Chapter 4
NO SQUARE GUMMY BEAR CLAIRE
CLAIRE
We rolled up to the departure gate of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and my Dad shifted the car into park.
I was meeting Declan at the gate, which meant I was on my own to check my bags and go through security.
I looked toward the sliding doors that led to bag check lines as I slid my thumb back and forth on the corner of my passport.
My skin felt hot and sweat was dripping down my back.
“You okay, Sweetie?” My Dad reached across the center console and palmed my knee.
I nodded, looking up into his eyes. “I’m nervous.”
“What do you have to be nervous about? This is an amazing opportunity for you and we can’t wait to see the pictures.”
I dipped my chin and faked a smile. “You’re right. This is exciting.”
The truth was, I was fucking terrified. I spent yesterday shopping and gathering everything I thought I might need for a month in a foreign country. I video called Warner as we completed Declan’s packing list and by the end of the day I was tired, sweating, and overwhelmed.
This was a lot for me and I didn’t have the proper amount of time to prepare myself for what was going to happen.
Normally, I planned vacations for over a year.
I had contingency plans and emergency numbers.
I memorized the town I was going to in case I got lost, and planned each day by outfit and activity.
I had no control over this trip. I obviously knew the itinerary, but the activities were assigned: A welcome party, Christmas tree lighting, skiing, hot chocolate at the lodge, a pottery class, holiday scavenger hunt, fancy dinners, a Christmas gala.
There was a laundry list of things to do over the next three weeks, none of which did I have an assigned outfit for.
I also wasn’t sure what my role was in all of this. All of the planned activities were geared toward families and loved ones who utilized this time away for respite. I was here as an assistant which meant I probably wouldn’t actually participate in most of it.
“You’ll call on Christmas?” my Dad asked.
“Of course. We can do a video call with Warner, too.”
“I’m proud of you for doing this, Claire.”
I rolled my eyes. “Why does everyone keep saying that? I’m not that boring.”
“I’m not sure that’s the word I’d use to describe you. You’re organized and sometimes that control can hold you back. You need a little spontaneity—a little fun. Enjoy this and relax.”
“I will, Dad. Promise.”
I popped the car door open and stepped out onto the busy sidewalk filled with people buzzing from the excitement of new adventures.
Car horns echoed around us as cars wedged into spots they didn’t fit and loved ones hugged goodbye.
It was all a little over stimulating, and wasn’t helping to ease me nerves.
My Dad popped the trunk and pulled my two checked bags out before placing my carry-on on next to them.
He wrapped me in a tight hug and dropped a kiss to my head before I turned and walked into the airport.
No going back now.
When I got home two days ago and told my parents about this trip, I expected them to be outraged and upset.
I figured they would be hurt that neither of their children would be home to celebrate the holidays with them.
But instead, they practically jumped with joy as they asked me about the resort I would be staying at.
My mother all but pushed me out the door this morning.
No one seemed the least bit sad that we wouldn’t get our special holiday traditions this year.
No one but me.
I checked my bags and got through security fairly quickly. The flight didn’t board for another two hours which meant I had time to kill. I slipped my headphones in my ears and grabbed a Diet Coke before making my way toward the gate.
When I got there, I was surprised to see Declan already waiting—I shouldn't have been surprised since he was a punctuality professional, but still. He was dressed more casually than I’d ever seen him.
Normally he was in a tailored suit perfectly fitted to his thick thighs, and that was attractive, but today he was in joggers and a simple black tee.
He had more scruff on his jaw than he usually let grow in the office.
His hair was tucked under a backwards baseball hat and at quick glance he appeared to be reading a Harry Potter novel.
Who the fuck was sitting in front of me?
It never occurred to me that I didn’t really know Declan. He was at work so late that most days I assumed he just went home and slept like a dead body in a coffin and then returned. I didn’t know anything about his social life.
The dinners that I organized for him were nameless and faceless reservations, and I wasn’t sure if most of them were business colleagues or friends.
I knew that he has—had?—a girlfriend. He never went into detail about why Emeline was uninvited from this trip and I didn’t ask.
He was my boss and it was none of my business.
I was definitely curious though.
I wheeled my bag toward where Delan was sitting on an empty row of seats. The sound of the squeaky wheels of my carry-on caught his attention. When he looked up at me, it felt like his eyes lingered a beat too long.
I guess you could say I was dressed differently from normal, too. I had debated wearing something work appropriate on the flight until Warner practically slapped me through the phone. This was going to be a long travel day, and I wasn’t going to do it in work pants.
For a girl who’d never been out of the country by plane before, this was going to be a new experience for me. I’d driven to Canada and Mexico, but I’d never been on a transcontinental flight in my life.
Our first flight was from Austin to London, which is about nine hours. Then we have another two hour flight from London to Zurich. And after that, we still had a four hour train ride to St. Moritz.
Fifteen hours stuck alongside my hot boss where I’ll look run down and crusty covered in airplane germs.
