Chapter Eight
ARCHIE
Priority boarding and first class? I’m still not sure how that happened. It’s something I’ve never experienced before. It was a small step up from the bag of peanuts I was used to—I still requested the damn peanuts—only to discover they didn’t offer them anymore.
That should’ve been my first sign.
I’ve always loved to fly, even the idea of it. There is something about being up in the clouds that eases my soul. It’s a freedom I can’t explain to anyone. They either understand, or they don’t.
Today, even the window seat wouldn’t calm my nerves.
There’s a difference between when I’m the one in control behind the yoke and being on a commercial flight with two hundred strangers.
While I’m technically working, it doesn’t help.
I wonder if she’ll let me control the flights from now on.
I have no problem reaching out to my connections to get some private planes and being the one to fly us where she wants to go.
It was windy when we arrived, which isn’t the pilot’s fault. The turbulence didn’t help when I was already on edge. We had to circle around before we could land, and the extra twenty minutes in the air was exhausting.
Then, her suitcase got lost. It’s one of the reasons I always pack light and carry on, less chance for a screwup.
When we get to the hotel, there’s a mix-up with the rooms. Okay, no big deal.
I’m fine paying out of pocket for a suite for us to share a space but for her to still have her own space.
Only the hotel is booked solid. I considered trying to convince her to stay somewhere else, but this is where everyone is staying.
There is also already extra security here, and I like the look of it.
“We can see about going somewhere else,” she whispers next to me.
I know that’s not really what she wants, though.
“No, it’s fine, Tab.” It would be stupid to go somewhere else when this is the hotel she’s supposed to be at for the event.
We grab the hotel key cards, ride the elevator up, and then make our way to our room. At least we can rest for a bit since nothing is supposed to start until tomorrow.
“If I don’t hear from the airline soon, we’re going to have to run a quick errand.
My basic stuff like contacts, makeup, and electronics are all with me because I always pack them in my carry-on.
I still need clothes other than the ones I’m wearing.
The company has the costumes, the dress, and your suit for the premiere tomorrow. ”
I nod as I unlock and open the door.
One.
Fucking.
Bed.
“Well,” she pauses as she enters behind me. “It’s not like we haven’t shared a bed before.” She laughs. “I mean, we were like twelve the last time I think, but it’s fine.”
I smile. When we were younger and our moms took girls’ trips together, we always asked to stay the weekend together.
That was before the awkward teen years, when our parents didn’t think it would be a good idea anymore.
Not that it kept us from sneaking into each other’s houses.
We weren’t just best friends—we were inseparable during that time of our lives.
Just friends, though.
“Are you hungry?” Tabitha opens up her backpack, grabs a plug, and starts charging things.
“I could eat.” I put my bag next to my small suitcase.
“Let’s grab dinner. If we don’t hear from the airline by the time we’re done, then we can go shopping. I just need a few things, and there’s a shopping strip nearby.”
Half an hour later, we’re sitting across from each other in a dark booth at a small burger joint. It’s nothing fancy, and I’m grateful for it. Everything about Tabitha now makes it seem like she wouldn’t like these kinds of places anymore.
Maybe she hasn’t changed as much as I assumed. Not that we’ve talked much over the last week. It’s been all surface level and a little awkward.
I do my best to hide the grin as she orders a milkshake with her burger, like me. It’s just like when we used to meet up after high school. It feels like a lifetime ago. Then I look at her, and it feels like no time has passed.
“What?” She catches me staring after the server leaves the table.
I shake my head. “Strawberry milkshake? Really? You know chocolate is always better.”
Tabitha laughs. “I disagree. Strawberries are superior.”
“Chocolate,” I argue.
She shakes her head. “We haven’t even been here before. Their milkshakes could be awful.”
I laugh. Considering they have a few signs on their walls saying their milkshakes are award-winning, I doubt it.
She lets out a shaky sigh. “I’m not ready to talk about it yet, but I’m glad you’re here.
” Tabitha plays with the napkin under her water.
