Chapter 40 #2
She shoots her brother a look. “What? A girl can’t be caffeinated in this day and age?”
He stares at her, bored and bothered. “Give it a rest, alright?”
She smiles, spinning on her heel as she takes off toward the coffee shop without pausing for me to join her. Carter’s eyes slowly meet mine. He shakes his head, all apologetic, like she’s a problem and he pities me for having to deal with her.
If only he knew.
I wave it off, like she’s not a bother, because she isn’t. I’m the fucking problem. I follow that thick head of blonde hair until I’m standing beside her in line.
We both stare at the menu, not looking at each other and not speaking.
“If I don’t keep flirting with you, he’ll know,” is all she says. It’s quiet. Nervous. “I’m sorry if it’s making you uncomfortable. He’ll pick up on it.”
Shit. She’s probably right.
I dip my chin. “Trust me, sweetheart. I wish this didn’t have to be uncomfortable for either of us.”
It’s quiet for a couple of seconds. “I’m sorry you missed your flight.”
“Not your fault,” I say, glancing at her.
She meets my eyes, shrugging a bit. “Kind of is, though.”
It’s the way she looks at me. It’s always been the way she fucking looks at me.
I breathe a laugh. “Both of our faults, then.”
She smiles appreciatively, dipping her chin as we approach the counter. “I’ll take that.”
“Can I grab a medium black, and whatever the lady wants,” I say, glancing over my shoulder. Her jaw drops, hand going to her chest like this is the gesture of the century. I hate the way it makes me smile, how her theatrics will always be my favourite source of entertainment.
“Medium caramel latte, please,” she orders, eyes bouncing up to mine. She leans in, her voice quiet. “Oh my god, is this our first date?”
I can’t help it, a laugh bursts out of me. Leave it to her to remind me within seconds exactly why I had no problem crossing the line last night. It’s her. There is very little I wouldn’t do when it comes to this woman.
I shake my head, playfully shoving her away from me with a gentle nudge. It makes her whole soul light up. Her eyes shine, pleased at how warm I’ve become around her. I can’t help it. Wish I could. We’re both doomed now.
We return to our seats and miraculously, everything feels normal.
Fork and I chat, especially about Saltzy and EJ because Forker isn’t over that yet, and it’s going to take him a while to reconcile with what happened.
Arden and Ariana talk quietly together, too, sharing this enormous chocolate croissant until there is nothing left of it.
It’s nice. The four of us. One week spent in close proximity.
Oddly, I think I’ll miss it when we go back to being the three of them and one of me.
Having her so close, so frequently—I should have relished in it a bit more.
Enjoyed it. Not needing an excuse to speak to her, to look at her a little longer.
When we board the plane, I treasure the quiet.
Tucked in the back row, I place my head against the seat and pull my hat down low.
The man beside me doesn’t say much, but he takes the armrest and continues to play games on his phone.
I wait to put my headphones in because I’m far too tired, and rest my head against the wall of the plane instead.
I’m almost home. I’ll sort out the mess in my head when I get there. I just have to endure these flights first. Once I’m in solitude, once I’m on the farm again, I’ll be able to process this entire week and decide how I’ll move forward. How I’ll live with myself.
But then I hear it. Like I always do.
“Excuse me, sir.” I crack open my eyes and see Ariana Forkerro leaning over my neighbour, who is immediately sitting straighter to give her his attention.
“Something got messed up when I checked in. I’m a bad flier.
I hate planes. They didn’t seat me with my boyfriend and I’d really like to sit with him. ”
My eyes widen, shooting her a look of confusion, but she barely looks my way.
“I can offer you a window seat in a quieter area of the plane,” she says, her eyes all round and worried.
If I didn’t know her, I’d swear she was about to break into tears, but I know this game of hers by heart by now, and this is one big act.
“I wish I could offer first class, but this tiny plane doesn’t have that option. ”
She makes her voice shake at the end there, like the size of this plane is going to make her crumble into hysterics.