So excited.
Declan cleared his throat, snapping me out of my thoughts and dragging my attention to where he now stood a foot in front of me.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Great,” I squeaked, taking a step back. There was something about him standing so close to me with practically naked biceps that felt inappropriate.
“I thought you might want to hit the lounge. That way we can eat before we board.”
“Sounds good!” I was being way too enthusiastic about a situation that I was not the slightest bit enthused about, but I didn’t want him to know about my unenthused state of mind.
I also didn’t want to tell him how anxious I was because that seemed pathetic.
This man had houses in multiple countries that he visited often.
The furthest I’d been on vacation was Toronto.
Declan guided me away from the gates, toward a glass wall with two sliding doors in the center. As we approached, a security guard nodded at Declan like they were on a first-name basis. He didn’t ask for our names or identification. He let us pass without a care in the world.
The Sky Lounge was a section of the airport that was reserved for members. There were pods to sleep in during layovers and comfy chairs with monitors to watch TV. Free food and an open bar were available twenty-four hours a day.
The entire space was covered in green garland with giant red bows hanging from them. There were ornaments strung from the ceiling and light Christmas music played in the background. Declan took one look at the decor and snarled.
I, on the other hand, was elated by the festiveness and definitely should’ve been stopped when we walked through the door. I did not belong here.
“Friend of yours?” I asked, gesturing toward the front doors as we dropped our bags at an empty table.
He shrugged, his face looking bored. “I come here a lot when I travel. You get to know people.” Declan gestured toward the buffet that was set up on the opposite side of the lounge. “Go get some food.”
It was more of an order than a kind gesture. I glanced nervously toward the food and gripped my stomach as it rolled. My anxiety was peaking and if anything entered my mouth, I was in danger of yaking all over my boss.
“I’m okay, but thank you.”
He arched his brow but didn’t argue as he turned toward the food. I dropped down into a seat and pulled out my phone to update my family.
With Declan in the Sky Lounge. Flight leaves in a few hours.
Warner
The Sky Lounge is like fancy, fancy.
Mom
Is there steak there?
Dad
Take some rolls on the flight so you don’t starve.
Warner
She’s flying first class. She’s too good for us small folk now.
Mom
They grow up so fast.
Dad
I am serious about the rolls.
I barked out a laugh as messages kept filing in.
When I glanced back up, I saw Declan heading my way with two plates in hand. He placed one in front of me without a word, and the other in front of himself.
“What is this?” I looked from the spaghetti to him.
“I didn’t know what you would like but I figured pasta was safe.” He barely looked my way but something in my chest warmed.
He was trying to be nice. I said I wasn’t hungry and he got me something anyway just in case I changed my mind.
“Thank you,” I whispered before pushing the plate forward a little. As nice as the gesture was, I was too nauseous to stomach anything.
“Do you want something else?” He asked, moving to stand.
“No!” I practically shouted the word, forcing him to pause. “I’m sorry. I’m acting weird.”
“You said it, not me.” He pointed to himself with a smile.
Did Declan Alexander just crack a joke?
“I’m a little anxious about the flight and my stomach isn’t doing great.”
His face softened as he sank back down into his chair. “Nervous traveler?”
“More like not a traveler. I’ve never been on an international flight before.”
“Ever?”
I shook my head. “I’ll be okay. Just a bit of nausea.”
Declan opened his carry-on bag before fishing out a little tin and handing it to me. I took it from his hand and popped it open. Inside were red colored gummy bears.
“What is this for?” My eyes flicked to his.
“To help you relax.”
The realization dawned on me as I snapped the tin closed. I lowered my voice and hissed, “Declan Alexander, did you just offer me candy shaped drugs out of an Altoids box? What are we? Fifteen?”
He chuckled deeply. “Relax, Claire. They’re not strong and it’ll just take the edge off.”
I sat there, stunned. That was the first time Declan had ever said my name out loud—or laughed for that matter. Until right now, I wasn’t positive he even knew my name except for the fact that he changed my airline ticket without my knowledge.
“If you really don’t want it, you don’t—”
“No. I do.” I said the words before I could over think it. Everyone in my life was telling me to have more fun and I guess we were starting with drugs.
Recreational drugs.
Who the fuck was I?
I mean, it was just going to make me relax, right? That was better than raw dogging this nine hour flight on a bottle of Pepto and prayers.
I opened the tin again and took a deep breath before popping a bear into my mouth. It didn’t taste funny, but part of me was wondering if I just made a massive mistake.
I handed the tin back to Declan who dropped it into his briefcase and turned back to me.
I must have looked terrified because Declan reached across the table and took my hand.
“I got you, okay?” His face was just sincere enough to be believable.
“Okay,” I whispered.
I wasn’t feeling anything yet, but while I lacked experience, I knew that edibles could take a while to kick in. I just had to hope that I didn’t make a complete ass of myself in the meantime.