18. LUKE
Chapter 18
LUKE
We boarded our commercial flight, something I haven’t done in a long time. On such short notice, the possibility of one of the ladies I’ve been with showing up as a flight attendant is very likely. I didn’t want to introduce Dele to that, if I could help it.
I asked my PA to arrange our itinerary and book a commercial flight for us to visit Honolulu on the first flight out. The commercial flight was better. The thought of women from my past getting catty at my wife wasn’t something I needed her to experience just yet. This is, after all, our honeymoon, and I didn’t need it ruined before it even began.
To my surprise, yesterday she texted saying she had gotten three extra days, so she would have six days to rest. I asked what time she was returning home. She responded, saying 11:30 p.m.
I called Paula to pack a bag for her with summer clothes, and Dele could check it when she got back.
When she returned, our bags were by the door.
“Are you traveling?” she asked when she saw the bags.
“We are traveling to Honolulu for six days.” Her forehead creased into a frown.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said, surprising me.
“Yes, it is. Besides, if we’re ever asked where we went for our honeymoon, it’ll be easy to answer.” She seemed to think over my words for a moment.
“Okay. Did Paula pack my bag?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you. I’ll check it to make sure it has everything I want. What time is our flight?”
“First flight out at 7:00 am”
“Okay, I’ll be ready. We’ll make it to O’Hare in time. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” I answered as she grabbed her bag. I’m just glad she didn’t fight the idea of us traveling.
During the day, I moved a lot of things around and let my parents know Dele and I are traveling. My mom was very excited about the fact that Dele and I are going on our honeymoon, almost as if her plan is working. Weird.
The connection between Dele and me deepens. I know she’s pulling every string to block any attraction between us while I’m doing everything I can to keep the flame burning. So, my one-night stands or quick flings harassing my wife? That’s bad, with a capital ‘B.’
She’s looking out the window as our flight touches down, gripping my hand tightly—just as she had done during takeoff. “Takeoff and landing always affect me,” she says. I nod my understanding. I watched her take a pill at takeoff, then knock out throughout the flight. She rested her head on my shoulder, and I refused to let them wake her for a meal. She was tired.
We make it to our hotel room swiftly. Soon as, she sees the one king-size bed in the bedroom.
“I can take the couch. It’s big enough for my size,” she quickly says. I wanted to say we could share the bed; it’s big enough for both of us. But before I could say anything, she went to the bathroom and closed the door. I let out a sigh.
Step one, I got her here. Now I need to strategize how to get her from the couch to the bed. I’ve overcome the challenge of our apartment to Honolulu. I think I can manage getting her from the sofa to the bed in five days.