Chapter Sixteen
Aideen
Comet buckled first and told me I needed to pack warm clothes, but also, they had bought me some special things for the trip.
“What? Are we going to Antarctica?” I asked, laughing.
Comet didn’t laugh back.
He opened up during phone conversations, I’d learned. He called me late at night, almost every night, and talked to me until I fell asleep.
“Not Antarctica,” he responded. I heard Blitz in the background telling him not to give any more information away. “It’s cold, okay?”
“Will you keep me warm?” The question slipped from my mouth before I could stop it. “Goddess, that was not the way I wanted it to sound.”
“It sounded great, female.” Yeah, he had taken to calling me that too. They all did now.
I took Thursday and the next Monday off to make it a four-day weekend. It was approved almost immediately. The last time I’d asked for time off was more than six months ago.
I’d finished packing early Thursday morning and went through my mail to pass the time.
Erin was having a baby, it seemed, and I got an invitation to the baby shower that was still eight months out. Another invitation for a five-year anniversary party for my brother. More like that.
It was my time to have a life, too, and it started today.
A small part of me was nervous, but I figured if they wanted to do anything nefarious to me, then they would’ve done it the weekend before.
And my gut said they would never hurt me. They were set to pick me up at eight and, by the time that hour rolled around, I was pacing the floor, having dressed almost an hour before. I was nervous. Excited Anxious.
The butterflies in my stomach wouldn’t let me eat anything.
When they knocked on the door, I nearly jumped out of my skin. I answered the door to find Dash there, and he didn’t ask permission to wrap me up in a hug. He didn’t have to. I had to start trusting in what was. “This has been the longest week ever,” he said, smiling at me.
“Same here. Are we ready?”
He nodded and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “We are more than ready. Is that all you’re bringing?” He ticked his chin at my suitcase. It was a big one. I thought perhaps I’d packed too much.
“That’s it. Did I under pack?”
“It doesn’t matter. If you need something, we can get it for you there.”
“Where?” I teased.
“No, ma’am. You’re not getting it out of me. We had to tell Comet not to call you last night. He was chomping at the bit to tell you. Can’t keep water on his stomach, that one.”
Damn it. I should’ve called him, but I was too tired.
“I’ll remember that.”
“Let’s go. We have a flight to catch.”
Dash took my suitcase and held it like it was nothing, while I’d had to roll it with some grunts mixed into the effort.
Comet and Blitz greeted me at the car and I got a warm hug from both of them. Blitz took my hands in his on the way to the airport. He said he could smell my nervousness and he hoped it wasn’t about them.
“No, it’s about the trip. Flying isn’t my favorite.” Comet and Dash covered their mouths. “Did I say something funny?”
“No,” Blitz said, widening his eyes as he looked at his friends. “They have big mouths and want to tell you where we’re going.”
I nailed Dash with my own stare. “You said it was Comet who wanted to tell me.”
Comet smacked him on the arm. “It was him and me. Blitz made us swear to secrecy.”
We rode in a nice sedan with a driver. Inside was like a mini limousine. Blitz held my hands until the airport came into view. Then the real nerves kicked in.
“Hey, it’s okay. We’re going to have a good time, I promise. Trust me?” Comet held me in his arms while Dash checked us in. It was the most affection I’d gotten from him thus far. I needed to get nervous more often.
“Yes.” I looked up at him. “I do.”
“Good. We trust you too. That’s why we’re sharing this…”
“Zip it, Comet. She’ll find out soon enough. Next time, I’m keeping the plans all to myself. You two are hopeless.” Blitz came over and winked at me.
“No security lines?” I asked as we zipped to the side of everyone else and were checked and on our way.
“Nope. We have special clearance.”
Huh. These men got more elusive by the second. We didn’t wait very long. Comet was allowed to tell me that we were traveling on a large plane, followed by a small one and then an unorthodox mode of travel. Again, he swore I’d like it.
They were right so far. Even though I hadn’t traveled much, being with them was worth having the new experience.
Comet and Dash sat on either side of me for the first flight and talked to me the whole time.
They had a list of questions on their phones they wanted to ask me in person instead of over text or the phone.
I thought they made that up to keep my mind occupied and also so they didn’t blab about where we were going.
I took Comet’s phone and asked him back the same questions and did the same for Dash. By the time the plane landed, it felt like we had just taken off.
We weren’t at our final destination, but outside the window was nothing but snow, snow, and more snow.