41. Jackson
JACKSON
Aurora pauses on the tarmac. “Wait. We’re flying private?”
It took some convincing to get her to leave with me without seeing her grandmother and without Ricky.
We were supposed to fly out tomorrow morning but left tonight after visiting Ethan at the arena. He and Grant distracted her while I made arrangements.
I need time with her. Alone. I know Ricky will catch up. It’d be foolish for HSI not to be tracking our phones. He’ll meet us in New York, blame my oppositional attitude, and not think twice about me abandoning him in LA. And if he does, oh well.
“Yeah, babe. The only alternative is renting a U-Haul and driving cross-country with all your clothes.” Not fully truthful. I could book another plane to return, but again, I want her alone.
With her hand in mine, I guide her up the stairs into the cabin. Her eyes light up, glancing back at me in awe. I love it when she does that. It’s my absolute favorite, like when she first saw the nursery in Santa Monica. It makes it all worth it—every penny.
I drop our overnight bags. Aurora will want the window, so I take the aisle seat. I told the booking agency we didn’t need a flight attendant hanging around—just fill the fridge. I want it to be only the two of us for the next eight to ten hours.
Once the plane is in the air, I intertwine our fingers and bring her knuckles to my lips. “Hey, promise me something?”
She twists in her chair and faces me with furrowed brows, always suspicious of my antics. “What?”
“Promise me you won’t cooperate with Ricky, no matter what he says or threatens. He’s not your friend. He has one loyalty, and that’s to his job.”
Her brows furrow deeper. “But don’t we want him to arrest Kyle?”
“Yes, but Ricky will do whatever is necessary for the case . He’s proven that by lying to you, by pretending to have a boyfriend just to be close to you. He doesn’t care about your safety. Promise me, no matter what, you’ll refuse to cooperate.”
Her gaze drops to our intertwined fingers. “Only if you promise me that anything you’re planning—because I know you are—won’t hurt you or separate us. Swear we’ll be together.”
Not wanting to make a promise I’m unsure I can keep, because I’ll always protect her first, I go with deflection. “When did being together become so important?”
She narrows her eyes, and I try to hold a straight face, but a smirk sneaks through.
“Really?” She cocks her head. “You need your ego stroked right now?”
My smirk turns into a full-blown grin. “It feels pretty good, yes.”
“Fine. In New York,” she says with a hint of irritation.
“You want to be together?”
“Jackson,” she warns.
I push my luck further and ask, “Like together together? Forever together?”
“I’m not speaking to you.” She releases my hand and faces the window. “I know what you’re doing, O’Reilly. You’re avoiding my promise.”
Damn, she’s good. Not only did she catch me, but she also didn’t make me any promises. “I was only clarifying your stipulations.”
She doesn’t answer, and the pilot comes on overhead, announcing we can move around the cabin.
“Come snuggle with me, and we’ll talk.”
She removes her seat belt, and as she’s climbing into my lap, the lights go out.
I recline my seat and hold her to my chest. My lifeline. My anchor. “I promise I’ll do everything possible to avoid putting myself in danger or separating us.”
Her fingers play with my hair. “Then I promise I will not cooperate with Ricky unless you’re in danger or we’ll be separated.”
I shake my head. “No, Aurora. He’ll leverage that against you.”
She yawns, and her warm breath tickles my neck. “What are you worried about? Specifically.”
“Kyle is focused on you and the baby. Ricky allowed him to hurt you, allowed photographers Kyle hired near you, and Ricky went with you to New York. Why? He wants to use you as bait when he’s proven he can’t keep you safe? No way.”
After a long wait, during which I’m almost positive she’s fallen asleep, she agrees. “I won’t cooperate without discussing it with you or Ethan.”
“He’ll never let you do it, no matter what.”
“I know.” She yawns again, her voice distant. “But he’ll fix it.”
He may try, but this might be something not even Ethan Blackwood can fix.
I kiss her temple. “Sleep, baby.”
She breathes evenly, and I stare at her utter perfection. Heart-shaped face, Cupid’s-bow lips, freckles, thick lashes caressing her cheeks… All of it, perfect.
“You broke my heart today,” I whisper, brushing my fingers through her hair.
“I love you more than life itself. You’re the light to my darkness, the only thing that keeps me fighting the demons in my head.
” Tears prickle my eyes. “I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for those sleepless nights and the days you didn’t feel like enough. I promise you.”
Reaching into my bag, I fumble for the velvet box. One-handed, I manage to get the ring out and slip it onto her finger. A smile plays on my lips, picturing the fit she’ll throw when she wakes, just as long as it’s not the ring she throws.
I try to stay still, not to wake Aurora, but with my sore-as-fuck ribs, I can’t help but adjust her in my lap. Plus, I only have one usable hand, making it difficult to play on my phone. I’m surprised I lasted nearly two hours.
