21. Taylor
Twenty-One
Taylor
Normally, I would’ve wondered if Theo was talking about me, but there’s nothing he can say to Jake that he doesn’t already know. Past drama is a bucket with a hole. It promises nothing but emptiness, and thank fuck Jake knows this. He doesn’t hold it against me, he doesn’t obsess over it and question it every chance he gets.
It’s after eight when my plane gets in which doesn’t give me a ton of time to catch up with my family. And just like always, when I make my way down to the exit of the Minneapolis airport, my dad is waiting for me with a huge smile on his face.
It’s something he has done ever since I showed an interest in flying at age ten. He took me to my first flight lesson and told me that day that once I became a pilot, he’d be waiting for me when I land. And it was not just in Minneapolis, but in plenty of other places I flew to. Sometimes he’d surprise me and other times he’d schedule it with me, but when he could, he would be there.
Today is no different, and as I ride the elevator down, I’m grateful for his dedication and his support all these years.
“Hey, Dad,” I call out, waving and suddenly feeling like I’m sixteen again. Being home makes me happy, and pair that with my new relationship with Jake and things feel like they’re going really well.
“Hey, Taylor,” my dad says, pulling me in for a hug as he grabs my bag. “Ten hours isn’t long. Where are we eating, and what are we doing?”
A conversation with Jake hits me and I smile.
“White Castle, and let’s just go home so I can see Mom too.”
“Sounds good.”
The car isn’t parked far, and we climb in, a comfortable silence taking over as we leave the garage. But it doesn’t take long for the conversation to turn toward what we both have in common: cars.
“I was hanging out with a guy who has a sixty Corvette, Dad.”
“Oh really?” The way his voice goes up at the end makes me wonder if he’s surprised by the Corvette or by the fact that I was spending time with a guy. “Tell me about it.”
“The car or the guy?”
“Both.”
I start with Jake because that will interest my dad less. Generally speaking, he doesn’t like the guys I date, because he mostly thinks they don’t deserve me. It’s sweet, but sometimes it feels like he puts me on an unnecessary pedestal. His expectations of the men I date are far higher than mine, and even those are pretty high already.
“He was my first officer, and we were on a flight to Sydney together. He grew up there and had the car in storage. Dad, you would’ve loved it. Mint condition, no mods…”
“No mods, huh? Sounds like a decent guy.”
I laugh out loud, loving that my dad judges someone by whether they’ve had work done to a classic car.
“He’s pretty good. Honestly, I think you’d like him. He was in the Air Force. Good work ethic.” I pause, and for a second, I wonder how much I really want to say. Things are so new, and it’s been a while since I’ve felt this way about someone. A part of me worries that if I say it out loud, it will all go to shit.
I lived in what I liked to call a surface relationship for so long. Everything looked good on the surface, but underneath it all, it was a big mess. Trent was cheating on me, and it felt like everyone but me knew it. He amassed a shitload of gambling debt on secret credit cards, and when our divorce was in mediation, he tried to get me to pay half. He went after Girls in the Sky, and it wasn’t until the shit hit the fan that what we projected on the surface crumbled.
It was embarrassing because we were known as a power couple at Crescent Airways, as a couple who were making things work despite the distance and the time we spent apart. It was all a lie, and to make up for it, I pretended our marriage ended because we both missed that single lifestyle. To make up for the time I missed and because I literally didn’t give a fuck about what people thought, I did what Trent did throughout our marriage. I slept with whoever I wanted.
“It’s new, though,” I add, and my dad nods his head.
“Sounds a helluva lot better than that prick Trent.” I can hear the harsh snap in my dad’s voice, still present after all these years. He’s been calling him “that prick” for as long as I can remember, and it still makes me chuckle. He’s obviously a better judge of character than me.
I shrug my shoulders. “He’s still a prick, but at least he’s not my problem anymore.”
My dad pulls into the White Castle drive-thru and orders far more food than necessary especially given it’s nearly nine p.m.
“Your mom doesn’t eat meat now,” my dad states, with an annoyance lingering in his tone. “She eats this plant-based burger from here. It’s actually really good, but don’t tell her I said that.”
“Your secret is safe with me and when you come visit, we can eat In-N-Out Burger every day.”
We pull into the driveway, and even though my parents don’t still live in the house I grew up in, it still feels like home when I come back. It’s quiet and away from the craziness of not really having a home. There’s stability here, there’s calm and there’s support.
“Taylor’s dating some guy with a Corvette,” my dad announces when we walk in, and my palm hits my face.
My mom looks up from the book she’s reading, and I expect her to hit me with the questions, but she takes one look at the White Castle bag and lays into my dad.
“Jesus, Jim. You know we’re cutting down on our meat consumption. Your cholesterol is through the roof.”
“You might be cutting back, but I never signed on for it. And did you hear what I said? Taylor’s got a boyfriend.”
I feel like I’m back in high school again. I’m thirty-one years old, and my dad is announcing to my mom that I have a boyfriend. I’m now reminded why I make my trips through Minnesota so brief.
“Oh yay!” my mom squeals, clapping her hands and hopping off the couch before she pulls me into a hug. “So tell me about him.”
“Doesn’t anyone say hello? I disappear for months at a time, and all you’re interested in is some guy that might never amount to anything.” Even as the words leave my mouth, they sting. I know they’re not true and maybe it’s my attempt at protecting myself if this whole thing does go south.
