’t a day at the spa…it was a day in space. She wasn’t sure what to expect, hence the anxiety, but knowing that her best friend would be there with her—this was going to be life changing, she could feel it.

Katie’s car finally pulled up and Bev leaped off the curb. She threw her bag into the back seat, not waiting for Katie to pop the trunk.

“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” Bev squealed. But when she glanced over at her friend, she saw traces of tears. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing,” Katie said, trying to smile. She failed, and her eyes sprang a leak, more tears cascading down her cheeks. “I’ve never left Liv before. Ever. Even with a babysitter.”

“Oh, honey,” Bev said, pulling Katie into a hug. “I know this is hard for you, but she’s going to be fine. She’ll be at Ruby’s daycare during the day, and you know how she loves to dote on Liv.”

Katie laughed and pulled back. “That is very true. She’s the best aunt a kid could ask for.” She paused, her smile morphing into a look of horror. “What if she takes Liv up in her plane? She wouldn’t do that, right?”

“Sam would never allow it,” Bev confirmed. “But even if he did, Ruby’s the best pilot around. Liv would probably love seeing the clouds.”

“You’re not helping,” Katie said, her breathing coming fast.

Bev placed her hands on both sides of Katie’s face and looked her in the eyes. “Liv is going to be fine. This is going to be good for both of you. Now, are you going to drive, or do I need to ask them to swing their spaceship around and pick us up on their way?”

“You’re right. This is the only chance I’ll ever have to do this,” Katie said. “And considering people are coming from all over the country, and all we have to do is drive to the local hotel to meet a bus, I’d be crazy to pass this up.”

“Exactly,” Bev said. She pointed forward. “Now, drive on!”

Katie’s smile returned and Bev couldn’t contain another squeal as they drove toward the first stop of their adventure.

“This is kind of anticlimactic, don’t you think?” Bev asked. They stood in the hotel lobby, waiting for the bus that would take them to the spaceport. Several other people paced the lobby, and she wondered if they were there for the same reason.

“Are you kidding?” Katie asked, her eyes dancing. “Do you realize who we are stuck in here with?”

Bev glanced around. A teenage boy and a man who looked like an older version of the boy looked anxiously out the front windows, excitement on their faces. The boy was talking fast, his hands gesturing wildly. A few feet away, a woman who was probably in her seventies sat in a chair, knitting something that looked like it would be worn once the weather cooled down. Bev’s gaze moved to the front counter, where a tall, thin woman leaned against it. She wore gigantic sunglasses and her red hair sat on top of her head. She played on her phone, looking bored, ignoring the good-looking man who stood beside her. Surely not all these people were waiting for the same bus Bev and Katie were. The only ones who seemed excited were the boy and his father. Occasionally the attractive man would try to talk to the thin woman, but she didn’t seem very interested in what he had to say. When he caught Bev staring at him, he flashed her a bright smile and gave her a quick wink.

Bev dropped her gaze. “I have no idea who we’re stuck here with, but we might want to stay clear of that couple by the front counter.”

“We most certainly won’t. That’s Brady Andersen and Candi Hobbs,” Katie whispered.

“Who?” Bev asked, still looking at the ground. She didn’t want to risk eye contact with that Brady guy again.

“Only the most famous couple ever,” Katie said. She stared at Bev, waiting for the names to register. “You know…Brady Andersen? He’s in all those movies I love. And then there was a huge scandal when he started dating Candi while she was still married to the producer of one of the movies Brady was working on. Any of that ringing a bell?”

Bev shook her head. She had gotten used to not having a television when she had been destitute, and she hadn’t ever bothered to get one, even after she could afford it. It was a simpler life not having all that stuff cluttering up her apartment. “Sorry, nope.”

Katie gave an exaggerated sigh. “What am I going to do with you?” She sneaked another glance at Brady and Candi. “Well, they have no reason to be here except for the space launch, which means that we’re going to be able to spend three whole days with them.”

“I think I’m going to go use the bathroom,” Bev said, suddenly nauseous. Rich people made her uncomfortable, and famous ones were even worse. She walked quickly past the elevators and followed the ‘restrooms’ sign down a hallway to the left.

