Chapter 43
CHAPTER 43
OLIVIA
T he plane ride to New York was possibly the most fun I’d ever had on a flight. I’d ended up next to Charlie and Colt, and I definitely wasn’t mad about it. Up in first class, London was a couple rows ahead of us with Liam and Dad, who’d wanted to go over some things with her about a project he was handing over to them in the near future. Lacey had elected to sit with Dallas, the two of them talking quietly with their heads bent close and lots of giggling.
Meanwhile, Colt and Charlie were discussing New York as if it was a place from another planet. Something that had apparently started on their way to the airport.
“Apparently, there are places where you can go shopping at like, three in the morning,” Colt said, forehead puckering as if he was struggling to make sense of it. “Why would anyone want to do that?”
I chuckled. “You’ve been to twenty-four-hour stores in Houston. And sometimes, when you work late, you still want to pick up some groceries on your way home.”
“Who works until three a.m.? You’re supposed to be waking up then, not going shopping. Also, what do they need groceries for?” he shot back instantly. “People there don’t have kitchens.”
“Uh, we don’t?” Quiet laughter bubbled out of me as I tilted my head at him. “Where in the world did you hear that people in New York don’t have kitchens?”
“Dallas,” Charlie supplied helpfully from my other side. I had to admit, I’d had worse seatmates than two gorgeous cowboys, one of whom had his leg pressed against mine the entire time and kept making shivers run through me. “Colt isn’t convinced that it’s true because he’s watched a TV show about somebody’s mother in which there was a kitchen.”
I covered my face with my palms and chuckled into them. “Oh, I am in for a treat with you guys this week, aren’t I? This is going to be so much fun. Have you never been there?”
Colt shook his head. “Didn’t plan on ever going either, but here I am. I wouldn’t mind seeing Tahiti, though.”
“Tahiti is nothing like New York,” I pointed out.
He smirked at me. “That’s why I want to go there, sweetheart.”
As the term of endearment left his mouth, a quiet, growling noise came from Charlie’s direction and my heart fluttered, but I didn’t call him out on it. Shifting in my seat to face him, I met his gaze and cocked an eyebrow. “What about you? Didn’t you say you’d been there before?”
“I have, but not for this long,” he said like it didn’t even matter. The nonchalance seemed practiced, though, like it wasn’t genuine.
That, I called him out on. “What does that mean?”
“I’ve never slept there.” He exhaled sharply through his nostrils. “In and out. Always. As fast as I could.”
I stared at him. “In and out?”
“Yep. Never more than a few hours. From the airport, to whatever I had to be there for, and back to the airport.”
“You’ve never done any sightseeing?”
“Nope. I saw what I needed to see.”
I frowned. “Why not?”
“Never wanted to.” He glanced at the window and refocused on me, expression softening. “I never had any reason to want to stay. I meant what I said about this visit, though.”
As he said it, he grazed his fingertips across my forearm and I shivered again. Colt rolled his eyes so hard when he noticed, I swore I almost heard the movement.
“Knock off the lovey-dovey shit, guys,” he pleaded. “Don’t make me call the flight attendant.”
My heart skipped. Lovey-dovey? I think I like the sound of that.
Not about to ask the cowboy himself if it was true, I turned back to his brother instead. “What other things have you heard about New York?”
Colt perked up. “Alligators in the sewers.”
“Debunked,” I said.
“Hold on to your wallets,” he said. “Lots of crime.”
“Not anymore, surprisingly,” I told him.
“Oh, and the hot dogs are made from horse meat,” he said.
“Okay, that one might be true,” I said, grinning. “Use lots of mustard. That’s my advice.”
Colt shrugged his big shoulders. “I’ve eaten truck stop burritos and survived. Food is the one thing I’m not worried about.”
“You don’t need to worry at all. It’s a good town.” I shook my head.
“I guess I’ll see when I get there,” he said. “How about you? Think you’ll want to be back there to stay once you’ve visited again?”
The question didn’t give me pause the way it might’ve when I first got to Houston. “I absolutely love New York, but I’m finding myself falling hard for Texas.”
What I didn’t add was that Charlie was a big part of the reason why. I could easily see myself falling in love with him. If I’m not already.