Her eyes flicker up to meet mine. “When they suggested a bodyguard, I knew it was needed, even though I didn’t want to believe it at the time. ” She swallows. “I’m glad it was you.”
“Me too.” I smirk.
“I missed you,” she whispers.
“Same.” So fucking much.
“Here we go.” The server approaches the table with our milkshakes. “Burgers will be out in just a few more minutes.” He turns and leaves.
“Moment of truth.” We stare at each other as I reach for my chocolate shake.
My eyes stay on hers. The same blue eyes that used to haunt my dreams. Only now, they smile mischievously as she reaches for her shake and places the straw between her plush lips.
She moans across the table before declaring how delicious it is.
It’s the moan that does me in. She licks her lips, and I do my best to discreetly adjust myself under the table when her eyes move to her drink.
“Want to try?” She pushes her drink across the table. “I think you’ll agree with me that the strawberry is better.”
I laugh and slide mine across the table. I hesitate to wrap my lips around the same part of the tiny straw hers were. That alone makes her shake a thousand times better—not that I’ll admit it to her.
“It’s alright.” I smirk before passing it back to her.
“Mmhmm.” She sips my chocolate shake and then passes it back to me. “You just don’t want to admit mine is better.”
She’s right; I don’t want to admit it. If I admitted the truth, I’d have to tell her that strawberry is my favorite too. Then she’d ask why I always chose a different flavor. And I couldn’t admit the truth.
Growing up, if I chose something other than strawberry, she’d convince me to try hers to prove it was better. It was the closest I could come to kissing my best friend. I realize that makes me sound insane. Clearly, I like to torture myself.
Her phone buzzes on the table, and her eyes glance down. “The airline.” She picks it up. “Hello?”
I can’t hear what they’re saying, but judging from the smile on her face and the way her shoulders relax, they’ve found her suitcase.
“Thank you. Yes, that’s perfect.” Tabitha hangs up and sits her phone back down. “They found my suitcase, and someone is on their way to drop it off at the hotel. We just need to retrieve it from the concierge when we get back.”
“That’s great!” I’m relieved we don’t need to go shopping. “Is there anything else we’re supposed to do today?”
Tabitha shakes her head. “No. Most of the others will probably be arriving early in the morning if they’re not already here.
I just like to hide out in the hotel room before the chaos begins.
Tomorrow will be a busy day, plus the premiere.
There’s a meet and greet lunch. That’s when I’ll be in costume with the others.
You met Max when you first arrived at my place.
He and his boyfriend will be there. I’m not sure who else will, though. ”
“How did you get into all this cosplay stuff? I remember you reading comics when we were younger, but I never even knew this was a thing outside of Halloween.”
Tabitha pauses as the waiter drops off our burgers and fries, then refills the waters.
“I was scrolling through social media and saw an advertisement for Halloween costumes. One thing led to another, and I started finding better sources for costumes and the materials to make them myself. I think I was glued to my phone there for a while. There are unlimited ideas out there. It was sort of one thing after another as all the pieces sort of fell together.”
“So, you make some of your costumes?”
She nods. “Probably close to half of them. It all depends on whether it’s something I’m wanting to do for me or something for a company.
Like some brands I work with send me the materials I need to create something from scratch.
Those are some of my favorites because they always send more than what is needed for one costume.
” She smiles. “This weekend, because of the premiere, someone from the costume department made replicates for us. So we’ll be doing pictures and videos in those. ”
“Do you get to take the costumes home?”
Tabitha’s eyes grow. “Most of the time, especially if they’re made to our exact measurements. I always find a way to make more content with those ones too. Plus, when I collab with others, we get to plan out even more content because of the variety of characters we can portray.”
“You really love this.” It’s not even a question; I can see how her eyes light up when she’s talking about it.
“I do. I never thought this was something I could make a living at. I’ve always loved being creative, and this just merges my interests. Plus, getting to travel makes it more exciting.”
It’s the first time I’ve seen her smile this big since we’ve been together. I feel bad that I never thought to ask her about all of it before. Especially since it’s something she clearly loves and enjoys.