“I’ll meet you there,” she says as I zip up my suitcase, and I give her a hug as we both head out for the long weekend.
I’mlast to the airport since I had to get a ride share. So I’m sweaty and handing my belongings to the attendant before grabbing my seat next to Gavin. Ben and Lincoln sit next to each other, facing us. I grew up with this luxury, but I’m not sure the fact our family owns a plane will ever truly sink in.
“Thought we were going to have to leave you,” Gavin jokes.
Probably would have been for the best, but there was no way I was leaving Jessa alone with this pack of wolves.
I look at Lincoln, but he just stares out the window.
“Well, I made it.”
“So, what’s his new girlfriend like?” Ben asks, wiggling his eyebrows.
“She’s a literal fucking angel. So if any of you are mean to her, I’ll stab you in your sleep.”
Lincoln glances at me for a second, but then goes back to being gloomy and looking out the window. I fucking hate it.
I miss his smiles, his hugs, the way we would joke together. I look around the plane at where my parents and aunt and uncle are sitting and taking a breath. I’m protecting all of this. I’m keeping the family together.
It doesn’t matter what I want.
“I mean, she’s gotta be able to hang,” Gavin jokes next to me.
I roll my eyes at him and he just stares right back.
“She can hang, just don’t scare her off. She’s sweet and Aiden really cares about her.”
“Must be nice,” Lincoln grumbles, his palm against his chin, still looking out the window.
“Hopefully this asshole turns his frown upside down soon,” Ben says, grabbing Lincoln by the neck and squeezing his face, trying to make him smile.
“Get the hell off of me.”
“You need a cocktail or something?” Ben asks, pulling away.
“No,” Lincoln replies sharply.
I swallow back the bile filling up in the back of my throat. This wasn’t what I wanted. None of this was. The only thing I can do is give him distance and hope that maybe after some time passes these feelings will slowly dissipate.
“There’s mold in the extra bedroom. So unfortunately we’re going to have to double up in rooms,” my aunt Maggie says. She leans forward looking past Gavin. “Penny, honey, you don’t mind sharing with Lincoln do you?”
My eyes widen with the use of honey, but I just shake my head.
“Great. The twins can sleep on the top bunk of the double and Aiden and his girlfriend can share the bottom. Lincoln and Penny can sleep in the smaller room with the twin bed and futon.”
I swallow and look over at Lincoln.
He doesn’t even react to the conversation. But what was I supposed to say? No, please put me somewhere else because I’m sort of in love with Lincoln but also pushing him away because I know this will all end so fucking badly.
Nothing good can come out of us sharing a room together.Nothing.
Lincolnand I are putting our things in our room. I’m waiting for Jessa to get here so there isn’t as much tension.
He doesn’t speak as he throws his suitcase on the futon, giving me the bed.
“Lincoln,” I whisper his name.
“Don’t,” he says back, not even looking at me.
