I try to ignore the knot of guilt in my stomach as I zip up my suitcase.
Ronan workson his laptop the entire car ride to the airport, which bugs me more than it should. Even when we’re making our way through security, he’s either on the phone or checking emails, barely acknowledging I’m even there.
I shouldn’t be surprised, yet a tiny part of me had hoped that his attention would be solely focused on me for the duration of this trip.
Once again, I find myself disappointed that Ronan Sullivan isn’t living up to expectations he has no business living up to.
When we finally settle into our first-class seats, I try not to look too impressed, but I’ve actually never flown first class before. Ronan and I have two seats together in the center aisle, and there’s so much legroom that I can completely stretch out as I enjoy a movie on the screen in front of me while I’m supplied with endless glasses of champagne.
Suddenly, I’m looking forward to the prospect of sitting next to Ronan for the next six hours.
I pull out my phone and send a message to Mila to let her know I’ll be out of town for a few days, but as I click out of our text thread, my eyes land on Callum’s name, and I stiffen.
I still haven’t decided whether to bring up the conversation I had with my brother to Ronan or not. I’m completely stuck in the middle.
If Ronan finds out I knew Callum was planning something, he’d never let me hear the end of it. But at the same time, I can’t just throw Callum to the wolves…
“You okay?”
I blink, glancing to my right to see Ronan watching me closely. “Yeah.”
I quickly turn my phone off.
“I don’t believe you.”
“You don’t have to.” I fiddle with my seatbelt.
The plane rumbles as we taxi to the runway.
I keep my eyes forward, trying to focus on my breathing as my entire body vibrates in my seat as the engines ramp up.
Now that I’m actually on the plane, all of the emotions I’ve been feeling toward Ronan disappear and leave me with the one emotion I had been hoping to avoid.
Fear.
“Ciara.” Ronan places a hand on my arm, but I instantly pull away from his touch as my pulse spikes.
“I’m fine.” I dig my nails into the armrest as the plane starts to pick up speed.
“You look the picture of ease.”
I turn to glare at Ronan, but I’m surprised when there’s no amusement dancing in his dark eyes, only concern.
“Talk to me.” His voice is low and surprisingly soothing.
The sound of the engines roaring fills my ears and suddenly all thoughts of Callum and Ronan empty from my brain, replaced by the unrelenting fear that I’m in a metal box that’s about to hurtle through the sky.
“Oh, god.” I screw my eyes shut.
I’d hoped the novelty of being in first class would be enough to distract me from my terror of flying, but it seems my naivety was short-lived.
“Ciara.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat as I try not to focus on the feeling of the plane lifting off the ground.
“I just... I hate flying.” A cold sweat breaks out on the back of my neck.
“You’re afraid of flying?”