My mom rolls her eyes, letting out a scoff. She says, “You wouldn’t have mentioned him if it was nothing. It’s been years with no mention of a guy since…” She trails off, not saying Trent’s name. Both my parents have put him on their shit list, and even though I’m a grown-ass adult, they’ll still side with me regardless.
“He’s a pilot…”
“Another one, Taylor?” my mom cuts in, and I roll my eyes. I’m not sure why I bother.
“He’s different.” I stop there, not elaborating on why because sometimes I want to keep things to myself. At my age my parents do not need to know my reasons.
“As long as he recognizes your determination and respects what you do, that’s all that matters. That prick…”
“Dad, enough. And yes, he does those things. He came with me to Girls in the Sky and helped me for the day.”
“Could never say that about Trent,” my dad mutters, shrugging his shoulders as he walks into the kitchen. “Was only interested when he thought it could make him some money, that prick.”
I let out a low, humorless laugh, scrubbing a hand down my face. I walk into the extra bedroom, toting my bag, just as my phone chimes out.
Carrie: Guess who came by the hangar the other day??? ;)
Me: IDK
Carrie: Seriously? I figured he would’ve used it as material to get on your good side.
Me: Jake???
Carrie: Yes Jake. Who else would I be talking about?
Me: He’s already on my good side. And remind me to tell you about Hawaii. I’m back in MN and going to bed soon.
Carrie: Well, then him showing up here and helping with the flight school just goes to show you he’s a pretty great guy.
Me: Yeah, he is.
I look down at the time on my phone, trying to figure out what time it is in Singapore and if he’s even there right now. Throwing caution to the wind, I call him and listen as the phone rings awkwardly, the tone nothing like that of the US.
Just as I’m about to hang up, I hear Jake’s breathy voice say, “Taylor?”
“Yeah, hi. You okay?”
“Yeah, totally fine. We literally just landed, and we were saying goodbye to the passengers when I heard my phone ringing.”
“You didn’t have to rush to answer it. You could’ve called me back. It’s okay.”
“I know that, but I wanted to talk to you.”
I can hear the people deplaning as we talk, their voices humming in the background as the flight attendants and the other pilot monotonously bid their farewells, every so often varying their choice of words.
“How’s it going at your parents’ house?” Jake asks and I can hear him shuffling around in the cockpit. I can practically picture him gathering his things and getting ready to exit.
“Oh, as good as can be expected. I made the mistake of telling them I was dating someone and they’re a bit more interested than I would like.”
“ You admitted you were dating someone? Holy shit, knock me over. I figured that would be something that would be saved for our own private conversations.”
“You’re a shithead, Jake.”
“You love it, Taylor,” he says, my name a murmur on his tongue, a sensuality to it that makes my body buzz.
“I do and I would think you’d want to wait until you get back to your hotel room to get me all hot and bothered. I’m about to crawl into bed…naked.”
“Don’t tease, Taylor. I’m not where this can happen,” Jake warns, but all it does is add fuel to my fire.
“But Jake,” I whine, letting out a low moan as I wet my lips. “I’m lonely and horny and just hearing your voice makes my panties…”
“Taylor!” my mother’s shrill voice calls out, the bedroom door swinging open as I chuck the phone onto the bed.
“Jesus Christ! What, Mom?” I’m practically panting, my heart slamming into my chest and I’m pretty sure this surge of adrenaline is going to register on my FitBit as exercise. It may have even pushed my heart rate up to heart attack level.
“Your dad and I are going to bed,” she says, as if her shouting my name seems like the appropriate way to tell me this.
“Okay, I’ll see you in the morning. My flight leaves at eight, so I need to be gone by six.”
“We’ll be up. And tell the boy you’re talking to that we said hello.”
“Good night, Mom.”
Why the hell is it like I’m living my teenage years all over again? I’m staying in a hotel next time I’m in town.
I run a hand through my hair, my heart rate finally returning to normal when I remember I tossed Jake onto the bed and left him there.
I scramble for my phone, flopping down on the bed as I grab it. “Jake?”
“Yep, I’m still here.”
“Did you hear all that?” I can feel the flush creeping up my neck and spreading to my cheeks, and even though he can’t see me, my eyes are still scrunched closed.
“I did and you can tell your mum I said hello too.”
“Damn it,” I mutter, but it makes Jake laugh a little. “Why don’t you call me when you get to your hotel, and you can fill me in on your flight?”
“I can already fill you in on my flight. It was long and boring without you.”
“Are you always this perfect?” I ask, wondering how in the hell I scored this guy because he sure had his pick of every flight attendant at Crescent Airways.
“I thought we were past the questions, beautiful girl?”
I switch gears because the further we get into this conversation the more likely it is that it will take a turn toward serious and I’m not sure I’m ready for that.
“A little birdie told me that you showed up at a certain Santa Monica Airport hangar. Trying to impress a girl?”
“She can’t keep a secret, can she?” Jake lets out a mock exasperated sigh. “I’m not trying to impress a girl at all. I’m trying to figure out how she manages it all. Trying to learn from the best because one day I hope to be as headstrong and independent and successful as she is.”
I fall silent, his words sinking in, filling my head and settling themselves in my heart.