Chapter 4
DYLAN
A long plane ride was nerve-racking enough but with a stranger, in close quarters? It was way worse than if I’d been surrounded by a whole plane full of people. There was no crowd to hide behind.
After checking my phone for the tenth time, I popped a couple of ginger tablets for my stomach.
Then I freshened up in the bathroom and headed back to the main cabin.
Max had his laptop open and a tablet with notes scrawled across it.
The closer I got to him, the more the nerves in my belly fluttered.
At this rate, I would take flight before the plane moved a fucking inch.
“Dylan.” Max looked up and closed his laptop.
“Max,” I replied as I took the seat opposite him and stretched out my legs. “How’s it going?” I asked, ignoring the way my stomach pitched when he looked at me with those intense brown eyes. Like he could see everything inside of me. Pretty soon, he would.
Tapping my fingers on the leather arm rest, I glanced out the window at the velvety darkness and the blink of airport lights. I turned back to find Max slowly rubbing his temples.
“My ex isn’t happy I’m headed to Europe and my thirteen-year-old daughter even less so because I didn’t take her with me. Other than that…” He smirked. “What about you? Happy to leave New York?”
“It’s an interesting town, but frenetic. I like the laid-back California way of life. I bet you’re the opposite. You thrive on chaotic pressure.”
“Not really,” He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
“I was born and raised here, so it’s always been home.
Can’t say I love the winters anymore or the high cost of everything.
Maybe when Blake goes to college I’ll move down south.
The Bahamas or the Virgin Islands. I’ll write in the mornings and be a total beach bum the rest of the day. ”
“Sounds nice.”
“You can always dream, right?”
I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees. “Your ex gave you a hard time about this trip?”
“Dante isn’t happy about anything I do. It’s nothing unusual.”
“Ouch. My second wife was like that. No matter what I did or said, I wasn’t doing it right.”
Max nodded and mirrored my pose. “Dante always likes to be the center of attention and when the center doesn’t hold, look out.”
“I’m sorry if this contract has caused you any stress. With my movie and…”
Max held a hand up. “I get it and it’s better this way for both of us. We’ll hide out on the ship, get the first draft done as quickly as possible, and then go our separate ways. You know, we could’ve done most of this process via email.”
I reared up and shook my head. “I’m not sure what details to share and which to keep private at this point.
I prefer to have conversations with you and let things flow naturally.
See what comes out. Plus, there’s a rather important piece of news that I want to share in the book.
I don’t want that information to come out until the release. ”
Max stared at me intently and I did my best not to squirm in my seat. “Sounds like something big.”
I nodded. “It’ll change my life, and maybe even my career. I haven’t told anyone yet. Not even my best friend, Rowan Carter. And we tell each other everything.”
“Rowan Carter? Didn’t I see something in the news about his recent wedding? He’s a billionaire, right?”
“That’s him. This is his plane. I normally refuse his constant attempts at generosity, but in this case, I gave in. I didn’t have any more fight left in me.”
“Let me guess, the yacht we’re staying on is one of several he just happens to have floating around?”
I smirked. “Something like that. He may have fancy tastes and expensive toys, but he’s a genuinely nice person. We’ve been friends since college.”
“And what does he think about this book?”
I sighed and leaned back. “He’s concerned that it won’t be good for my mental health. Doesn’t change my mind though. I have alimony payments that aren’t going to pay themselves,” I replied, motioning for Annie.
“I guess we have one thing in common. We’re both in this for the money.” Max rubbed a hand over his stubbled jaw, and my eyes caught the movement.
“Teaching doesn’t pay enough?”
“It’s all right but I live in one of—if not the most—expensive city in the country. And my ex likes to threaten me with custody battles, so I keep a legal contingency fund. Unlike me, he’s got deep pockets from family reserves.”
“Money is part of my motivation too, but not all of it. This is an opportunity to tell my truth. Something that isn’t popular with tabloids.
They only report part of the story, and other parts they twist to suit their agenda.
I haven’t hidden the fact that I’m an alcoholic, but there’s a lot more to me than the ‘Hollywood bad boy’ image they like to flog. ”
Before Max could reply, Annie sauntered over. “Dylan, would you like something to eat before we depart?”
“A cup of green tea please, and if you have a cheese plate or something light to snack on, that would be great.” I didn’t want to eat a full meal, but I needed something now that the ginger pills were taking effect.
“Right away. And for you, Max?” She aimed her perfect smile at him. My phone pinged so I turned my attention away from them.
Andrew: I forgot, tell Max he can use our suite with the office
Dylan: Will do
Andrew: How’s your anxiety?
Dylan: Not bad. I’m hoping I can sleep on the plane. Otherwise, nine hours of trying to make small talk with Max is going to be my greatest acting challenge ever.
Andrew: Better get used to it. You’re going to have to tell him everything.
Dylan: He seems nice enough but neither of us are looking forward to this. Kinda reminds me of how I felt on my wedding day. And my second, for that matter.
Andrew: Maybe you could start there, you’ve had interesting relationships.
Dylan: That’s one way to put it.
Andrew: We’re always here if you need to talk.
Dylan: Thanks Drew
I placed my phone aside as Annie set down two large plates of sliced fruit, crackers, and a selection of cheeses. Max and I sat in silence, munching away until the captain’s voice boomed through the speakers in the cabin.
“Good evening, gentlemen. We have the all-clear from the control tower for takeoff. Flight time estimate is nine hours and thirty minutes. Low winds and clear skies ahead. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight.”
Max snorted. “I think pilots are the only ones who ‘enjoy’ a nine-hour flight. I don’t know about you but being trapped in a confined space for more than an hour makes me edgy. If I don’t sleep, I’ll be pacing the aisle.”
“I’m with you. I had to fly all the time when I was working, traveling from one location shoot to another.
Then again, I wasn’t sober most of the time, so I guess that’s why it didn’t bother me none.
Fuck, I can’t even remember half the trips I took.
” I shook my head. “Now I tend to read or listen to music to help me relax. Use the bedroom in the back if you need to lie down.”
A vision of Max stretched out on the king-sized bed like a lazy cat flashed in my mind. I shook away the image as quickly as it came.
“I may do that, but not yet. I’m wired. Do you mind if I work?”
“Do your thing. I’ve got a book to finish,” I said as I pulled a heavy paperback out of my bag.
“Careful now, Dylan. You’re ruining the stereotype of vapid actors who need constant attention,” Max said teasingly.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m actually quite introverted.
I think that’s why I had a hard time with the whole social scene in L.A.
You always gotta be ‘on’—talking people up, selling your story.
The only time I ever felt comfortable expressing myself was when the cameras started rolling.
Sliding into the role of another person on screen was always easier than being me in real life. ”
I probably said too much, but then I remembered why we were here working together. Max tilted his head and studied me. His eyes were lit with curiosity.
But I was done talking.
The plane lurched, and suddenly we were hurtling down the runway, picking up speed. I took a deep breath, thankful that Max wouldn’t notice my trembling body as the plane began to rattle and shake.
Panic squeezed my lungs.
It had nothing to do with my fear of flying.