In response, Colt started listing all the things that made him think Texas was better, with Charlie backing him up more often than not. The highlights were barbecue, sunsets, and ladies in cowboy hats. I listened, laughing with them, but also really aware of the fact that Charlie was right next to me. Too bad I hadn’t brought my hat with me.
Upon our arrival in New York, Dad had cars waiting for us. While the guys would be staying at the same hotel, Dad had decided to send us girls ahead and drop the men at the hotel himself on his way home. I’d had the option to stay with him and my mom at our family’s house, but I’d chosen to sleep at the hotel where we would be hosting the conference instead.
All the action would be happening there and I wouldn’t have to commute every day. Lacey and London climbed into the car with me, both having made the same choice I had for accommodations while we were here.
My sister relaxed back in the leather seat after buckling up. Releasing a happy sigh, she stared out the window. “Home sweet home. Isn’t it amazing to be back?”
“Regretting the move?” I teased, but deep down, I was afraid that she was.
Thankfully, she shook her head. “Nah, I’m not regretting anything. Just appreciating the familiar, you know? Sometimes, I feel like an alien in Texas. I still like it, but there’s something comforting about being back home.”
“Preach,” Lacey agreed, then quickly slid her gaze to mine. “I’m not regretting my decision either. I’m loving Houston. I have been feeling a little homesick, though. This trip will help.”
“Fair enough,” I agreed, finally turning my own gaze toward the window and drinking in the familiar skyline. Light gray clouds covered the tops of the skyscrapers in the distance. “It is good to be back, but in a few days, I think we’re going to be just as relieved when we arrive in Texas.”
London chuckled. “Also true. My only complaint is that I don’t know why Liam had to come.”
“The entire executive team is flying in today. He’s part of that.” I leaned back against my chair. “Don’t worry, I’m sure we won’t be seeing much of him.”
Our car wound through the traffic to the fancy hotel right in the center of downtown where we would be staying. There was music and lights, tons of people all around, and fantastic-smelling food wafting through the air on our way into the lobby.
Our first night was to get everyone settled in and ready for the week ahead, and I was glad to have the time to adjust before the conference started. I just wished Charlie could’ve been with me right then. I would have loved to hear his first take on the city as more of a tourist.
As we made our way into the lobby, we spotted a few familiar faces and quickly said our hellos, but excused ourselves to check in before we could get caught up. The girls and I found the room we would be sharing, a beautiful suite that had a balcony overlooking Broadway. Abi was coming to join us as well, and I couldn’t wait for her to get here.
Lacey, London, and I made our way inside, and I chuckled when Lacey looked around the room and squealed. “This is amazing! I love it!”
London crossed over to the minibar and extracted a couple small bottles of champagne. “A toast to being home?”
Lacey took a flying leap onto one of the king-sized beds and burrowed into the thick, luxurious bedding before she propped herself up on her elbows and nodded. “Let’s do it. The girls are back in town, baby!”
I laughed. “You heard her. Let’s do it.”
London opened the champagne and poured us each some, electing to drink hers straight out of the tiny bottle. I walked over to the sliding doors leading to the balcony and pushed them open. Stepping out into the late afternoon air, I took a deep breath and let the familiar noises of the city wash over me.
I looked out at the place where I’d been born and raised. They were right. It really is good to be home.
London walked out onto the balcony, offering me a glass filled to the brim with bubbly. She glanced at the twinkling lights all around and smiled. “Abi should be here soon. Traffic.”
I smiled and nodded. “Now there’s one thing I don’t miss.”
My phone beeped with a text. My gaze skimmed across the screen and I abandoned my champagne on the little round table on the balcony. I hadn’t even taken a sip yet, but I shot across the room, only looking back once on my way to the door to call to London.
“She’s already here! She ditched the cab and walked.”
My sister’s entire face lit up with a smile, and then she was running too. The pair of us took off like little kids, running down the hall and practically tackling Abigail in a hug when the elevator doors slid open just ahead of us.
This had been the longest we’d ever been apart, and I’d missed her like crazy. I threw my arms around her and pulled her to me, feeling like a missing piece of my soul had been returned.