After locking herself in one of the stalls, she sat down on the toilet seat and let out a deep breath. What had she expected? Of course a trip to space attracted the rich and famous—they were the only ones who could afford it. Bev was going to be with these people for the next three days. She was going to be locked in a spaceship with them. But these weren’t the same people who had shunned her in New York City after her company declared bankruptcy. She could do this.

Bev stepped out of the bathroom, resolute. This was going to be the most amazing three days of her life. With a quick pace and her head held high, she walked down the hall toward the lobby and rounded the corner.

And ran straight into someone stepping out of the elevator.

The man lost his balance, and just as he was about to fall backwards into the elevator, Bev grabbed his arm.

“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry,” she said, mortified. This was not how she had wanted to start the most amazing three days of her life. She needed a do-over. Maybe she should go back to the bathroom and try again.

“Not a problem,” the man said, holding his elbow and grimacing. “You looked very determined to get wherever you are going.”

Bev realized she was still holding his arm and she quickly let go. “I suppose I was, but that doesn’t excuse plowing you over.”

The man smiled, showing off beautiful white teeth that contrasted with his dark complexion. “I’m Charles,” he said, holding out a hand.

“I’m Bev.” She took his hand, then allowed herself to meet his gaze. Her breath hitched a little as she took in his dark hair, peppered with gray. His brown eyes were warm and friendly, and he had an unassuming air about him.

“Where are you going in such a hurry?” Charles asked, his smile unwavering.

Bev hesitated. She didn’t know why, but she didn’t really want to tell him she was on her way to Galactic Enterprises. There was a certain type of person who could afford that level of luxury and she didn’t want to be mistaken as that person.

“I’m meeting a friend,” she said. “We’re heading out on vacation.”

“Just here as a stopover, huh?”

Bev’s heart quickened and she suddenly wished she could stay a little longer. She glanced into the lobby, where the teenage boy let out an excited cheer and she saw that the bus had pulled up.

“I should go,” she said apologetically, though she lingered an extra few seconds. Long enough for it to get awkward. “Okay, bye.”

Charles’ smile widened and he gave a little wave. “Too bad you didn’t run into me earlier,” he said as she turned to leave.

In an impromptu decision, Bev scribbled down her phone number on the corner of a receipt from her purse and thrust it into Charles’ hand.

“If you’re ever in town again, let me know. Maybe we can do this again,” she said, backing away.

“You mean, stand awkwardly outside a hotel elevator?” His eyes lit up, like they were teasing her.

“Any elevator would do,” Bev teased back. Oh gosh, was she flirting? Bev didn’t flirt, and hadn’t realized she even knew how anymore.

“Bev, you coming?” Katie called.

Bev glanced back and saw the rest of the group gathering at the front doors.

“Sorry, I really do have to go. It was nice to meet you though,” Bev said, backing up. She hurried to where the rest of the group was gathered. She hoped that Katie hadn’t done something embarrassing, like asking Brady and Candi for a picture or an autograph or something, while she was gone.

“Who was that?” Katie whispered as a woman in a blue uniform, similar to what a flight attendant might wear, stepped off the bus and entered the hotel.

“Just some guy that I knocked over as I was coming back from the bathroom,” Bev said. “You know, nothing completely embarrassing.”

Katie laughed. “It looked like a little more than that from where I was standing.”

Bev felt heat creeping into her cheeks and chose not to answer. Too bad something like going to space had to interfere with her meeting the best-looking guy she’d ever seen.

“Welcome,” the woman in blue said, a bright smile plastered on her face. “My name is Julie Farnsworth. I have spoken to most of you already, but I am the vice president of tourist relations at Galactic Enterprises.” She glanced around, as if mentally counting everyone. “Perfect, you’re all here. If you’ll follow me, we will begin the hour-long drive to the spaceport, where your adventure begins.”

“I paid all that money to spend an hour on a bus?” Candi complained, not bothering to keep her voice down.

Julie paused mid-step and turned back. “I don’t know of another way to get you to our facility, Miss Hobbs, but you are more than welcome to secure an alternative form of transportation.”

“Thank goodness,” Candi said. “Do you have the number for the nearest limousine service?”

The edge of Julie’s lip raised. “I’m sorry, but Amor does not have a limousine service.”

