Unboarding the plane, I walk through the terminal with sweaty hands and a fluttery stomach. This isn't something I normally do, and it's not like me but I continue to walk behind the throngs of people exiting the plane. I keep my sunglasses on so that I can spot him before he can spot me. That and he wouldn't be able to see how nervous and excited I am to finally meet in person. I do spot him, holding a sign with my name on it, trying to peer over the shoulders of the people in front of him to see if I've exited the plane. I have a funny thought, and decide to walk to the left side, opposite of where he is, and then come up behind him rather than up front. The small trick eases my nerves a bit, and I walk slowly towards him, laughing at how anxious he looks trying to find me. I gingerly tap him softly on the shoulder, so light that I almost wonder if he felt it. But he turns around and realizes I'm right behind him. A big grin lights across his face and I shyly say, "Hi Ned."
I go in for a handshake, but Ned goes straight for a hug. My hand awkwardly hits him in the stomach and he fumbles to shake my hand and leans in for a big hug. I silent mutter "awkward" and he laughs, saying "It's ok" like he read my thoughts. We've talked enough that he can anticipate what I'm thinking or saying and how I'd react to certain situations.
"Let's go pick up your luggage okay?" I nod and he puts his hand on the small of my back as if it's the most natural thing in the world and guides me towards the baggage claim. "What does yours look like?" Ned asks, and I tell him it looks like every other black luggage out there. "Thanks, you're a big help," he smiles again and we look at the incoming carousel of luggage. I finally spot mine and he hoists it off the belt with ease. Ned walks me to his car and asks me, "Are you tired? Do you want to rest first or are you ready to check out my neck of woods?"
"I could use a shower. I've been on the plane for a long time so I feel a bit icky. Do you mind if I take a quick shower first and then we can head out?"
"Sure, no problem. Maybe a hot shower will help calm your nerves a bit." He grins wide at me again, sensing my nervousness the whole time. "I don't bite you know," he adds quickly.
"I know. I'm just nervous is all. You're not even a little?" I ask.
"If I was, I'd never tell you," he says with a chuckle in his throat. "Could you please take off those sunglasses so I can see your eyes? I feel like you're still behind a screen with those on." And he reaches out to take them off my face. As he takes off the glasses, a wisp of hair becomes untucked and blows across my eyes. Ned gingerly tucks the strand of hair back behind my ear. The slight touch of his fingers touching my ears makes my face flush. I can clearly see he's enjoying this as his smile grows even wider.
As we reach the car, he puts my luggage in the trunk and opens the passenger door for me. As the key turns in the ignition, we're hit by a blast of country music. I face him with a mix of disapproval and amusement.
"What?" he exclaims and turns it louder and starts singing along.
"I can't believe you like that stuff."
"What? I can't hear you. Ol' McGraw here is serenading me with the sweet sound of his guitars."
"I can't believe a guy your age likes this kind of music!" I yell. He can obviously hear me and turns the music down and turns to look at me. "What music should I be listening to then, Miss Anti-America? Your nation is founded on good ol country music, so shouldn't you show a little patriotism? Maybe I should be the American and you should be the ungrateful Brit." He says teasingly.
But Ned promptly shuts off the music and turns his full attention on me. "Okay now that you're successfully made fun of my music, you'll have to entertain me until we get to your hotel." He pats me on the back with assurance.
I know he's putting me on the spot and I open my mouth to say something to retort, but he interrupts me and says "Do I meet all your expectations? Am I everything you thought I would be?"
"I didn't expect you to have such a big mouth."
"The bigger to kiss you with," with a twinkle in his eye as he laughs at his own joke.
I laugh and flush again at the thought. I look away and point at some random building outside my window. "What's that?" I ask.
"A pub and more pubs. But I can't take you there since you don't drink. But maybe I should get you super pissed so you'll tell me all your dirty secret fantasies."
"I have no such fantasies unlike you."
"You have no idea," and he glances at me with the corner of his eye. He finally stops trying to joke and points out more scenic points of Britain to me. I can see him sneak glances at me periodically as he drives and I pretend not to notice.
We finally reach the hotel and he asks, "Are you sure you don't want to stay with me? I can take the couch and you can have my room."
I tell him I don't want to inconvenience him, knowing he has flatmates who might be intent on finding out how we met. "Okay well if you change your mind..."
"Thanks," I replied, "but I think I'll be ok."
He collects my luggage again and I ask if he needs help, but he shoos me off. "I may not look very strong but I'm very resourceful" and he picks up my luggage with ease and we walk to the front lobby of the hotel to check-in. I walk a couple steps behind him and take a good look, which I hadn't been able to do since I arrived. Being on the leaner side, he had a small frame for a guy, but with an athletic build from all the hiking and sports he played. His normally disheveled brown hair was combed, almost preppily. I hoped he hadn't combed it for my benefit because I preferred his normal tousled hair. I also noticed he was clean shaven today and normally I don't like guys with facial hair but I actually liked him with a little bit of stubble. Without it, it made him look too baby-faced and innocent, when I knew he was full of mischief.
