11. Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven
Lina
“ I f 26b does not stop hitting her call light, I’m going to fucking lose it,” I say under my breath. Annoyed, I head back up the aisle with Avery quietly laughing behind me.
“Hi, ma’am. Is everything alright?” I plaster a melodramatic smile on my face.
The woman’s lips set in a hardline. “I spilled my cranberry and vodka again.” Third time on this flight.
“Do you need more napkins?” I ask.
“I do. I would not have spilled if it wasn’t for all the bumps,” she complains, handing me her empty plastic cup.
“I am sorry about the light turbulence, but that’s not something we can control,” I offer, handing her a few napkins from my front pocket.
She scoffs and snatches them from me. The man sitting next to her in the aisle seat shoots me a sympathetic look. Once she’s cleaned up, I walk to the back of the plane, ready for this long flight to be over.
“What did she need this time?” Avery asks, rinsing out the coffee machine.
“More napkins.”
Avery scrunches her nose. “Did she spill her cocktail again? ”
“Yes.” I sigh. “Because of the turbulence.”
“We’ve barely had any on this flight. It’s actually been smoother than my last few.”
“Same,” I agree, shooting her a side-eye.
Thomas, the other flight attendant on our crew today, walks up. “We should grab the remaining trash. I’m sure Hernandez will be making his announcement soon.”
Avery and I are walking through the cabin, collecting the last bits of trash from the passengers. As we finish our flight into New York City, I hear a husky but smooth voice from the speaker. My stomach flutters, and I crack a smile.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. On behalf of the flight crew, I’d like to thank you for spending your afternoon with us ...”
Unconsciously, I pull my bottom lip between my teeth. “Thank you,” I say to a passenger as she hands me her empty pretzel bags.
Avery squeezes by me, headed to the front of the plane. “I saw that.”
“What?” I bite back, another smile threatening to take over my entire goddamn face.
She flips her hair around and arches a brow. “You know what.”
“As we begin our final descent into New York City, please make sure your seats and tray tables are back in their upright and locked positions …”
I clamp my eyes shut, ignore her, and shove the small white bag into the trash can. I can’t hide this from Avery, but I also can’t get Denver’s intimate moment out of my mind. I can still feel the heat of Carter’s hand on my back as he gently pushed me on the swing. I haven’t bothered to wash his sweater, either.
I feel like I’m back in high school, obsessing over a guy who was nice enough to give me his jacket when I was cold. But the positive memories of cheerleading, bonfires, and prom are overshadowed by the darkness that still follows me from that stormy night after my junior year homecoming dance. My expression falls.
“Lina? Are you okay?” Avery asks, concerned.
My eyelids flutter a few times. “Yeah. I’m fine, sorry.”
“We’re getting ready to land,” she reminds me.
I nod quickly, find my jumpseat, and buckle the seatbelt. Resting my head against the firm rubber, I think of Carter landing the plane and what a thrill that must be for him. Over the last year, the urge to step from the cabin to the cockpit has become more robust. I never knew where to start or if I could even do it. I push away the thoughts like I have many times before.
I started thinking about this more around the time when Carter began working for our airline. I’ve become restless with my current life. There has to be more to it. A partner to travel and share my passion for flying with? Is there someone like that out there? I’ve always been the girl that men date. I’m not the type they settle down with. Men want to have fun with me, party with me, and hook up when I fly into town.
The other flight crew members and I are walking up the jetway and into the busy New York City airport.
“It’s still early. Are you up for a run?” Carter turns to me.
My heart flutters, awakening my insides—but I hide it behind a casual smile. “I might be up for a quick run.”
“You two have fun. I’m not doing anything tonight.” Avery winces. “My heels are killing me today. I remember there being a nice spa the last time we stayed at this hotel.”
“I could go for a massage.” I roll my shoulders, imagining the scent of eucalyptus pouring over me. From the corner of my eye, I see Carter’s posture flex while he rubs his chin. I jerk my head to the side, holding his gaze. “Something funny?”
