Chapter 17 Adair
ADAIR
Aweek after our camping trip, Jack is at work when I get a call from Gina. “Not that I’m trying to pressure you, but did you think about the book convention?” she asks.
I sigh. Making time-lapse videos of my art is fun, but none of them have gone viral on social media or anything. Which means that if I want to grow my business beyond the little circle of authors who already know about me, I’m going to have to do something.
“I know what you said about it being a good opportunity and all, but I don’t know if I could stomach flying across the country by myself,” I tell her.
“Jack couldn’t come? Or he said no?”
“No, no. I just — I wasn’t going to bother asking him.”
Gina’s hum buzzes through the phone speaker. “Addy, that doesn’t make any sense. I’m sure he’d be happy to come with you.”
“Pfft. Oh, I’m sure he wouldn’t be happy.”
“Alright, fine,” she fires back. “But I’m sure he’d do it anyway. Look, I get that he’s not big on crowds.”
“Or people in general,” I interject.
“Right. That, too. But he’s obviously crazy about you. He calls you Bunny! That’s really cute. It’s easy to see that he loves you.”
Since Jack isn’t around to stop me, I stick a finger in my mouth and gnaw on the nail. “I know.”
“If you don’t want to go, that’s up to you. But your work is really good. Plus, I think you’d have a good time! Promise me you’ll at least bring it up to Jack today.”
“I promise,” I mutter, even though I’m not sure which thought is worse: Flying across the country by myself, or asking Jack to come with me.
On the other hand… I can’t pass this up.
It could be a make-or-break moment for my career.
I get up and unplug my tablet from the charger.
I’ll sit outside and think about it while I draw.
I wind up pacing the deck instead. Blowing out a sigh, I lean my forearms on the railing, looking out at the vibrant greens of the backyard and the thick forest past the property line.
The idea of getting on a plane makes my guts feel like they’re being squeezed by a giant, ice-cold hand.
I think I could do it if I had Jack next to me.
But I really, really don’t want to ask him.
I did promise Gina, though.
“Have you ever flown before?”
I put the conversation off as long as I could, so we’re already in bed by the time I bring it up. Jack looks up from his phone. “Yeah. Why?”
I had everything I was going to say planned out, but the words suddenly scatter. “Just wondering.”
I shrug, hoping it looks nonchalant, but Jack frowns. “Bullshit. That was way too out-of-the-blue.” He puts down his phone and gives me a sharp look.
I drop my eyes, but I can still feel his stare on me. “It was nothing. No big deal.”
“Jesus Christ, Bunny.” Jack exhales a harsh sigh. “What?”
My words all tumble out in a rush. “I was talking to Gina before. She told me about a big book convention this winter. Olivia is going, and Gina asked if I wanted to come and do… well, I don’t exactly know yet,” I admit.
“But I assume it would be like the bookstore event. And she said I’d be able to meet lots of other authors who might be interested in my art. ”
I draw a deep breath before I take the plunge. “Would you come with me?”
“Where is this convention?” There’s nothing in Jack’s tone or expression to suggest what he might be thinking. That’s not like him, especially if he doesn’t like what he’s thinking.
“Las Vegas. I’d have to fly there, because I realized driving across the country in the winter might not be smart. But I hate flying. It scares the shit out of me,” I confess. “If you were with me, though, I’d still be scared, but I could get through it.”
Jack is quiet for a minute or so. “This would be a really big professional opportunity for you, right?” he asks eventually.
“According to Gina. And she’s super-smart about this stuff.” Another thought suddenly occurs to me. “I don’t have any idea how much this would cost, though. I didn’t get into it with her because I wasn’t sure I was going to do it.”
Jack shrugs. “If it’s not until winter, that’s enough time to save up some money. Besides, it’s an investment in your career, right? It sounds like you should go, because if you pass this up —”
I interrupt Jack. “I know, I know — it would make me a dumb bunny.”
“No. It would make you fucking stupid,” he says with a scowl. “Yeah, fine. I’ll come with you.”
Jack’s ready agreement catches me by surprise, so I say the only thing that comes to mind. “You said you’d rather chew glass than come to another book event with me.”
“I also said it was something a husband ought to do anyway.”
“Because I’m yours.” In spite of the nerves squirming in my guts, I smile a little at the memory.
“Damn right you’re mine, Bunny. I don’t see how being crammed into an airplane seat next to you is gonna make a fucking lick of difference, but if you think it will, I’ll do it.”
I throw my arms around him. “Thank you! Oh my God, Jack — thank you so much!” I exhale a breath of laughter. “I don’t exactly know how it will help, either. But I know it will. If nothing else, it’ll be nice not to embarrass myself by holding onto a stranger’s arm the whole time.”
Jack smirks before a thoughtful look settles over his face as he strokes his beard. “Could you take a few days off before or after this thing?”
“I’d have to figure it out with my classes, but probably. Why?”
“Figure as long as we’re going that far, maybe we can make a trip out to the Grand Canyon from there,” he says as nonchalantly as if he were planning to swing by his favorite food truck for a breakfast burrito on the way to work.
“Oh wow! What a great idea — that would be awesome!” I giggle a little. “So that’s the bribe, then? I drag you to Las Vegas with me and you get a trip to the Grand Canyon out of it?”
Jack rolls his eyes. “We get a trip to the Grand Canyon. Doesn’t exactly sound like I’d be twisting your arm.”
I’m so excited I’m practically bouncing on the bed. “You’re the best!” I practically tackle Jack, squeezing him even tighter. “I love you.”
He returns the embrace, kissing the top of my head. “Love you, too.” After a moment, he makes a sound that’s not quite a laugh. “Did you really think I wouldn’t come with you?”
“I didn’t know.” I wiggle out of his grasp to look him in the eye. “You fucking hated going to the event at the bookstore.”
Jack frowns. “There’s lots of things I fucking hate,” he points out.
That makes me laugh, so my tears catch me by surprise when they suddenly sting the corners of my eyes and blur my vision. I throw my arms around Jack again and bury my face in his neck. “Thank you. Thank you so much. I don’t know how I can ever make this up to you.”
Jack’s deep voice rumbles in my ear. “Really? Because I sure do.”
“Anything,” I tell him.
His dark chuckle sends an electric charge down my spine. “Then let me show you off this weekend.”