#mkgee

the fluorescent, overhead of heathrow airport were starting to give you a headache. you were two pretzel bites in when mike spoke up.

“yo, it says flight cancelled?”

“hm?” you ask, looking like a chimpmunk with your cheeks full and eyes wide.

“our fight might be canceled. you would think they’d tell us earlier, though. i’ll go see whats up.” he said, grunting a bit as he got out of the leather terminal chair.

you were in london, which was the last stop in a stretch of shows in europe that spring. you were flying home to LA for a couple weeks before heading back out to visit family for the summer later in july.

mike came back from the desk after a quick chat with the lady there.

“they said it’s just bad weather. the next available flight isn’t until tomorrow evening, though.”

you furrowed your brows. “storm?”

“yeah, storm.” he took his worn phillies cap off his own head and put it on yours, backwards. “they gave us a voucher for the marriott. we can get food or something or even go out, if you feel like it.”

“sounds great.” you smiled a big smile up at him, grabbed your bag, and then you two were off.

a quick 5 minute walk to the airport hotel led you to being absolutely drenched, clothes soaked and sticking to your skin, and hair curling from rainwater and humidity. maybe the $0.50 umbrella from the gift shop wasn’t a bad idea after all.

you giggled while trying to get your wet top off and over you head, succeeding with some wrangling. leaving you in just your bra, you turned around so your back was facing mike. “can you?” you asked. he unclasped it with ease, tossing it with the rest of your clothes.

you clumsily turned around to face him, looking up, nose almost brushing against his. “hi.”

“hi.” he grinned, his eyes crinkling. a light pink dusted his cheeks in the way he hated, but you loved.

“you need a haircut.”

mike shook his head curtly. “shh.” he shushed, and shut you up with a kiss, stumbling to turn the shower on, lips still pressed against yours. “c’mere.” he said, stepping in with you still in his arms.

what followed was a very unproductive shower. the water warmed your cold, rain-soaked bodies, but it took at least a half hour to actually get cleaned up.

mike sat on the plush hotel bed, in jeans and an old, faded liverpool t-shirt, while you did your hair and makeup in the bathroom. there was a newcastle v. sunderland game on tv, and he was looking for restaurants on his phone—an iphone se that he never cared to upgrade, with a wallet case that a dad would have. you teased him about not being able to see the new emojis that you sent him, but he couldn’t be bothered.

you stepped out of the bathroom, hair and makeup all pretty. you glanced out the big window to see that the rain had cleared and the sun began to come out.

“you ready?” he asked.

“yeah.” you nodded. “lemme get changed.”

it was around seven in the evening when you ended up at a causal italian restaurant downtown. you had one more drink with dinner than usual (which was two, how wild), feeling ever so slightly more bold than on the average night.

your foot rested against his under the table. you gossiped about your girlfriends at home while dessert came in a to-go box, then discussed your travel plans for the next couple months while waiting for the check.

it was rare you two got much time together in these recent years, with both your careers doing so well, and being just busy people in general. nights like these, in between all the chaos, were your favorite.

the sun set as you two walked back to the hotel, passing cute shops and cafes and street performers and couples and families having fun, too.

“ice cream?” you asked hopefully, stopping momentarily by a little parlor.

“second dessert?” he asked.

“why not?” you tried. “i’m feeling quite bold tonight, i must say.”

“whatever you want, baby.” mike responded. never in a million years would he ever say no.

you found a bench to sit and eat. you stole bites of his mango and he told bites of your cookie dough. he wiped a bit that got on your bottom lip.

“thank you for today. and tonight.” you smiled at him shyly, eyes full of love. “you make everything more fun.”

mike put his arm around you, tugging you a closer a bit forcefully. “of course, sweetheart. you’re the funnest.” he kissed your temple and he smelled like sweetness and felt like family.