“I could give you a massage for free,” he whispers.
I glare over at him. “Why do guys insist on making everything inappropriate?”
He shrugs. “We’re built that way, baby.”
“I really don’t like when you call me that.”
“Sorry, baby,” he says, flipping on his cap.
Fuck. In that hat, I’d let him call me whatever the hell he wants. What is with this pilot uniform? I don’t want to let my thoughts drift into imagining what he might have looked like climbing into an F-18 jet. I clench my legs on reflex. Oh my god.
Anxiously, I pick up the pace. Avery hangs back with the rest of the crew while I sprint ahead. Carter’s shoes squeak on the tile as he matches my pace, closing the distance between us.
“I’m going to need time to change once we get to the hotel,” I tell him, ignoring his comment.
“That’s fine. I will, too.”
Carter and I jog at a measured pace around Park’s tree-lined path. I despise running, but he makes this one physical act incredibly sexy and hot. Every time we stopped for breaks, tiny beads of sweat lined the hairline on his forehead, and all I kept thinking about was what the wet skin of his pecs and stomach would feel—and taste like.
I spot a secluded blue bench tucked into the bushes right off the pathway. On either side, wild white rose bushes grow.
“Let’s take another break,” I suggest, panting.
“Okay.” Then, we both slow down to a stop.
My lungs are on fire once again. I’ve gotten used to this feeling because it’s painfully satisfying.
Carter sits on one side of the bench, trying to slow his breath. I do the same, taking the spot on the opposite side. My nose fills with the sweet smell of white roses. They’re my favorite flower.
I remove my phone from the leg pocket of my workout pants and place it on the bench between us. Bending over the metal armrest, I inhale the sweet scent. The thorns look aggressive on these. I wish I had a pair of scissors with me. I’d love to pick a few for my stale hotel room.
We sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Carter speaks.
“Who’s Finn?”
My shoulders square, and I quickly turn to face him. How would he know about Finn?
“Finn?” My eyes drag across his fit body while sweat drips off his skin. It’s fucking distracting. But I’m pulled back into reality by the sudden clenching of Carter’s jaw as he gestures toward my phone laying between us.
I swipe it from the bench, but before I can enter my code, I catch sight of a notification displayed on the screen.
Finn: Hey, fuck buddy. I bet you thought I’d forget you were flying in today, huh?
My heart drops. I completely forgot that I told Finn a few weeks ago I’d be in New York today for an overnight layover. I’m ashamed that Carter saw his message. Why do I feel this way? Maybe because Finn has only called me fuck buddy once before, and I kneed him in the balls for it. We were hooking up, and by the most literal definition, I am his fuck buddy. But it makes me feel cheap. I bet he thinks it’s a playful thing now. Fucking Finn.
I nibble on my lip. “He’s a friend that I see once in a while when I’m in town.”
With a stoic look on his face, he simply nods.
I swing my legs back and forth under the bench while we sit silently for a beat.
Carter slaps his hands on his knees, then stands. “How many men are you dating, Lina?”
His tone throws me off. Shoving my hands under my thighs, I replay his words for a second. Why is he asking me this? And why is it any of his business? His accusatory tone sounds an awful lot like judgment.
“What? ”
His tone is firmer this time. “How many guys are you seeing?”
I fix my eyes on the one white rose that falls farther from the bush than the others. “How is that any of your business?”
Carter paces a short distance back and forth in front of me. “That can’t be the same guy I ran into a few weeks ago at that restaurant in downtown Scottsdale,” he assumes, completely ignoring my question.
Now I’m getting pissed. Who the hell does he think he is?
“It’s not. I was with Max that night.”
Carter’s lips are set in a hard line. He’s pissed off . “And you’re sleeping with him too?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Max is someone I’m sort of dating, and Finn is a guy I hook up with once in a while when I’m in New York—” I blink a few times. “Why do you care who I’m sleeping with?” I lift my eyes, keeping them trained on his. “I don’t care what flight attendants you’re sleeping with.”
