4 Hugs

San Diego, California

ANNA

Anna sat alone looking out the window, sipping on her morning coffee. It had been two days since John took her out to dinner and had essentially confessed his feelings to her. She had always suspected John may have feelings for her, and that night solidified that suspicion.

But she did not feel the same way. At least, she was pretty sure she did not feel the same way. She sighed and took a sip – perhaps she misunderstood John's words.

To say that John is an eligible bachelor is an understatement. Anna would be a fool not to consider dating him – tall, handsome, capable, and kind. What else is there to ask for?

Anna hung her head down, and looked at her phone. John hadn't reached out to her since that evening – there was no way he was interested, right?

Suddenly, her phone pinged. Too quickly, Anna checked to see who texted her.

It was Leanna, asking to have dinner after work. Anna smiled, she definitely wanted to see her best friend before flying out.

. . . .

Leanna's favorite go-to restaurant was a local Korean BBQ, so it was no surprise that she decided to have dinner there.

"So, tell me – are you excited? Nervous?" Leanna asked, placing raw beef slices on the steel plate.

When Anna didn't answer, Leanna looked up and raised an eyebrow, "Are you second-guessing?"

Anna chuckled, "No, no - I'm really excited to go. It's just..."

"Just?"

Anna sighed, she did not know why John's words kept tugging at her. "John."

Leanna stopped fiddling with the meat and slowly met Anna's eyes. "Did...you just say John?"

Anna nodded.

Leanna's eyes widened, in both confusion and disbelief. "John...Barnes? Our manager?"

"Well, technically he's not my manager anymore." Anna said, sipping her soju.

Leanna busted in giggles, "Oh my god! John! What did he say?"

Anna shrugged her shoulders, "I don't actually know if he meant it the way I understood it."

"What. Did. He. Say?!"

"He just asked if I would reconsider moving if...if I had someone here."

"Wow." Leanna whispered. Leanna's eyes widened once more, now full of disbelief. "Well what did you say?"

Anna just shook her head.

"You turned him down?!"

"Not exactly!" Anna sighed, tilting her head slightly up, "I just said that I'm not looking for a relationship right now."

"Pfft." Leanna rolled her eyes, taking a shot of soju, "You say that now, then boom – you're falling hard for someone."

Anna picked up a few pieces of beef, "I am not going to fall for anyone. I'm just trying to find myself for right now."

A sly smirk appeared on Leanna's face, "So why are you still thinking about John?"

Anna gulped, she did not know how to answer that. Perhaps it was just nice to know that someone had taken an interest in her. Or, perhaps, she really was considering the possibility of being with John.

"Just so you know," Leanna said taking a bite of beef and rice, "I ship it."

Anna furrowed her brows, "You ship...it? What's ship?"

Leanna smiled and handed Anna a few more strips of beef, "I mean, I am totally rooting for John."

Anna chuckled, shaking her head, "Can we just eat please? Are you coming to see me off on Friday?"

"Oh my god, absolutely!" Leanna said, mouth stuffed with food, "Why is that even a question?"

Anna smiled and continued to eat.

Leanna gulped her food down and then asked, "Will...John be seeing you off?"

Anna nearly choked, "Wh-why would he?"

Leanna shrugged, stuffing another spoonful of beef and rice, "I just thought since he confessed to you...he'd be there when you leave."

Anna shook her head, "He didn't confess. I don't think he meant it that way."

"Right, and water isn't wet."

Anna stared at her best friend and closed her eyes. No, John couldn't have feelings for her – there would be no point. She was about to move half way across the world for an entire year, and who knows maybe even longer. No sane man would wait for a woman for that long, right?

. . . .

Friday came quickly and Anna found herself standing on the vast lobby of the airport, extremely nervous. For the first time since she decided on moving to Spain, she truly questioned whether she was doing the right thing.

"Are you ready?" Leanna said from behind Anna.

Anna took a deep breath and nodded, "Yep, I'm ready."

"Take good care of yourself, honey," Maria hugged Anna tightly, "and call me often."

Leanna couldn't help but join the hug, "I'll be visiting you so make sure you have room for me!"

Anna laughed, "You need to visit me even if I don't have room."

Anna said her goodbyes to her mom and Leanna, not entering the security line until she couldn't see them anymore.

She started to walk to get in line when her phone pinged. Laughing to herself, Anna thought it was her mom texting her that she misses her already.

To her surprise, it was John. Four words -

Can you turn around?

Anna stared at the text for a while, confused. Turn around?

Her head suddenly snapped up and an audible gasp escaped her lips.

John was at the airport.

Not wanting to look frantic, she tucked her hair behind her ear and slowly looked around. Her eyes fell on a handsomely figure not ten feet away, staring at her.

Clothed in a plain white shirt and dark jeans, John started to walk towards Anna. He had been at the airport way before she arrived, but did not want to interfere with her goodbyes.

Anna couldn't move. In truth, her mind went blank.

John looked completely different at that moment. She was so used to seeing him in formal wear, he looked irresistible in casual clothes. His toned upper body nearly seen through the white cloth, his hair messily parted, hand in pocket, and seductively striding disarmed Anna in ways she didn't expect.

John smiled and gave a shocked Anna a hug, "Sorry I'm late."

Anna nodded, her eyes wide. "N-no, it's fine...wh-what are you doing here?"

Anna needed him to stop smiling – or she was going to regret her actions.

Obviously not being able to read Anna's mind, John kept smiling. "I came to see you off, what else?"

Speechless, Anna smiled awkwardly. What could she say to him? Thanks? Good lord.

John cleared his throat, "I just wanted to say a quick goodbye, that's all."

Anna nodded and went for a hug, "Thanks for coming, John. The security line is pretty long, I should get going."

John looked up to the line and smiled, "Yeah, it looks pretty busy. I'll let you go, for now."

Anna didn't miss the supposedly subtle comment.

John gave her a hug and whispered, "I'll be waiting for you."

And with that, he left. John didn't dare turn around, he knew that a dumbfounded Anna would be staring. If he saw her face again, he might have just carried her out the airport. It tore him not to catch one last glimpse of Anna, but he wouldn't have been able to resist taking her lips.

So, he left. He kept walking away, leaving Anna completely awestruck and in utter disbelief.

What in the hell just happened?

By the time Anna reached her seat in the cabin, she was still replaying what happened in her head. Trying to determine if she had misread John, she looked out the window and grumbled internally. What was she supposed to say to that? What is she supposed to do?

The lights in the cabin dimmed to prepare for the overnight flight and as Anna listened to the safety monologue, she drifted to sleep.

When she wakes, she would be in Madrid – where someone else is also, unknowingly, waiting for her too.

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