The man slowly glances at me, and I must look as fucking bewildered as I feel, because his face softens with understanding. He turns back to her and she makes her face do that whole pouty and terrified thing again. Without blinking, my neighbour starts to rise to his feet.
I have no idea what she’s doing, but I don’t stop her, either. I just watch, mesmerized by the power she holds in every situation. It’s her fucking world. Always.
She guides the poor guy to her seat at the front of the plane, closer to where Fork and Arden are sitting. Forker’s head snaps toward her so fast that I swear I hear it crack. He whirls around in his seat, noting the now empty spot beside me and shakes his head in disbelief.
I shrug, like it’s no sweat off my back.
He mouths ‘sorry,’ turning to glare at his little sister as she sweet-talks the stranger as he gets comfortable.
I can’t help but laugh, even though my heart is practically jumping out of my chest. The way she’s buckling him in like a mother would a child, thanking him profusely.
The guy is stunned into silence, letting her do whatever she wants.
We’re going to be right under Fork’s nose, just hours after we were under each other. Unbelievable. I’m never going to have a chance, am I?
Ari squeezes the man’s shoulder in thanks, gives her brother a wink at the glare he sends her way, and practically skips all the way to her new seat. Beside me. At the back of the plane. She drops herself down and flashes me a satisfied smile, pulling off her sweater and draping it over her lap.
I’m staring at her like she’s out of her damn, beautiful mind. Because she is. Certifiably insane, this one. It must be genetic.
“Much better,” she says with a little sigh, getting comfortable.
“Ari,” I say, letting her hear the warning in my voice.
She glances at me, those big, blue eyes blinking all innocently. “Oh, I’m sorry. Would you have rather sat with him?”
“No, but—”
“No complaining, then,” she says, facing forward again. “Also, I’m a terrific flier, so you don’t have to worry about me having a panic attack. I just wanted to sit next to the cute guy I saw at the airport. Take the opportunity by the balls, you know?”
I bite back a smile. “Good to know.”
She shuts her eyes, but her lips pull upward anyway.
I guess I won’t be sleeping on this flight.
Not with her so close. Thankfully, Fork is seated in front of us and not behind us.
I can keep an eye on him. I’ve flown with him hundreds of times, though.
He’s going to be out cold the moment we’re in the air and he won’t wake until we land.
Ariana and I don’t speak during takeoff.
I watch the little screen with heavy, tired eyes.
After a while, her head slowly falls to my shoulder.
I go rigid, but when she lets out a small, relaxed breath, I don’t dare move her.
My eyes shoot up toward Fork’s seat. He isn’t visible anymore, which means he’s hunched over his tray and sound asleep.
She can stay.
Halfway through the movie, my eyes grow heavier, and I find myself leaning my head to rest on hers to get more comfortable. I Inhale a bunch of that floral scent from her hair, letting it lull me to a near sleep. I won’t let myself truly rest. I can’t risk it with her brother this close.
This is the worst possible situation. It was supposed to die in that hotel room. End there. This doesn’t feel like an end.
I’m convinced she’s sleeping until she turns her head on my shoulder to look up at me. Her face is so close, it’s impossible to ignore. I meet her eyes, her lids tired and heavy.
“We’re still in Canadian air,” she whispers.
I search her eyes. “I don’t think we are.”
“The air in this cabin is still Canadian, then.”
“Ari,” I mumble, shaking my head.
“Please?” she asks, her eyes darting to my lips.
It takes half a second for me to cave. It’s the way she asks so nicely. The hint of begging in her tone. Irresistible. So irresistible it should be criminal.
I slowly lower my mouth to hers, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. It lingers, but it doesn’t deepen. Nothing racy, nothing too far. Like that makes it any better. She lets out a little breath of relief, not daring to take it any further.
I slowly pull away, and she doesn’t stop me, but she doesn’t move from my shoulder either. She stays close.
Our eyes burn into each other. Memories from last night flood through me.
Ideas of what could happen if we did it again.
I’m hard, from just a couple of seconds of contact and the way she’s looking at me.
It’s like I have the power to completely unravel her by just looking at her, and that is way too intoxicating of a feeling.