Ulrika C:’s Reviews > People We Meet on Vacation > Status Update

“I’d do anything for you, but—please don’t ask me to if you’re not sure” - Alex to Poppy

Alex loves Poppy and Poppy loves Alex. That was never their problem.

“For the first time in my life, the airport strikes me as the loneliest place in the world. All those people, parting ways, going off in their own directions, crossing paths with hundreds of people but never connecting.”

Alex thought about what he is willing to give up, if Poppy wanted to be with him. Alex does not want to be a vacation boyfriend for whenever Poppy gets bored.

Poppy sees Alex going to his airport while she has to go to her gate. For the first time, she feels lonely on a airport.

Poppy says they need to talk to figure it out, but Alex says he does not want to talk for a while and that they don't need to figure it out, she does. Alex has known for a decade that he loves Poppy, but he does not want to get in the way of her happiness (very similar to how Poppy reason about Alex). Alex thought he gave Poppy the space she wanted during the two years they did not speak. He still thought about her.

Alex mentions that he is not a water taxi rider she meets on a vacation (referring back to their first trip when Poppy went off and made out with Buck). Poppy tries to reach for him, but he asks her not to touch him right now (which Poppy respects even though she would like to touch him). Alex knows what he wants and he thought Poppy knew that too this time.

Hearing a break from her real life hit really hard on Alex. Alex thinks that Poppy just saw what they had together during the trip and going to Alex's brother's wedding, was just a fun break from Poppy's real life. Poppy tries to say that she meant what they had, that she loves Alex.

Poppy tries to explain the situation for Alex, that she had talked with Rachel about her situation and that she needed a vacation. First, Alex thinks that Rachel suggested to Poppy to trick him into going on a trip with her. Poppy tries to explain that was not the the case - but instead says that she needed a break from her real life.

Poppy admits that she is not going to write an article for R+R, that they rejected her idea and that she paid for the trip herself. Alex is sad and hurt that she lied and said that she should have told him. Poppy answers that she would not have went with her if he knew that she was paying for the trip.

Both Poppy and Alex oversleep on the departure day. They have to rush to pack their things, check out, return the rental car and getting to the airport on time.

When they are finally at the airport, things are a bit awkward. Alex tries to mention the R+R article that he thinks that Poppy are going to write. Poppy is embarrassed that she has not dealt with her lie earlier.

Neither Alex nor Poppy initiates the conversation about what next. For Poppy, the main reason is because she does not know and does not have a concrete answer and instead focuses on the present moment.