Chapter 27
Jen
Idrag Luke through the door to the break room, fuming. “Did you actually just quit my job for me?” I shove his chest with both hands. “You don’t get to make that call, Luke! I haven’t even had a chance to process what that would look like, especially now, given that we’re…you know…whatever we are.”
“Jen, how can you stay here when he says things like that to you? When he looks at you like that?”
“Because he isn’t the only one who does it. Men have looked at me like I’m snack-time since I was sixteen. It’s nothing I can’t handle. Besides, he’s never punched anyone in the face!”
He scrubs a hand down his face and places his palms on the flimsy table. “I’m really sorry, Jen. I just…you’re not a whore…and I lashed out at his narrow mindedness.”
I soften slightly with his admission but I’m still furious and confused and wondering what the hell I’m supposed to do.
In reality, I’d love to get the hell out of here and work in Luke’s ER.
But now I’m sleeping with one of the ER docs.
And what happens if we end up deciding we can’t do this and Sloan chooses Luke and I’m stuck taking orders every day from the guy who stole the man I love?
What a clusterfuck.
“Thanks for the coffee. I need to get back to work and try to save my job. I assume you can find your way out?”
I hear him quietly call my name as the door closes behind me.
An hour later, Adam accepts my apology on Luke’s behalf, has no more details about this sticky conundrum I’m in, and agrees to not fire me or press charges against Luke if I can get him tickets and backstage passes to a Beautiful Deceit show. Done.
Beyond exhausted after work, I let myself in my apartment just needing my own space to process the shitshow that was today.
I take a quick shower and call Em as I pour my first glass of wine.
“Babe, you look burned the hell out,” she says when my face shows up on the screen, as a greeting only a best friend can get away with.
“You have no idea.” I launch into the story feeling lighter just by sharing.
“That’s kind of romantic though. Do you think Luke is starting to have feelings for you too?”
“Who knows. Sometimes I think maybe he does, but other times I feel like he’s just protecting Sloan’s investment.”
“Jen, you’re being harsh.” Nothing stings quite like a reprimand from your bestie. “This whole situation would be complicated even without their past and right now Sloan isn’t even home to help you through this rocky stage.”
“You’re supposed to be on my side,” I remind her.
“I am on your side. This is me being on your side, calling you on your bullshit, looking for ways to end this because it’s scary, and unknown, and puts your biggest fears front and center.”
I drain my wine, trying to digest her words.
“What if Sloan picks Luke over me?”
“Then he was never yours to begin with.”
Ouch. “Glad to know you aren’t trying to spare my feelings,” I deadpan.
“Since when do you want me to blow smoke up your ass, Jennifer Hayes?” Her tone is far too light for this conversation, making me roll my eyes. “Bitch, did you just roll your eyes at me?”
I snort, unable to keep my laughter in.
“Okay, okay! I’ll give it a little more time. Jesus, woman.”
Turning serious, Emma sighs into the phone. “I miss Ry.”
“This has been the longest four weeks ever. It’s hard to believe we still have two to go before they’re home.”
“I’m not going to make it.” Sadness creeps into her words that echoes my own and it gives an idea. A crazy one, but nothing’s unusual about that.
By the time we get off the phone twenty-five minutes later, I have a plan. I think on it through the night and by the time I’m clocking out of work the next day, I’m opening up the group chat and putting it in motion.
Badass Bitches of Beautiful Deceit
Jen 5:16pm
Okay, it’s been long enough and I know we all miss our men.
I say we book flights and surprise them at their show in Miami. They have back to back shows there which means hotel rooms for the night.
Bri: 5:18pm
God yes! I’m in. Calling my mom to watch Rid now.
Sienna: 5:18pm
Yes, please! I’m going crazy over here.
Jen: 5:20pm
Yes! Sienna, can you or Bri book the tickets and we’ll pay you back? I wish I had the cash to offer to pay for them but we all know I don’t.
Sienna: 5:21pm
Of course! I already know the dates for that show. As soon as I hear from Emma about what she wants to do, I’ll start booking.
Jen: 5:25pm
Yo! EMMA DONOVAN! Your man isn’t even home right now. What are you doing that is more important than answering your besties?
Bri: 5:58pm
You guys know we probably don’t want to know the answer to that question, right?
Sienna 6:30pm
The guys just had to check in at the arena soooo…
Emma: 6:36pm
Hello. I’m here. Seriously girls, do not let Jen corrupt your minds.
Jen: 6:37pm
So you weren’t having phone sex with Ryan?
Emma: 6:37pm
I didn’t say that.
Bri: 6:37pm
LOL. Yeah, we’re all in bad shape. This trip is a great idea.
Then I remember:
Jen: 6:38pm
Shit! I forgot to add Luke.
You have now added Luke Blackwell to the group Badass Bitches of Beautiful Deceit
I may still be pissed about him showing up at my job, clocking my boss, and quitting for me, but I’m trying to feel it out, give it time, like Em suggested.
Besides, taking this trip without him doesn’t even feel right at this point because my own feelings aside, I know Sloan would be heartbroken if Luke was left out.
Jen: 6:40pm
Hey Luke. It’s Jen. And Bri, Sienna, and Emma. Guess we gotta change the group name now. Anyway, we’re planning a surprise trip to see the guys because it’s been too fucking long. You in?
Luke: 6:44pm
Hello, ladies. Don’t change the name on my account. I’m day shift in the ER Monday and Tuesday. When is this trip taking place?
Jen: 6:45pm
Two days from now. We’ll be back the day after. We’re going to catch the first Miami show. You’ll be back in plenty of time.
Luke: 6:46pm
Then count me in.
We’re all abuzz with excited energy on the flight to Miami. Our group takes up a third of the first-class seats and although the other girls are used to flying private, Luke usually flies on military planes and I’ve never flown at all, so he and I are fangirling over the mimosas before take-off.