Candi scoffed. “What kind of place is this?” She released a long sigh. “Fine, I guess a taxi will have to do.”

This time, Julie wasn’t able to hide her smile. “They don’t have any of those here either.”

Candi’s face clouded over. “What do they have?”

Julie nodded outside. “A bus.” She then turned and walked out, and the group followed her through the open doors.

Bev heard Candi muttering to Brady about how she expected better treatment than they were receiving. Bev wanted to smack Candi upside the head and tell her that she had no right to complain, considering she was going to space, an opportunity most people would never have. People like her were the reason that Bev had stayed in Amor, even after getting back on her feet. Now that the economy had recovered, she could have returned to the East Coast and found a good job, no problem. But that stressful life held no appeal for Bev anymore. She had lived a life among the wealthy, and it didn’t matter if they were entertainers or CEOs, they were all the same. Shallow.

She handed her luggage to the driver, who promptly threw it in the baggage compartment under the bus, then Bev allowed Brady and Candi to step on before her. When she saw them head for the back of the small bus, Bev slid into a seat near the front. Katie slid in next to her.

The older woman who had been knitting in the hotel lobby slid into the seat across the aisle and promptly resumed where she’d left off.

“When I was in school, this is where the kids who wanted to suck up to the teacher sat,” Katie said. “You looking to get in good with Julie?”

“More like avoid the class dunces,” Bev said, glancing toward the back of the bus. Her tone was more bitter than she had intended.

Katie’s eyes lit up in amusement. “Why, Bev Miller, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you speak ill of someone before.”

“That’s probably because I like everyone in Amor,” Bev said.

Julie stood up at the front of the bus, and Bev really did feel like she was back in school. “We all here?” Julie did another quick count and then nodded to the driver. The doors closed and the bus lurched forward.

Butterflies flitted around Bev’s stomach, begging to be let out. She couldn’t believe it. She was really doing this. “Thank you,” she said, turning to Katie.

“For what?” Katie glanced at her, a nervous smile tugging at her lips. She seemed more anxious than Bev was.

“For putting my name in the drawing. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.”

Katie bumped Bev’s shoulder with hers. “What are friends for, if not to give out each other’s personal information in hopes that they’d win something cool?”

Bev laughed, but then a thought occurred to her. “Exactly how many drawings have you entered for me over the years?”

“It doesn’t really matter now that you’ve won the best prize ever, right?” Katie said. “Oh, look, a desert.” She looked out the window in an obvious attempt to not have to answer Bev’s question.

Maybe Katie and Bev were used to seeing the golden sand on a daily basis, but it was obvious that the rest of the tourists were not. The teenage boy and his father sat across the aisle from them, and the boy was transfixed. “It looks so cool,” he said. “Almost like we’re on Mars. Do you think we’ll ever be able to live on another planet? Maybe I’ll be one of the first people who gets to go there too.” The boy’s questions kept coming and his dad smiled at him with loving patience, answering questions when the boy paused long enough to take a breath.

“We need more people like them out here. People who appreciate the awesomeness of all of this,” Bev murmured.

Julie stood up from where she had sat behind the driver and took a microphone off the wall of the bus. “While we drive out to the spaceport, I’m going to tell you a little about why we decided to set up camp in the middle of the New Mexican desert. Why here? Why not in California, where we have conducted most of our testing?” She pointed out a window. “Out there happens to be one of the biggest missile ranges, and the largest U.S. military installation, that you will ever come in contact with. The world’s first atom bomb, Trinity, was tested there in 1945. Long-range missiles are still tested there today. As such, we have a unique situation here. When launching on our flights, one concern is air traffic. We can’t have our spaceships colliding with commercial airplanes.”

Julie had everyone’s attention. Even Candi had stopped complaining. Bev leaned forward, wanting to learn more.

“Because of the missile range being so close, air traffic here is restricted,” Julie continued. “This is just one of the many things that make this area in New Mexico unique and so perfect for what Galactic Enterprises is doing.”

“That is so cool,” the teenage boy said.

“Yeah, it is,” Bev agreed. The boy grinned at her, and she returned his smile. She no longer felt the anxiety she had before and couldn’t remember what her hesitation had been in the first place. This was going to be the most epic adventure ever.