Chapter 31
“So much for airport security.” ~ Eli
Eli
Caleb steps onto my plane and whistles. “Wow. This is fancy.”
Flynn scans the interior. “Is this standard? Or do you get to customize the interior?”
Hudson sits across from me. He caresses the leather seat. “I’ve traveled in private jets, but I don’t think I’d like to own one.”
Lucas and Flynn sit on either side of him while Caleb sits next to me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask them.
“I don’t know about them, but I’m here to kick your ass,” Caleb says.
“I’m here to watch,” Hudson says.
“I’m here to make sure no one gets arrested,” Lucas says.
“I’m here to tell you what an asshole you are,” Flynn says.
Caleb looks at him. “Do you tell him what an asshole he is before I kick his ass?”
Flynn shrugs. “I don’t mind. You can go first. ”
Caleb cracks his knuckles. “Awesome. I have a lot of pent up aggression.”
Hudson nods. “Did they make Maya drink a gallon of prune juice, too?”
“Yep. She spent the night in the bathroom.” Caleb smirks at me. “She promised I could kick your ass as punishment.”
I hold up my hands. “It’s not my fault Maya drank a gallon of prune juice.”
Caleb glares at me. “It sure as hell is.”
I run a hand down my face. “Help a smuggler out. Tell me what’s going on.”
Flynn lifts an eyebrow. “You’re a smuggler? You’re not running away like a little bitch?”
I growl. “I’m not a little bitch.”
“Then, you’re not running away?”
“I need to be in California for a few weeks.”
Lucas crosses his arms over his chest and leans back into his seat. “Funny how your assistant, Dakota, claims this trip was sudden and she never planned any meetings for you.”
“You can’t blame me for wanting a break.”
“We can’t?” Hudson asks.
“Wouldn’t you want a break from Smuggler’s Hideaway if you discovered Nova was a liar who you couldn’t trust?”
He growls. “Caleb, I’m usurping you. I’m kicking his ass.”
Caleb shakes his head. “I called dibs on the way here.”
The pilot steps out of the cockpit. “Sir, would you like to delay your departure? ”
“If he knows what’s good for him, he won’t be departing at all,” Hudson grumbles.
“I need a few minutes,” I tell the pilot.
He nods and returns to the cockpit.
Caleb smiles. “It’s good you recognize how quickly I can kick your ass.”
“You’re ex-military—”
He growls. “Former military.”
“Former military,” I correct. “I keep in shape but I know my limitations.”
“Question.” Flynn raises his hand. “Does knowing his limitations mean he understands he’s an asshole?”
Lucas taps his cheek. “I don’t think so.”
“Do we explain what an asshole he is before or after Hudson and Caleb tear him into pieces?”
Lucas sighs. “No tearing from limb to limb. I can’t explain away bloodshed.”
“But you said we could beat him up,” Caleb practically pouts.
“Knock him around, give him a few bruises, but no bloodshed.”
“What about broken bones? I promise they won’t be compound fractures.” Caleb rakes his gaze over me.
I lock my muscles before I squirm in my seat. Guessing by the anger flaring in his eyes, Caleb is dead serious.
“You can’t beat me up because I broke up with Paisley,” I argue.
“Yes, we can,” Hudson says .
“It’ll be my pleasure.”
I admit it. Caleb is now officially scaring the fuck out of me.
“If we had known you wouldn’t treat Paisley with kid gloves, we would have never let you near her,” Flynn says. “Not after the way the wicked stepsisters and evil stepdad handled her.”
“Don’t forget her mom,” Hudson adds. “She lets her husband treat her daughter with malice. I will never allow anyone to treat Iliana badly. I’ll kill them first.”
Lucas sighs. “Can we cut out the talk of killing when I’m around?”
Hudson frowns at him. “You’re off duty.”
“Have you met my wife? I’m never off duty.”
Flynn nods. “It’s true. Your wife is a wild child.”
Lucas growls. “Not a wild child anymore.”
Flynn raises his hands in surrender. “I misspoke. She’s a troublemaker, not a wild child.”
Lucas grins. “She’s a troublemaker all right.”
“I still disagree with the use of prune juice,” Caleb says.
Lucas shrugs. “Chloe didn’t want Maya or Nova to feel left out.”
“Maya wouldn’t have felt left out. My shy bunny isn’t as shy anymore.”
Hudson chuckles. “Rumor has it she’s the one who suggested leaving Viking the otter in Eli’s house.”
I squirm in my seat. Viking is out to get me. The otter appears all sweet and cuddly but the second you turn your back, he bites you. He’s a mean little furball .
Flynn points to me. “Judging by how scared Eli is, we should have brought Viking with us.”
“I’m not scared.”
