“You’ve been quiet,” Paisley says, poking me in the side. “I thought we were going to have fun on this plane ride. Gossip, trade Bellini horror stories, look at pictures of Reese on my phone.”
I smile apologetically. “Sorry, just have some things on my mind.”
Paisley wiggles her eyebrows. “Things? Or thing. You can just tell me, it’s Hollis, isn’t it?”
Well, Hollis has been on my mind, but he hasn’t been the one who’s been weighing heavily on my heart.
“No, something else,” I answer somberly.
“What is it? You’re going to have to tell me, as we are on this plane for a long time together. I will bother you until you do.” I know she’s right about that. Plus, she’s very chipper about heading to Rio to not only see Reese swim, but to actually see him. I wish I could same about the Hollis, but whenever I think of seeing him, my gut twists in my stomach. Not talking to him hasn’t helped.
Giving in, I say, “I saw my dad the other day.”
“By your tone, I’m taking that as a bad thing.”
“You could say that. I haven’t seen him since I was six, just about to turn seven. He was with his new family.”
“Really? Oh, shit, I’m sorry, Melony. That couldn’t have been easy.”
I shrug my shoulders, trying to act like it wasn’t that big of a deal. “Just odd, you know?” Not wanting to dig too deep into my daddy issues, I say, “You don’t see someone for so long and when you do, the picture you had of them in your mind is completely different.”
“Yeah, I can see how that is weird. Was he much older?”
“Much,” I answer. He was much older, and he seemed happier, as if his first daughter wasn’t good enough, but his second? Nowshewas who he’d hoped for in a child.
I swallow down the emotions that want to bubble to the surface.
“I’m sorry. I’m taking it you didn’t go say hi.”
I chuckle. “Not so much. He looked in my direction but didn’t even recognize me. He’s never been the best dad. I’ve always felt very insignificant.” Shit, why did I just say that?
Mustering up a pep talk, Paisley knocks her fold-down tray and says, “Well, fuck him. That’s what I think. Fuck him.”
“Yeah, fuck him,” I say with way less gusto than Paisley, but it seems to appease her nonetheless.
“Now tell me about Hollis. Are you two an item?” To my knowledge, we haven’t told anyone about our relationship. The only person that should technically know is my mom. Hollis might have told his family, who knows, but friends, they don’t know. At least I hope they don’t.
“There isn’t much to say about Hollis,” I answer vaguely.
“Oh no you don’t. There is something. What’s going on with you two?”
I shrug. “I don’t know.” She gives me a knowing look. “He really likes me.”
“And do you really like him?” Paisley is leaning forward, waiting on bated breath for my answer. Ugh, she’s one of those people. When she’s in a relationship, she wants everyone to be in a relationship. “Come on, Melony. Give me something.”
Sighing into my seat, I say, “Yes, I like him.”
She practically pops out of her seat and cheers. “Oh, this is fantastic. I knew you would. I mean, how could you not? The man is a walking piece of sex and those abs . . .” She fans her face. “Don’t get me wrong. Reese is the hottest man I’ve ever seen, but Hollis is a close second.”
Reese is hot, like really sexy, but I would have to disagree. There is something about Hollis that edges him out. Maybe it’s his charm, his cocky swagger, or the fact that he both stakes a claim in being a romantic and takes pride in it.
God, I feel so sick to my stomach.
“So what are you going to do about it? Does he know? Are you going to date? Oh, I bet he would be amazing in bed. I wonder what his dick size is, probably a grower. What do you think?”
Her onslaught of questions makes my head swim as nausea starts to settle deeply in my stomach. My mouth begins to water, a sweat breaks out on my skin, and I know if I don’t get out of this seat right now, I’m going to throw up in aisle thirty-two right now.
“Excuse me,” I say, bolting out of my chair and back to the bathroom where I make it just in time to throw up in the small compartment they call a restroom.