Thankfully, this flight had plenty of seats open as there are like four hundred flights a day between Dulles and Miami.
“Do you like flying?” Luke asks as I open my window shade. We’re still at the gate, but I want to take it all in
“I’m not sure. Never done it before.”
He pulls his head back, startled. “This is your first time on a plane?”
“Yeah,” I answer nervously. “Is that okay? I mean was I supposed to fill out a special form or something?”
“No,” he chuckles. “I’m just honored that I get to share this first with you.”
Neither of us has brought up the incident with Adam and he hasn’t mentioned the job offer which I appreciate. Trying to go with the flow, I nudge my elbow playfully into his ribs. “This isn’t your first first with me you know.”
He smiles. “I know, but this is different. It’s just me and you.” He takes a dignified sip of his drink, the champagne flute looking insanely fragile in his manly hands. “If you get scared, I’m happy to distract you,” he offers.
“Oh really? What’d you have in mind?” I ask, planting my elbows on the console between us and resting my chin on top of my laced fingers.
He grins. “Not that. You don’t want to get black-listed from the airline, do you?”
“They do that?”
“Hell yes they do that. They’ll put you on the do-not-fly list so fast it would make your head spin. I meant I have my iPad and a headphone splitter. You can share my movie.”
“Oh. That sounds nice too.” I smile, totally unsure what it is I want from this man.
I turn my attention to the passengers now boarding the plane and I catch sight of a woman in her thirties, unblinking as she stares at Luke.
Passing by our row of seats, she casually glances at his left hand.
Seeing that it’s bare, she brushes against him and “accidentally” catches the wheel of her suitcase on the strap of his carry-on resting on the floor.
“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry,” she croons. “I seem to be stuck on your bag.”
“No problem,” Luke says, leaning forward to free her wheel.
“Thank you so much.” She’s lingering. Move on lady. “You have very pretty eyes by the way.”
I used to be one of those people who didn’t have to use jealousy as a guardrail, but I’m obviously no longer a member of that club because watching this woman flirt with Luke has me feeling some kind of way.
“Hey baby, could you queue up our movie? I want to make sure we have enough time to finish and the flight isn’t that long. ”
Jennifer Lynn Hayes, what the actual fuck has come over you, you—
“What?” he asks, turning his attention back to me. “Oh yeah, sure, sweetheart.” He shoots me a wink and my heart skips a beat over the fact that he’s playing along.
Pot, meet kettle, you jealous whorebag.
I’m too busy scouring at the people passing our row to pay attention just yet, so the iPad sits in Luke’s lap with a blank screen.
About twenty minutes later, everyone’s boarded and we’re pushing back from the gate and taxiing to the runway.
I’m so excited as I watch out the small window, ready to see us leave the ground.
Until the engines really start firing and we’re moving, but not that fast. We gain speed but it still doesn’t seem fast enough.
“How fast do they need to go?” I ask Luke, clutching the arm rest so hard my fingers hurt, willing it to gain momentum.
“Take off is usually around 185mph for a plane this size.”
“That’s it?” I shriek. “I once drove a motorcycle that went faster than that!”
Luke grabs my hand in one of his. “Hey, it’s okay.
Just another day at the office for these guys,” he says reassuringly.
He keeps talking to distract me as I squeeze my eyes shut, deciding that I don’t like flying.
“Nothing’s worse than taking off in a C-130.
The plane’s so big it basically lumbers down the runway.
Feels like you’re trucking along at 25mph when you feel the wheels lift.
Pretty smooth once it’s in the sky though, considering the size of the plane.
The whole time you’re thinking, no way this bird is getting airborne.
But then it does, and before you know it, you fall asleep to the sound of the engines. ”
“I don’t think that would be me. I couldn’t relax enough to sleep,” I confess, keeping my eyes shut. I feel him lean over the console and he whispers directly in my ear.
“It’s just like anything else. The more you do it, the more comfortable it gets and you start to realize you actually enjoy it.”
I pop an eye open to see him smiling down at me and for the first time, I get a glimpse of a Luke Blackwell who’s comfortable with himself and the situation we’re in. A man who fights for his country and for the people he loves.
“I’d have to do it a lot,” I murmur, staring at his lips.
He gives me a half smile that starts to heat my blood. “That’s the point.”
“I mean I’m a total mess and we aren’t even off the ground yet.” I try to steer the conversation back to flying and not to fucking because I don’t need to get put on the do-not-fly list on my first flight…but I’m seriously considering it based on that smile alone.
He points across me to my window. “Guess again, sweetheart.”
My eyes go wide as I look out the window. My grin matches when I turn to look back at my seat mate. “Luke, I’m flying!” As soon as it’s out, I clamp a hand over my mouth. “Ohmygod, I just quoted Titanic to you.”
“That basically means we’re married,” he says stoically.
“Of course it does.” I laugh and settle back in my seat, picking up my headphones as my heart rate slowly begins its descent to a normal range. “What’s our movie today? Please don’t say Titanic.”
“Twilight,” he answers with a straight face.
I’m about to burst out laughing until I hear the familiar music start the opening scene of the Arizona desert and I realize he’s serious.
I arch an eyebrow at him.
“Team Edward.”
I do burst out in laughter when he says that. “And you didn’t realize you were bisexual until a few weeks ago?”
“There might’ve been signs, but I wasn’t looking, remember?”
“That’s fair,” I concede as I tuck my legs under me in the wide, first-class seat, and watch the love triangle begin between the vampire, the werewolf, and the human.
It hits a little close to home as I think about that storyline as a whole.
Two people fall in love with the same person and she’s forced to choose.
What if, instead of a successful threesome, we’re a doomed love triangle and we just don’t know it?