After shoving my duffle bag in the overhead bin, I drop down beside Britt in the aisle seat. “Fancy meeting you here.”
She gives me a bit of side eye, looking none too happy by my presence. “Please tell me we’re not sitting next to each other for the duration of this flight.
The widening of my smile is response enough.
“I want to see your ticket,” she grumbles, holding out her hand. “There’s no way in hell we got seated next to each other by chance.”
I show her the boarding pass on my phone to prove my innocence. What I won’t mention are the strings I pulled to arrange it.
“Damn. Talk about shitty luck.”
“What I think you meant to say is that you’re thrilled by this turn of events.”
Her lips and brows flatten. “Nope. Pretty sure I meant what I said.”
“How disappointing. I’d thought we moved past all this and were now the best of friends.” I stow my backpack beneath the seat in front of me before fumbling with the latch on the seatbelt.
She turns her head just enough to skewer me with a look. “I hate to be the one to break this to you, but we weren’t meant to be besties.”
Unable to help myself, I lean closer and whisper, “Never say never, Britt. It’ll get you in trouble every single time.”
Our gazes stay locked in a silent battle of wills.
It’s only when the flight attendant walks by that the connection is severed.
“Ma’am, you need to fasten your belt in preparation for takeoff.”
Britt glances at him before flashing a smile. Even though the expression is in no way meant for me, it still hits me like a freight train. I need to figure out what it is about this girl that has me so fixated.
Until I do that, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to move on.
Fifteen minutes later and the plane is in line and waiting for the green light from control tower to taxi down the runway. I double and then triple check my belt, making sure it’s secured before pulling out a stick of gum and popping it into my mouth.
I nudge Britt and offer one.
“Are you trying to tell me something?” she asks while flipping through a magazine.
She’s cool as a cucumber, as if she flies all the time and this is nothing new.
It only makes me want to poke around in her past and replace out more.
“Yeah, that your ears will be popping in a few minutes. I’m trying to help with that.”
She stares at the silver-wrapped stick for a handful of silent seconds before finally reaching out and taking it. “Thanks.”
“No problemo.” I lean back in my seat and screw my eyelids tightly shut. My hands settle on the armrests on either side of the seat before my fingers curl into the cool metal.
Know what I hate more than flying?
Abso-fucking-lutely nothing.
Unfortunately, my dislike of airplanes has only grown over the years. As tempting as it was to sit this one out, there was no way I could miss Wolf’s wedding. Even if it meant forcing myself onto a tin can with wings that propelled itself into the sky, defying gravity.
As a kid, flying was always a fun adventure. We’d take family vacations or travel to the cities where my father was playing.
It was awesome.
Until I was eleven years old, and we hit a rough patch of turbulence. I was so scared that I almost pissed my sweatpants. The overhead compartments burst open, and the bags stowed inside came flying out. Then oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling.
I’m not joking when I say that I’d thought we were all going to die.
It was the worst five minutes of my life.
It doesn’t matter if that incident happened more than a decade ago and I’ve flown dozens of times since, I’ve never been able to shake off the terror of that experience. It replays through my mind with a disturbing vividness that makes it feel like it was yesterday.
I startle when the engines fire up and the plane rolls down the runway.
I’m not very spiritual, but in this moment?
I’m praying like my damn life depends on it.
Hell, I might even throw in a few Hail Marys if it’ll help tip the odds in my favor.
My fingers bite into the smooth metal as my jaw locks.
A warm palm settles over my clenched hand. “Are you all right? You look like you’re about to be sick.”
“I hate flying. Is it obvious?”
“Just a little. If you hate this so much, why are you doing it?”
I crack open an eyelid only to replace Britt staring at me. Concern is etched across her features. “Wolf isn’t just a teammate, he’s one of my best friends. There’s no way I’d miss his wedding. No matter where I had to go or what I had to do to get there.”
Her expression softens as she squeezes my fingers. “You’re a good friend. I’m sure he appreciates it.”
“The fucker better,” I grumble.
