Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty Five
Cassi
Excitement rushes through me at the fact that I’m literally leaving work right now to head to the airport. I had to come in for a shift today and though I wasn’t planning to work Saturday, with classes starting up I’m not saying no to the extra money.
Nico was more than a little irritated that I couldn’t come Friday like planned but honestly, teasing him is one of my favorite past times and just like I told him, one more day won’t kill him. Though, if I’m being honest. It might kill me.
I don’t know how to describe it. Just three weeks ago, I didn’t even hardly know the guy existed.
I knew a guy was dating my sister. I knew a name and a occupation.
That was it. It’s insane how quickly someone can become the center of your every day.
I go to sleep thinking of him, I dream of him, and then the moment my eyes open, I’m reaching for my phone to text him.
It doesn’t compare to being with him in person but the whole long distant thing kinda puts a damper on it.
Oh, and the sneaking around affair part.
I try not to think of it like an affair because it’s not like they are happy. It’s not like he doesn’t want to get away from her. They are completely wrong for each other; he knows it and so do I.
Jesus. Would you listen to me? I sound like every mistress cliché there ever was. It’s true, though. What we have, it’s different. Special. And people can judge me all they want. That fact isn’t changing.
I wave goodbye to Maddie and head for the front door when it’s grabbed from me, a body stepping into the doorway before he stops. A smile takes over his face as his eyes lock onto mine.
“Good timing,” Alec smiles.
“Alec!” I say, doing my best to mask my surprise. “Uhm, what are you doing here?”
He shrugs. “You’ve been avoiding me, so I figured it was time I came and saw you.”
I smile, but I can feel that it doesn’t quite reach my eyes. There is something almost menacing about his tone that puts me on edge.
“Sorry. I’ve been busy. Picking up extra shifts, classes are starting back up on Monday. Just been busy.”
Alec nods like he believes me but there feels like some underlying tone of…something.
“I just…you don’t answer my calls or texts anymore. We don’t hang out. Did I do something?”
I shake my head as I cross my arms over my chest.
“Not at all. Really, Alec. You’re wonderful. I’ve just been busy.”
He nods like he can accept that as his eyes move down to his feet.
“My grandma is nearing the end. The doctors don’t expect her to make it to next week.”
My heart hurts for him and I reach out, rubbing his army sympathetically.
“Alec…I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”
“No, I’ve known it’s been coming for a while. I already told Sanders & Son that I’ll be good to start onboarding in a few weeks. It’s time I get back to my life, you know?”
I wince at that and nod in agreement.
“I wouldn’t say no to some company tonight, though,” he laughs dryly. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
I hesitate for a moment before I let out a heavy sigh.
“I’m sorry. You’re gonna hate me. I actually have to get going.”
His brows furrow as he looks down at the backpack by my feet. Now I’m really regretting bringing it inside the office. I should have just left it in the car.
“Vacation?” he guesses.
“Just a quick trip,” I say, hoping he will leave it at that.
Of course, he doesn’t.
“Where to?”
I do my best to maintain my composure as I give him an easy smile.
“Boston.”
Alec looks at me with suspicion in a way that sets me on edge before it slips away in the next moment.
“Visiting your sister?”
“Yeah, exactly,” I agree way too quickly.
He nods. “I gotta be honest. I’m kinda surprised. You guys never seemed like the type of siblings that were…close.”
I laugh at that because oh how right he is.
“We weren’t…Aren’t…We’re trying,” I say with a shrug as I lie through my fucking teeth.
“Well, can I give you a ride to the airport then?” he asks.
He could, in theory. I could leave my car here like I did last weekend, and it would be totally fine.
For some reason, I don’t want to, though.
Something in me is telling me not to. Maybe he’s just too observant and it’s putting me on edge.
Maybe it’s because I don’t want to feel like I’m leading him on any more than I already have.
Or maybe it’s because since Nico has been back in Boston, his jealousy has cranked up a thousand degrees, mostly in the hot way.
“You’re so sweet. That’s okay, though. I like having my car at the airport for when I come back. You know, delays and all.”
Alec’s eyes narrow slightly before he nods.
“I get that. Okay, well, safe trip. Text me when you can, yeah?”
“Absolutely,” I nod, forcing a smile as much as I can.
He pulls me in for a hug and I wrap my arms around him as I feel him squeeze me.
