Free Lauren (Keegan's Chronicles Spin Off) by Julia Crane

then crumpled it and threw it into the nearest trash can.
    Just then, Tristen pushed through the crowd towards them, his face smoother and happier than she’d seen it in a while—all the more reason to be happy Galen showed up when he did. Lauren accepted her drink with an appreciative smile and gave her boyfriend a peck on the lips.
    Galen saluted them and took off without mentioning the incident. She owed him. She had never considered Tristen’s friends her own as well, but now it seemed she might be able to count on Galen if she needed. He, at least, seemed to like her.
    Lauren gazed up at Tristen. He drank his beer, his eyes on the crowd. Knowing her boyfriend’s temper, she felt oddly comforted to think of having Galen on her side.

Chapter 10

    L auren’s shoulders slumped. The most obnoxious word in the English language had been posted next to the number for Keegan and Anna’s flight—a flashing red “Delayed.”
    Why were flights never on time?
    She made her way through the crowded airport, clinging tightly to her purse strap as she elbowed a path to the escalator. She rode it up a level to the information counter. The line was four deep and Lauren groaned. She really didn’t want to spend her entire afternoon at the airport.
    After fifteen minutes of shifting on her feet and trying not to huff impatiently, she finally reached the desk.
    “Excuse me,” Lauren said politely as she leaned her elbows on the desk. “How long of a delay are you expecting for Flight 2809 from Seattle?”
    The blonde woman behind the counter glared at Lauren as if she were put out by the question. Her severe bun was so tight it made her eyes slant, and her airline jacket was too big on her bony frame. She pursed her lips at Lauren before turning her gaze to her computer screen.
    Lauren waited, her fingers drumming on the counter as the woman pecked away at her keyboard.
    After a moment, the airline worker finally glanced up and, sounding bored, said, “Two hours. Mechanical problems.”
    “Thanks,” Lauren mumbled and walked away.
    What was she going to do for two hours? She could go back home, but by the time she got there, it would be time to turn around, and with her luck, she would get stuck in traffic.
    She looked at her watch and dropped into a hard plastic seat to wait. Reaching into her jacket pocket, she pulled out her phone and texted Tristen: stupid flight delayed.
    Bummer. did you eat? get lunch.
    Unfortunately, she’d eaten at home only an hour before. With a sigh, she responded, not hungry. what are you doing?
    She knew he was at work. It was the only time he ever texted replies so quickly; he kept his phone out on his desk. She just asked to get him to open up or something.
    Work.
    She waited a minute, but when nothing followed the text, she took out her frustrations by pretending to choke her phone. It earned her a couple of stares and one young mother even got up and moved with her infant, but Lauren felt better after she did it.
    They texted for a few more moments about her plans for later, and then she told him she loved him and dropped her phone into her purse. She leafed through a gossip magazine left on the seat beside her. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have your life on display like the stars. She wasn’t really interested in what the mag had to say, so it lasted all of twenty minutes.
    Too bad she hadn’t thought to bring her school books. Lauren set the magazine back on the table and got to her feet. She walked around for a while, just taking in people as they were coming and going. Lauren had always thought it would be fun to work in an airport. She liked to watch travelers, a mass of people from every walk of life in one place. She smiled at a frustrated mother who was pushing a stroller and carrying a toddler, and she watched couples say goodbye, some laughing and some crying. Business men and women rushed by in their pressed suits with their regulation carry-on suitcases, not