6. Fox
FOX
I shift uncomfortably in the too small airplane seat. It’s like airlines purposely shrink these fucking things to shove more of us on this flying tube of doom. Hallie bounces in the seat next to me, raising her hand to open up the air conditioner port above her head. She smiles when the baby gust of air trickles out of it.
“I fucking hate flying,” I grumble just before a little kid with his Bluey roller bag slams into my knee. I hiss at the pain.
“I’m so sorry,” the woman accompanying him offers as she passes me.
“It’s fine,” I force out, trying my best not to come off like an asshole to a little kid, but the ache in my knee is making it hard to stifle that back.
Hallie giggles in the seat next to me. “You okay over there?”
“What do you think?” I bark back at her. Az, from his window seat, glares at me for raising my voice to his fiancé.
“Chill out, bro,” Azrael says, his voice low but firm. I can see the tension in his jaw, a warning in those dark blue eyes.
“Chill? You think I can chill with my knee getting pulverized by every oversized bag that comes down this aisle?” I mutter under my breath, rubbing my throbbing joint for emphasis.
Hallie scoots closer. “I think you can at least keep your voice down before they kick us off this flight for being rowdy. It’s just a little kid.” She shoots me one of those charming smiles that somehow always gets me to simmer down. Besides, if I don’t cool it, she’ll probably unleash the wrath of Azrael on me too.
“Fine,” I grumble, crossing my arms like a sulking child, which is ironic given I just encountered one. “But the minute we land in Dallas if my knee’s still throbbing, I'm blaming both of you.”
Az rolls his eyes and looks back out the window as the plane begins its taxi along the runway. “Considering you’re one of the biggest pains in my ass, it’s only fair that you get to experience a little of what it feels like to be your boss and club president.”
“Yeah? And yet you keep me around,” I shoot back. “Guess that means you secretly love how much of a pain in the ass I am, Az.”
“I love you like a hemorrhoid,” he fires back at me with a middle finger.
“I’ve got an idea,” Hallie pipes up, and there’s that glimmer in her eye again. “How about we play a game? Every time someone bumps into Fox here, he has to take a shot.”
“Sounds like your way of getting him hammered,” Az grunts.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Hallie comments.
“Baby, the last thing I want to do it babysit a drunk as fuck Fox. Trust me, you don’t want that evil either. Not when we’re thirty thousand feet in the air without an escape route.”
“He’s not wrong, Hallie. The last time I tied one on I woke up naked, duct taped to a light pole in the Wal-Mart parking lot at four in the morning.”
“How the hell did you get there?”
“Good question. Ask your fiancé.”
Az chuckles. “He committed a party foul, and had to pay the price.”
A ding comes through the cabin as the flight attendants start their normal safety routine. The one closest to us keeps her eyes glued to me the entire time. I notice her gaze lingering. She’s gorgeous. Her fitted uniform displays her ample curves like a fucking tasting menu. I’m glad I didn’t grab a to-go dessert in the terminal after lunch because it looks like my dessert is about to be hand delivered.
Hallie nudges my shoulder, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Stop staring.”
“I’m watching the safety demonstration,” I reply too quickly, a grin slipping across my face. “It’s titillating.”
Azrael snorts, shaking his head. “Don’t even think about accosting the flight attendant.”
“Would I do that?”
“Yes,” Az and Hallie answer simultaneously.
The flight attendants wrap up their demo, and we start taxiing down the runway. My stomach does that delightful dance of anticipation and dread. Fuck I hate flying nearly as much as I hate the reason I am flying in the first place.
“Why don’t we let him stew over in his seat and eye fuck the flight attendant while the two of us grab a little shut eye?” Az mentions to Hallie.
“Dude, I’m right fucking here,” I retort. “Do not make me sit this close to the two of you fucking cuddling.”
Hallie's laughter bubbles up, and she leans back in her seat, a playful glint in her eye. “Just imagine us all cozy while you suffer solo. It’s practically a public service!”
“Right, because I do so love being left out while my two best friends pile on the mushy romance in the seats next to me. Third wheels aren’t my thing unless it’s a threesome and I’m involved.”
“Not happening, asshole” Az warns me.
“But I brought a new stash of strawberry edible panties just for Hallie. She loved them the last time we came to Texas.”
“You didn’t?” Hallie gasps next to me.
“Guess we’ll find out when we land,” I wink back at her. “Speaking of that, isn’t the whole point of this charade to make Eden and I’s fake relationship look real? I doubt rolling up in an Uber is going to be the shock and awe arrival that she had envisioned.”
“It’s under control,” Hallie says, winking before she stretches out like a cat in the sun.
“What do you know?”
“You’ll see when we get there,” she says, yawning wide. Az stretches out his right arm, and she snuggles into his chest.
“Hey, you didn’t answer me. What is the plan?”
Hallie ignores my question, and seconds later, a soft snore comes from her direction. I shake my head in disbelief as I watch Azrael run a hand through Hallie’s hair, his expression softening in a way that only the love-struck can achieve. It makes me feel like I’m trapped in a Hallmark movie, the kind where the side character ends up alone and unfulfilled at the end.
