High school graduation was the last time I’d been in my hometown. That was a full decade ago. This year, though, my sister is getting married, and my usual excuses to avoid going back weren’t going to cut it. I was tapped for all sorts of pre-wedding nonsense. That’s how I found myself standing at the curb outside of my old city’s airport before dawn — stranded because of a sudden taxi strike.

Could I have called my family? Sure. Did I want to? Not really.

I weighed my options. Turning around and flying right home — my current home, that is — came to mind, then someone called my name: “Riley!”

I turned around and nearly smacked into my high school boyfriend, who’d clearly just flown in from who knows where.

“Theo!” I... Read More