The engines roar as the plane lifts from the asphalt, taking flight, nose tipped toward the sky.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
“It’s going to be fine,” she says in a soothing tone. It’s probably the same one she’d use when speaking with an out-of-sorts toddler. “I’ve flown a bazillion times and have never had any problems.”
“Yeah, I know. But that’s the thing about fear—it’s not exactly rational, is it?”
She’s silent for a moment. “I’m sorry. You’re absolutely right. Is there anything I can do to help or make it better?” There’s a beat of silence before she adds in a teasing voice, “Besides join the mile-high club with you?”
My lips twitch. “It’s almost like you can read my mind.”
“Guess now that we’ve spent a little time together, I’ve gotten to know you.”
“Don’t leave me hanging. What do you think so far?” Before she has a chance to respond, I add, “If you had to rate me on Yelp, what would it be? ‘Five stars and loving every minute of it?’”
She rolls her eyes as a smile simmers at the corners of her lips. “I’d give you two stars, at the most, along with a ‘would definitely not recommend.’”
“Ouch. That hurts.”
“Well, you did ask,” she points out.
“You’re right about that,” I agree. “I did.”
There’s a beat of silence.
“Do you want the truth?”
“That depends. Are you going to hurt my feelings?”
Her lips tremble as if she’s fighting back a smile. “Here’s what I think so far—you’re turning out to be different than I expected.”
I’m not altogether sure that’s a compliment. “Is that good or bad?”
She ponders the question for a handful of seconds. “A mix of both, I suppose.”
Ironically, this is the first girl I’ve actually wanted to like me. All the ones that came before her haven’t meant a damn thing. I have the sneaking suspicion that whatever this is with Brit could turn out to be something more.
If I let it.
And if she gives me a chance.
I swivel toward her as much as the seat and belt will allow. “You sound disappointed by the revelation.”
She rips her gaze from mine before I have the chance to study it. “You should probably know that I’m not interested in getting involved.”
“In general, or with me specifically?”
My heart constricts as she contemplates the question.
“With anyone.”
I tamp down the disappointment that tries to bloom at the bottom of my belly and lighten my tone, wanting to keep the conversation playful. “All right, I hear what you’re saying. So…what are we talking about here? Just a one-night stand? Because I’m totally down for that.”
A reluctant smile springs to her lips as she shakes her head. “Have I mentioned lately that you’re incorrigible?”
“Possibly.”
“It might not seem like it from the outside, but my life is…complicated. And it wouldn’t be smart to make it more so.”
Instead of deterring me, all she’s making me want to do is demolish every wall she’s attempting to throw up between us.
“I’m curious as to what’s so complicated about it. You’re a college student. Are you secretly married or is there a fiancé tucked away somewhere?”
Panic leaps into her golden eyes before it’s quickly concealed. “Don’t be silly,” she whispers.
I lean closer and drop my voice. “Let me guess, you’re a criminal on the run.”
“No.”
“Okay. You’re undercover and you’ve been relocated to Western to blend in with the locals?”
“Ridiculous,” she mumbles before shifting in her seat.
It doesn’t escape me that she stares straight ahead, refusing to meet my gaze, the entire time I rapid fire questions.
I’m not sure what to make of that.
It might be something.
Or it could be nothing.
I don’t know Britt well enough yet. What I’ve discovered is that she likes to keep both her thoughts and feelings to herself.
She’s controlled.
Reserved.
Unflappable.
It makes me wonder what it would be like to unravel her.
And make her come undone.
I bet it would be fucking spectacular.
Like fireworks.
“Then tell me what’s so complicated about your life.”
Just as she’s about to respond, the plane jolts. Within seconds, the red and white seatbelt lights flash throughout the cabin.
Good thing I never took mine off.
“Sorry about that, folks,” the captain says, coming over the loudspeaker. “Seems like we’ve hit a patch of rough air. The flight attendants will be returning to their seats. But don’t worry, it shouldn’t last long.”
“I really fucking hate this,” I grit through clenched teeth. Any second, they’ll shatter into a million pieces.
“It’ll be fine,” she soothes, squeezing my fingers.