It’s tighter than a normal hug and when he pulls away, he turns sharply and practically stomps off to his bike, firing it up before peeling out of the parking lot.
The entire encounter has me feeling more than a little unsettled, and I’m half tempted to tell Nico about it.
I think better of it, though. He’d only freak out.
Once I get to the airport, I find myself wandering around for a hot minute until I find where I’m boarding the jet, Nico’s jet.
I can’t believe that I’m dating someone who has their own freaking jet.
Okay, dating is a loose term. Then again, is it?
Fucking doesn’t seem right. Maybe seeing?
Yeah, I’m seeing him. Either way, how on earth is this my life?
Easy, you swiped it out from under your sister.
Internally rolling my eyes at my inner voice, I do my best to shove that bitch back where she belongs because honestly, I don’t have time for her shit.
Once it’s time to board the jet, Jackie greets me at the top of the stairs with a smile.
“Welcome back, Miss Fischer. It’s wonderful to see you.”
I return her smile with a nod.
“You too, Jackie.”
A look of surprise passes across her face that has my eyes shifting from side to side.
“What’s wrong?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing, nothing. I just didn’t realize that you remembered my name. Caught me by surprise.”
I shrug simply. “You took really good care of us last flight and you seem really kind.”
Jackie’s smile softens but it doesn’t lose its authenticity. If anything, it increases.
“Thank you…others haven’t been as…warm as you,” she says carefully.
I give her a flat look.
“You mean my sister, say what you mean. She’s a vile bitch. I heard how she treated you when you accidently stumbled.”
Jackie cringes at the reminder, shaking her head.
“All I can say is that I’m more than relieved Mr. Sanders has chosen to spend his time with you over her.”
“Something we agree on,” I laugh.
She does her best to hold back her chuckle, her professional demeanor slipping as she shakes her head.
“Anything I can get you before we take off?”
“Not at all. Please, sit back and relax. I won’t be a bother, I promise.”
Jackie waves me off and rolls her eyes.
“Please, you’re one of the only clients I actually enjoy serving.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell Nico I’m your favorite,” I say with a smirk before moving to a recliner seat.
Jackie smiles and laughs as she heads to the cockpit, presumably letting them know we are ready to take off whenever.
Pulling out my phone, I scroll for a minute when I see a funny meme.
Out of instinct, I almost send it to the group chat before I pause.
I haven’t spoken to Naomi since our call last weekend.
It’s not like she’s going to reach out and honestly, why the fuck would I?
She was horrible to me for absolutely no reason.
No, if she wants to apologize, she knows where I’ll be.
It’s not like I’m screwing her boyfriend.
She doesn’t even have a sister. She has two brothers, that’s it.
She’s trying to pretend that she understands my sister’s and my relationship, or her relationship with Nico or my relationship with Nico.
She doesn’t know shit and when she realizes that she was being a massive cunt, I’m willing to listen to her beg for my forgiveness. Until then, fuck her.
We take off in no time and about an hour into the flight, I decide to take a nap. It’s been almost a week since I’ve seen Nico and if he’s aching to be with me the way I am, something tells me I’ll be getting zero rest tonight. Better get it while I can.
I wake to the feeling of lips on mine. They are gentle at first, patient. Then when my mind fully wraps itself around the idea, my eyes fly open and I smack the face away from me. My hand lands on the stubbled cheek with a sharp crack before a chuckle rumbles from his chest.
“Jesus, Cass. Good to know you can defend yourself,” Nico says as he cradles his reddening cheek. “I was beginning to worry with how pliable that kiss was.”
Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I blink a few times before I look around. We’ve landed, obviously, and I don’t see a crew member in sight. Glancing down at my phone I see it’s about thirty minutes past when we were supposed to arrive.
“Hi,” I say softly.
“Hi,” he grins as he looks down at me.
Nico stands to his full height, holding his arms out for me before I jump into them.
He catches me easily, pinning me to him as he spins me around before my head pulls back to meet him.
Nico kisses me for so long, you’d think he just got back from war, not a board meeting.
I can already tell you after six days of being apart, I don’t know how the hell we are going to manage things from here on out because any longer than six days and I think we will both tear our fucking hair out.
When we break apart, Nico looks at me like he hasn’t seen me in years before he shakes his head reverently and smiles.
“I have a surprise for you.”