The captain's voice crackles over the loudspeaker, signaling our clearance for takeoff. As the engines roar to life, the plane steadily accelerates down the runway, building momentum before gracefully lifting off into the open skies. As the plane climbs higher, I can’t help but shift my gaze back to the flight attendant, who is blissfully unaware of my torment as she preps her cart for service. There’s something about her that has me intrigued despite my earlier reservations. My cocky nature insists I at least give it a shot.
I lean back in my seat, casting a sideways glance at Hallie and Azrael. They’re both snoring like baby bears hibernating for winter. It’s slightly annoying to see them so cozy while I’m alone in my thoughts. Good thing I have the flight attendant to keep me awake.
“Alright, Fox,” I mutter under my breath, “time to get your dessert.”
I push myself up a little straighter and try to catch the flight attendant’s eye as she moves about the cabin taking drink orders. At first, she’s focused on her tasks, but then she glances over and offers a quick smile before moving on, I take it as a win.
I can feel the thrill of pursuit ignite in my veins. It’s been a while since I’ve had to turn on the charm. My mind races, conjuring up all the lines that usually work like magic.
“Drink, sir?”
“What would you suggest, darling? I’m normally a whiskey guy”
She pauses, turning towards me with that same playful glint in her eye as before. “Depends on how much fun you want to have during your flight.”
“Fun is what I do best,” I reply, flashing her my most irresistible grin, the one that has made many hearts race.
“Is that so?”
“Maybe you should find out for yourself? Is this your last leg?”
“It might be.”
“How about you bring me a whiskey now, and then we can grab a drink when we land. You’re more than welcome to spend your layover at my hotel.”
“You think it’s that easy to win me over, huh?” she says, folding her arms with playful defiance.
“You’re smiling at me so I think it’s working.” I lean forward enough that my fingers brush against her hosed covered thigh. “How about it? You, me, a couple of drinks, and we see where the night goes.”
The flight attendant leans in closer. The fruity scent of her perfume filling my nose. “As flattering as it is, I don’t think my boyfriend would like that.”
“I don’t see him around.”
The flight attendant stifles a laugh. “He sees you.” I turn my head to look where she’s pointing, and sure enough, there’s a mountain of a man glaring at me as if I just insulted his mother. He’s built like a brick wall, tattooed arms crossed over his chest, and scowling like I’m the very reason the airline runs out of peanuts.
“Oh shit,” I mutter to myself.
“He gets that reaction a lot. Especially when he’s bulking for his next UFC fight. I could introduce you to him. Maybe he would like that drink when we land.”
“Consider it cancelled.”
“Thought you might say that. Still want that whiskey?
“Two, please,” I force out. “Maybe a body bag if you have one stashed around.”
“I’ll check on that for you.” She brushes past me, throwing a look over her shoulder as her ass brushes against my shoulder.
I glance sideways at Hallie and Azrael, still lost in their dreams, and mutter to myself, “Way to make it awkward, asshole.”
“Here’s your whiskey, sir,” a deep male voice calls out, pulling my attention back to the aisleway. I peer up, spying that big motherfucker who had been hate glaring at me standing above me twirling a set of handcuffs in his hand.
“That doesn’t look like a whiskey,” I remark with a sigh.
“Let me guess, you heard the entire conversation.”
“Correct.”
“And, judging by the handcuffs, you’re a federal air marshal.”
“Also, correct.”
“Fan-fucking-tastic,” I groan, rolling my eyes. “Can’t a guy just flirt with a pretty girl without getting handcuffed by the sky police?”
“According to her, you were groping her thigh.”
“Groping? No. My hand brushed her thigh by accident.”
“She didn’t see it that way,” he declares. His voice a low rumble. “She said you were harassing her.
“The fuck I was,” I growl through gritted teeth.
“Lower your fucking tone,” he snarks back.
“I will when you get a clue. I’m sorry I flirted with your girl, but the last time I checked flirting didn’t warrant handcuffs.
“Harassment does. You’re being detained until this flight lands. Some of my friends will be waiting for you at the gate. They’re going to have a few questions.”
Well, shit. This was not how I pictured my time in Texas going, but if Eden wanted a show, she’s going to get one. Just not the kind of show she will be expecting.
“Show me your hands.”
I comply, and he slaps the cuffs on me like a seasoned pro.
“You handcuff people often?”
“More than I’d like,” he admits. “Now, be good and sit here with your mouth shut and your hands and eyes off my girl. If you can do that, I might ask my friends to go easy on you and just put you on the no-fly list.”
He glares at me one more time before going back to his seat. Every set of eyes around are on me the rest of the flight. When the plane finally touches down, Hallie and Az stir awake. His gaze shifts to my handcuffs as he shakes his head.
“What the fuck did you do now?”
“What had happened was….”
“You know what,” he interrupts me, putting his hand up to stop me from talking. “I don’t want to know. You’re Eden’s problem now that we’re in Texas. Let her sort whatever mess you made for yourself.”