When we hit another pocket of turbulence, I’m pretty sure it’s game over for all of us and we’re seconds away from plummeting to our deaths.
It was nice knowing you, world.
It’s a surprise when Britt leans closer and sings,
“In the darkest nights, I stumbled, couldn’t see the light. Lost in a maze, couldn’t replace what’s right. But deep inside, a fire burned, refusing to fade away. A voice inside me whispered, “‘You’ll replace your way.’”
I squeeze my eyes tight as her soothing voice washes over me like a gentle wave.
If I’m going to die, this wouldn’t be the worst way to go.
When the lyrics fade, I mutter, “Don’t stop.” I gulp down the icy cold tendrils of panic that are trying their damnedest to wrap around my heart. “Please.”
“I’m rising up, stronger now than I’ve ever been. Every scar’s a story, ain’t letting them win. Through the ups and downs, I’ll replace my truth. In the chaos of it all, I’ll replace my youth.”
Her voice rises ever so slightly as she sings the chorus. Gradually, my fear recedes and my muscles lose their rigidity. I focus on her voice and the lyrics instead of what’s happening around us.
“Through every fall and every doubt, I’ll stand tall. Gonna shake off the past, gonna give it my all. With each new day, leaving old fears behind, embracing every challenge, gonna free my mind.”
By the time her voice fades, I realize the turbulence has passed, and the seatbelt signs are no longer illuminated. My heart doesn’t feel like it’s being crushed in a vise, and I can suck a lungful of air into my body. The adrenalin rushing through my veins recedes.
My gaze stays pinned to hers. “Thanks for that. It really helped.”
Our faces are scant inches apart. It would be all too easy to close the distance between us and sweep my lips over hers. I’ve been jonesing for another taste ever since I walked her to her apartment after our impromptu date.
“It wasn’t a problem.”
She doesn’t move a muscle as everything around us falls away.
It’s like we’re the only two people on this plane.
“You have a beautiful voice.”
The corners of her mouth tilt upward at the compliment.
I rack my brain, trying to remember if I’ve heard that song before. There’s something familiar about it.
I think.
Maybe.
“What’s the name of the song?” Because now I need to replace it on Spotify.
Her breath catches and her eyes flare slightly as she withdraws her hand from mine so that we’re no longer touching. The sudden loss after the intimacy we just experienced feels sharp and painful.
Strangely devastating.
“I don’t remember.”
“Really?” My brows pull together. “You knew every word.”
She jerks her shoulders and shifts in her seat. “Muscle memory, I guess.”
That’s a bummer.
Even now the melody continues to churn through my brain.
“Well, thanks again. You saved me from a total freak-out. Had that happened, the pilot would have diverted and made an emergency landing in Tulsa.” I wave toward the rows of passengers that surround us. “What you did was a public service to all those aboard flight 7809.”
She snorts. “I think you would have managed to hold it together.”
Now it’s my turn to shrug as the corners of my lips bow. “Maybe. Maybe not. Guess the world will never know.” Which is for the best.
We fall into a comfortable silence as she stares out the window at the cloud-filled sky.
How is it possible that after only a handful of minutes, I already miss her touch?
Unable to help myself, I reach over and wrap my fingers around her slender ones. Her gaze falls to our clasped hands before she lifts them.
I flash a smile. The one that makes my dimples pop.
Although, from what I’ve been able to suss out, they have zero effect on this girl.
But…it never hurts to try, right?
Sometimes you gotta bring out the big guns.
“You don’t mind if I hold your hand for the rest of the flight, do you? It helps with my anxiety.”
There’s a second or two of hesitation before she huffs out a long-suffering sigh. “If it’ll save you from making a total spectacle of yourself, then I suppose there’s no other choice but to suck it up and take one for the team. I speak for all the other passengers on board when I say that no one wants to reroute to Tulsa for an emergency landing.”
I can’t help but grin. “We’ll just call you the Colby whisperer.”
“Not only is it a job I never applied for, I’m pretty sure it’s one I don’t want.”
“Too late, firecracker. It’s already yours.”
“Damn. I was afraid you were going to say that.”
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