Chapter 37
Bailey
Even as I watched Wes buy his plane ticket online yesterday, I didn’t think he was serious about coming with me. He must be completely out of his mind. When he left, saying he was taking Bruno to stay with Jameson and Sutton, I tried to convince him once again that he didn’t need to come with me.
“We’re overloading their house with dogs. You’re not coming.”
“They like it.”
That’s all he said before heading out. I convinced myself throughout the night he wouldn’t be back. That I’ll leave tomorrow—alone—as planned.
The next morning, I grab my backpack and suitcase ready to head out when I see Wes leaning against my car with his own duffel laying on the ground by his feet. “Ready?”
“Are you serious?” I ask in disbelief.
“I told you I’m coming. I don’t know why you think I would lie to you.”
“Because this is insane,” I huff, walking to the trunk, opening it and before I can lift my suitcase in, Wes is behind me, speaking against my ear. His breath hitting my skin sends a shiver down my spine.
“Like I’ve said before, join me in my insanity then, Angel.”
I gasp remembering exactly when he said that before. This situation is a bit different than last time, but still when he picks up my suitcase, loading it into my trunk, and then his own, it hits me. It really sinks in that he’s serious.
He stretches his hand out for my keys, and I hesitate.
“Do you really not want me to come with you?”
I bite my bottom lip thinking about it. It’s crazy, I know it is.
But at the same time, having someone with me that I know does bring a sense of comfort.
Having Wes with me brings comfort. I’m about to see my siblings that I haven’t seen in a long time.
Plus their families who I’ve never met. It’s a lot of people, and I’ll be the odd one out.
Knowing I’ll have Wes with me does make me feel a little better. Especially with how he helped calm me down yesterday. I don’t know how he knew what to do, or that he was capable of being so sweet.
It really hits me that everything I’ve been holding back, the feelings I’ve been attempting to suppress about Wes, are about to consume me. That thought alone could send me into another spiral, but I refuse to let it.
Instead, shaking my head as I hold his steady gaze, I hand my keys over and allow him to drive us to the airport. Hoping like hell I don’t regret letting him come with me.
Somehow I manage to keep myself together throughout the drive to the airport. I can’t read Wes because he’s always so stoic, but once we’re seated on the plane I can sense how tense he is. I place my hand on his thigh as the plane is taking off.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” he grunts unconvincingly.
“Are you afraid of flying?” I don’t expect that from him, but I guess I really don’t know that much about Wes when I think about it.
The look he gives me is almost smug. “No, I’m not afraid of flying. I was an Apache pilot in the Army.”
My jaw drops because I don’t know how I missed that piece of information before. But he doesn’t talk about his past, just like me. I do know both his parents passed away and that the Army was his life, but that’s the extent of my knowledge of his past.
Though, all that really matters is the present anyway. I know he’s more caring than he wants people to believe. That his heart is so much bigger than he lets on and he probably doesn’t even realize it. He’s thoughtful, considerate, and not the obnoxious asshole I convinced myself he was for years.
Yes, he drives a loud car, but I also know he’s proud of that car and that it’s one of the only big purchases he’s made for himself. His car and his house. Other than that, he doesn’t care about material things.
Which I guess is why my heart has become much more involved than it should have.
Even with my limited knowledge of his past, I’ve managed to fall for the man sitting next to me, and yet he can never know it.
Because if I were to tell him, I would surely lose him.
And much to my dismay, I’d rather have him in the capacity I do now than not at all.
“If you’re not scared then why are you so tense?” I ask, rubbing my hand up his corded forearm.
“Same reason I always have to drive. I don’t like not being in control,” he grinds out. I nod in understanding. He does need control in all aspects of his life it seems, and this is no different.
I don’t complain, though. The bedroom—where he gets to have all the control—is where I reap the benefits. It’s where I also give him that control. I just make him work for it, but that’s half the fun.
“You just need to be distracted,” I suggest.
He looks over at me with a raised eyebrow. “Are you offering the mile high club to me, Angel?”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “No, getting arrested is not on my list of to dos.”
“We wouldn’t get arrested.”
“Yeah, I’m thinking we would. The only way to have privacy on this plane is the bathroom and I don’t think my six foot ass and your six foot five ass are fitting in there together.”
“I’m six foot six, but thank you for that.”
“You really need that extra inch?”
He smirks. “No, I don’t think I need any extra inches, do you?”
I bite the corner of my lip to stifle my smile, enjoying the banter. Especially enjoying the fact that he’s managed to become less tense. I feel an even bigger sense of accomplishment at that.
Throughout the rest of the plane ride, I do my best to distract Wes. I prepare him for what he’s about to walk into after I realize I didn’t tell him about Brent’s unique relationship. It also proves that he didn’t research my brother since it’s one of the first things that comes up.
“Okay, you should know that my brother Brent is in a relationship with this woman named Chandler,” I begin.
Wes nods along while I think about how to phrase the next part.
“She’s also in a relationship with two other guys.
I don’t remember their names, but they all live together.
And have a daughter named Evie. Oh, and they’re also expecting another. ”
“Like a polyamorous relationship?” he asks, voice completely even.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Okay. What else?”
I’m taken aback. “You don’t have any more questions? You don’t think it’s weird? Sure you don’t want the pilot to turn the plane around?”
He shakes his head. “Not at all. Whatever makes people happy is their business. How is it fair for me to judge anyone’s happiness?”
I’m pleasantly surprised that he’s not weirded out by that piece of my family, so I continue.
“My sister, Brynn, is married to one of Brent’s previous teammates. I don’t know his name either. She’s nice, but can be talkative which is the complete opposite of Brent and me.”
“You don’t say?”
“Was that sarcasm?” I gasp.
“I don’t know why you’re always so surprised when I joke around with you.”
“Because you’re you, maybe?”
“What does that mean?”
“You look like you torture people in your free time,” I deadpan.
He furrows his brows at me, clearly not liking that comment.
“Oh, you’re the only one allowed to joke around now?”
The side of his lips kick up in a smirk. “My jokes are just better.”
“Whatever.” I shove his shoulder lightly as he chuckles.
It’s nice that the lighthearted energy between us remains throughout the rest of the flight. We don’t stop talking, and the little bit of self preservation I tried to keep going into this trip evaporates because Wes has infiltrated my heart in a way there’s no coming back from.
I just hope this trip won’t ruin that.