“Sorry, I’m hurting you.” Her bottom lip sticks out in a pout, her eyes half-lidded with sleep.
She’s adorable.
“Not your fault.”
She climbs off. “I need to use the bathroom anyhow.”
I grab her hips to steady her. “Hold on to the seats so you don’t fall.”
She’s not gone five minutes before she’s back. Brows raised and face flushed, she holds her hand in front of me. “What the fuck is this?”
Though I’ve stared at the ring a hundred times, I pretend to study it closely. “It looks like an engagement ring.”
Her arm drops to her side. “Jackson!”
“Okay, it’s a tracker.”
She glares at me, her hands planted on her hips. “I’m serious.”
Fine, don’t believe me.
Our eyes remain locked in a stare-down.
“I want a legitimate proposal, O’Reilly.”
The corner of my lip twitches. “I gave you one. Not my fault you slept through it.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “What did you say?”
My touch is drawn to her belly. “I can’t remember. Something about…I’m stuck with you. You’re stuck with me. We might as well get married.”
“So romantic,” she deadpans.
“I thought so.”
“Are you doing this because of the case?”
A scowl forms between my eyes. “No. I bought that ring when I moved you into the Laguna Beach penthouse.”
“You were that sure of yourself, huh?”
“It’s you or nothing, baby.”
With a shake of her head, the ring still on her finger, she sits next to me. “You’re insane,” she grumbles.
“For you, yes. We’ve established this repeatedly.”
She remains quiet for several long minutes, staring out the window while I stare at her impatiently.
Is that it? I’m literally on the edge of my seat here.
Finally, her head whips around. “I’ll make a deal with you.”
My heart stops. A deal means yes, because I’d agree to anything. My chest swells, and I can’t breathe. I wasn’t expecting yes. I expected to argue for eight to ten hours until I wore her down to a reluctant maybe.
The blood drains from my face, and my mind goes blank. “What?” The word is nothing more than air leaving my lungs.
“I have some questions.” She leans back, her arms folded like an attorney about to cross-examine me on the witness stand. “What if you get bored?”
“Did you somehow forget about all the sex we’ve had lately? Or our sex life in general?”
“Point taken. What if you get sick of sharing me?”
My lips curl into a sly smile. “I’m quite fond of sharing you. It’s making me hard just thinking about it.”
She slaps my arm. “You know what I mean. What if you wake up one morning and want a normal relationship?”
I shrug, turning my palms up. “Where am I waking up? A psych ward after electric shock therapy? There’s nothing normal about us.
I love you. You love me. Ethan loves you.
You love Ethan. We’re having a baby. Then, we’ll have another baby.
They’ll both be boys and raised together as superstars, and Ethan and I will be forced to retire and coach them. ”
I don’t miss the pleased grin on her face. She secretly adores the idea. She just hates being vulnerable.
“Wow. You have this all planned out. What if you dislike having a baby around?”
Apparently, we’re playing twenty questions, and I rest against the seat, facing her. “I already want to quit so I can stay home and hold a baby we don’t even have yet. I love him more every day. You two are the best thing to ever happened to me.”
“What if I don’t want another child?”
I roll my eyes. “Blasphemy. We’re having a hockey team of kids. Next.”
“Fine. You test me now.”
“Is this part of the deal?”
“Yes.”
I feign an exaggerated sigh. “What if I don’t want to play hockey?”
Her answer comes immediately. “Then you’ll need to get a hobby. You have too much energy.”
“Okay. What if I lose all my money?”
“I’ll go back to escorting.” She grins because she knows it’s bullshit, and probably because she’s not worried. I’m glad.
“That’s not even funny.” Then, I ask, “What if I relapse?”
All humor leaves her face. “You won’t.” Caramel eyes stare into the depths of my soul. “If you do, I’m taking your money, moving to New York, where you hate the weather, buying premium season tickets to the Stars, and seducing my next husband with low-cut shirts and blow jobs.”
Her tone is tart, but I know very well she’ll punish me with something equally painful if I repeat my last relapse.
I slowly blink. “Wow. That’s oddly specific. Any certain player you have in mind?”
She arches a brow. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Yes, I would. You’re making that jersey— the one you just happened to have— more and more suspicious.”
She cocks her head and gives me a mocking smile. “Actually, it was gifted to me.”
Irritation swarms in my chest. “By fucking who?”
She ignores me, widening her eyes with a gasp. “Oh! Or maybe I’ll go after their coach. Then, I’d have access to all the players.”
Now I know she’s being ludicrous.
“That’s it. I’m calling Ethan. How does he punish your smart mouth?”
“I’m not telling you.” She bites her lips shut.
And just like that, we’re engaged—with the threat of her banging the entire New York hockey team if I fuck up. Which, of course, is a joke, because I’d commit murder first.