Chapter 4 #2
‘Good idea. I’ll type quietly,’ I reply, gesturing back to the laptop I discarded earlier.
He nods appreciatively, before stretching out and wrapping himself in a blanket. I don’t know that he’d be happy to hear how adorable he looks, his six-foot frame encased in a snuggly blanket, his face tucked into a plush pillow.
I have to look away before I do or say something stupid. I force myself to focus on my screen, but an hour, and nowhere near enough words written, later, turbulence shakes the plane a little and he startles from his nap.
Groggily, he pushes himself up into a more seated position, blanket still wrapped around him as he rubs at his eyes. ‘We landing?’ he asks, his voice a little husky.
‘Still about three-quarters of an hour to go. We were just flying through some turbulence.’
‘Feel like I was asleep for hours. It was definitely needed. You get much done?’ He gestures to where my laptop is half closed on the table.
‘Nowhere near enough.’ I don’t add that I was distracted by the beautiful, sad man opposite me because that would be creepy.
‘That sucks – but you should also try and relax. These triple headers are exhausting.’
‘What is this relaxing thing? Not sure I know what that is.’
‘What do you do outside of work for fun?’
I gesture to my laptop.
‘What about time with friends or a … partner?’
I almost laugh at him trying not to assume I’m gay, when I’m pretty sure he must know I am.
‘No, no boyfriend. I don’t have time for anything beyond this team and the words that live in this computer.’ I’m not even remotely kidding. There hasn’t been a man for a decade now, except the occasional hook-up and I don’t plan to change that any time soon.
‘I’m surprised. You give off … relationship, settling-down vibes.’
He’s not wrong. I do want that. But now is not the time – for a lot of reasons, none of which I want to discuss right now.
I decide to deflect instead. ‘You’re starting to sound like my mom. She tried to set me up with her dentist this weekend,’ I groan, thinking about last night’s conversation.
‘But you’re not into him?’
‘I’ve never met him. But I spend nine months of the year travelling and then half the winter break supporting at the factory with analysis and data. I’m hardly in one place long enough.’
‘Yeah, I get that.’ He clicks his neck from side to side before stretching his arms above his head.
‘I’m sure you could have someone if you wanted to,’ I say. ‘Probably anyone you wanted.’
He stills, but it’s too late. I wish someone would gag me sometimes.
The silence hangs as he stands up to stretch out his long limbs.
‘Excuse me,’ he says quickly, before taking off towards the jet’s fancy bathroom.
Fuck. Why did I not think before I spoke? I hope I haven’t damaged our working relationship by making him uncomfortable.
He’s gone for ten minutes, so unless he’s got a bad stomach, he’s definitely avoiding coming back to this awkward conversation.
Great. Well done, Caleb.
When he finally returns, there’s a forced smile on his face. I’m so used to seeing those pearly whites on show but this one hardly even pulls at his cheeks.
‘Wanna play some cards?’ I suggest quickly to cover my embarrassment.
He nods and I flip out the table between us, then pull a pack of cards from my backpack.
I let him win the first game of poker as a way to help repair things between us. After all, I’m trying to cheer him up. But I’m too competitive to keep losing, so I even things up in the next game.
‘Fucking hell! You’re a hustler, Caleb! Good thing we aren’t playing for money,’ he says, chucking his cards down on the table as I win for the third time in a row.
The plane has begun its descent, and when I peek out the window, the trees and houses are completely visible.
‘I played a lot at university. It’s how I paid for my master’s.’ Perhaps not the most ethical income, but I didn’t have time for a part-time job.
‘Remind me never to invite you to a poker night.’
‘No, please do! I’d love to crush you and all your friends,’ I say with a smirk.
‘You’re cocky!’ he says, raising one eyebrow.
‘I know what I’m good at, and I’m really, really good at this.’
A heavy silence follows that’s very different from the awkward silence we shared before. This one is electric.
‘No way are you hustling the guys at poker night – unless you train me first.’
‘Train you?’ I lift a brow.
‘So I don’t walk away a complete loser.’
‘I’m sure I could teach you a thing or two.’ Our eyes lock and his are ablaze with surprise and … heat? It can’t be. I must be imagining it. Fucking hell.
Shut up, Caleb. Don’t ruin it now.
The sudden jolt of the plane landing breaks the tension between us. My stomach is still churning with adrenaline.
As everyone’s phones pick up signal, there’s a series of buzzes and beeps across the cabin. I look down at the notifications on my phone, and I’m immediately met with news headlines of Kian and Harper’s wedding last night.
‘You were ‘just out with friends’ last night, were you?’ I ask, flashing the phone screen at Johannes.
He shrugs. ‘Well, you know, it was a secret wedding for a reason.’
‘You’re clearly good at keeping secrets.’
His face falls and I wish I could stuff the words back into my mouth.
‘For Harper, always.’
This man knows loyalty, even when it’s with his biggest competitor. It’s admirable – one of his best qualities. The more I get to know him, the more good qualities I see.
As soon as we hit the tarmac, Nils and Johannes are whisked away in a car to their photoshoot.
As I watch him go, I kick myself for spoiling things with my stupid comment.