Caleb snorts. “And I’m not eagerly anticipating kicking your ass into the next state.”
“I have a plane. I’ll be in the next state shortly.”
“I guess we better buckle in.” Hudson digs for the seatbelt. “I don’t mind going for a test ride. I wonder if Nova would want one of these.”
“Nah.” Flynn shakes his head. “Nova isn’t interested in your money.”
“Unlike some women,” I mutter.
Silence falls and I realize I fucked up.
“Are you saying Paisley was after your money?” Hudson grumbles.
Flynn narrows his eyes on me. “The woman who wouldn’t accept a dime from her evil stepfather is a gold digger?”
Caleb rubs his hands together. “Can I hit him now?”
I snarl at him. “You can’t hit me because you don’t want to accept the truth.”
His eyes widen. “Accept the truth? I’m the one who doesn’t want to accept the truth?”
“I didn’t stutter, did I?”
“You know,” Lucas begins, “I don’t know if I should feel sorry for him. He’s obviously an idiot. Or turn around so you can tear him limb to limb.”
Hudson stands. “I vote tear him limb to limb. ”
Caleb unfolds from his seat and joins him. “Finally. We’re getting to the good part.”
I face them. I’m not a coward. I’m also in the right. They can beat me up as much as they want. It won’t change anything. Paisley is a liar who can’t be trusted.
Caleb narrows his eyes as he studies me. “Why does he appear all righteous?”
“Because he’s an idiot who still hasn’t learned he’s wrong,” Hudson answers.
“I am not wrong,” I seethe. “I heard what I heard.”
“Which is why you let Paisley explain what she meant when she confronted you. Like I said. Idiot.” Hudson shakes his head.
I fist my hands. “How else am I supposed to interpret I don’t want Eli to find out. No one can tell him other than Paisley is keeping secrets from me and is not to be trusted?”
“You were right when you said he’s an idiot,” Flynn mutters.
“Fucking idiot,” Lucas adds.
Caleb stabs my chest. “Paisley’s planning a surprise birthday party for you. She knows you don’t enjoy celebrating your birthday, so she wanted to surprise you. She knew you wouldn’t agree to a party.”
My mouth falls open. “What?”
Hudson sighs. “Everyone on the island knows your dad left right before your sixteenth birthday.”
I flinch.
He squeezes my shoulder. “Paisley wanted to turn a bad memory into a good one. ”
I study their faces. Are they being serious? No one tries to hide from me or glance away. They all meet my gaze full on.
“Paisley asked her friends for help because she’s not much of a party planner,” Lucas says.
My feet won’t hold me. I collapse in my chair. “I fucked up.”
“Does this mean we can’t beat him up?” Caleb asks.
“I deserve for you to kick my ass.” After the way I treated Paisley, I deserve all the shit they can send my way and more.
Caleb sits next to me. “It’s no fun when you accept it.”
I run a hand down my face. “What am I going to do?”
“Do you want Paisely?” Lucas asks.
“I love her. She’s my whole world.”
I’ve been terrified to say those words. To admit my feelings for Paisley. And my terror led me to lose her.
Crap. I’ve lost the woman I love. The woman I can’t live without. The woman I don’t want to live without.
“Let’s make a plan to get her back then,” Caleb says.
“It’s too late. I destroyed her.”
He claps me on the shoulder. “If Maya can forgive me for what I did, Paisley will forgive you.”
I shake my head. “Maya is sweet and loves you.”
“And Paisley loves you.”
“She never said.”
He snorts. “And you told her how you feel?”
I don’t answer since he’s right. I’ve been lying to myself about how much I love her. Naturally, I didn’t give her the words she needs to hear.
I drop my face into my hands. “What am I going to do? ”
“First, you’re going to tell the pilot you’re not flying to California,” Hudson says.
“Then,” Lucas adds, “we’re going to figure out a plan.”
I cringe. “A grand gesture? I’m not a grand gesture kind of guy.”
“Do you want Paisley back or are you going to be a whiney little bitch?” Flynn asks.
I glare at him. I’m not a whiney little bitch. “Fine. But someone else has to come up with the plan.”
“No problem.” He rubs his hands together. “I’m engaged to Sophia. I’ve learned a few tricks.”
Lucas scoffs. “I’m married to Chloe. I’ll take your few tricks and raise you a pocketful of ideas.”
While they brainstorm ideas, I stand and walk to the cockpit. There’s no way I’m going to California if there’s a chance I can win Paisley back.
Paisley. My chest aches and I rub a hand over it. I let my fears guide me. I should have just listened to her when she tried to explain. But I was too scared to hear what I thought the truth was.
No matter. I’m going to win my Lace back and then I’m never letting her go again.