“Flight attendants? You mean Annabelle?” His jaw flexes. “I told you I wasn’t seeing her. I haven’t hooked up with any flight attendants.”
I shake my head, not wanting him to know I care. I shouldn’t care. But I do.
With his lips set in a hard line, he shakes his head in frustration. “So, when were you planning to meet up with him? Tonight, after going on a run with me?”
“Why are you so upset?” I snap. “I’m sorry I gave you the wrong idea about caring who you’re with. That’s not my place.” I try to defend myself, but it doesn’t come out convincing. Even in my own ears.
“Did I get the wrong idea? ”
I squeeze my eyes shut and try to turn it back on him. Why does Carter care? Because, based on how he’s reacting, he does— a lot. “Why do you care?”
Carter’s hands clasp behind his head. “Because you’re fucking better than that.”
“Better than what?”
“Than to let a bunch of men take advantage of you.”
“Who said they were taking advantage of me?” I quickly pop off the bench, my palms in the air in front of us. “I make my own choices, Carter, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t judge them!”
His face softens like a painful wave has washed over it. “Were you planning on meeting him tonight?”
“No, I wasn’t.” My heart sinks at the fear in his voice. “I forgot I even told him I would be flying in today.”
Standing only a foot in front of me, his hands shoved into the pockets of his gray joggers, he avoids eye contact. “Are you dating Max?”
I’m getting more agitated the longer this conversation goes on. I never thought Carter would look at me with such aversion, but his expression has definitely changed.
“Again, none of your business.”
His eyes flare with what now looks like disgust. “Fine. Whatever,” he spats, starting to walk away. “Let’s get back so you can be used by some fucking asshole.”
Oh no, he didn’t.
My hands fly to my hips, and I plant my feet in place. “Why the hell is it acceptable for men to sleep with whoever they want? But not for a woman to do it?”
Carter quickly faces me. “Not all men are like that. ”
“Is that right?” I retort, rolling my eyes. “And let me guess, mister woman-at every-port-fighter-pilot , you’re not like that?”
Frustration blankets his dark features. “I’m further from that than you fucking know.”
I have to pull away from the intensity of his glare. Doubt whips at my back, but my heart believes him.
“Why would I believe that?” I quietly challenge. This conversation has taken a deeper turn than I could have expected.
Carter angrily shoves his hand into his pockets. “Why wouldn’t you?”
“Alright!” I cry out, feeling ashamed for insulting him. Goddamnit.
He gives me his back. “Let’s go,” he calls out, expecting me to follow.
“Where are we going?”
“Let’s go, Lina,” Carter repeats, walking away.
This time, I follow.
By the time we got back to the hotel, our tension had only grown. Like the gentleman he is, Carter still walked me to my door.
“Look, I’m sorry,” I say, twiddling with my key card.
He steps into me, leaving almost no space between us. His two fingers come under my chin with a firm but delicate touch, raising my face to his. “You are beautiful and kind. You are driven, a smartass, and you deserve nothing less than a man to choose you every day,” he growls and slowly leans in, pressing a soft kiss on my forehead. “You need to be worshipped over and over again for the rest of your fucking life.”
I am blazing on the inside. My eyes fall closed. Melting into his weight’s resistance, I tip forward slightly, my chest flush with his.
“Do you understand, baby?” His soft lips are still on my skin.
My breath has halted, and my mind goes blank, unsure of what is happening. I manage to get out only one word in response. “Yes.”
Then Carter draws his head back but does not release my face, holding my eyes captive with an unwavering stare. “Do not see him tonight.”
Without a thought, I respond in a whisper, “I wasn’t planning on it.”
“Good.” Carter’s eyes fall to my lips before he turns away, leaving me standing in the hallway, confused and wet between my legs.
What the actual fuck happened?