Seeing Alistair with him reminded me of how cute they were together. “I’m not sure who you missed more, me or the cat.”
“Obviously you, but he’s a close second. Stick your bag under here.” He set Remi’s carrier on the floor and slid it under the seat in front of us, and I did the same with my backpack.
Now that we were seated, the fact that I was about to embark on my first plane ride started to sink in.
I gripped the armrest, my fingers digging into the soft leather.
“Hey,” he said, those deep eyes ladened with concern. “Everything is going to be fine.”
He placed his hand on top of mine and gave it a tight squeeze, grounding me and quelling some of my anxiety.
“It’s nerve-wracking. How much longer until takeoff?”
“It won’t be long now. Just gotta wait for everyone else to board, sweetheart.” He picked up my hand and placed a soft kiss on my knuckles. “Thank you for doing this for me. It means a lot.”
I snorted, and his smile widened. “Oh yes, I’m doing you such a favor when you paid for everything and flew all the way out here to get me.”
“It’s the thought, though. Of you conquering your fear because I needed to see you.”
This time I picked up our hands and kissed his knuckles. “I needed to see you too.”
For the first time in a month, it was like we were a real couple. Not that we weren’t before, but it made me realize how important a physical connection was.
How had I lived all those years with Don and been indifferent to his touch? With Alistair, I couldn’t get enough.
We waited patiently while everyone boarded the plane, with Alistair telling me stories about his various trips to distract me from the impending takeoff.
The sign to fasten your seatbelt flashed, and I clicked mine into place, tightening the belt until it dug into the rolls of my stomach. The stewardess started the safety protocol and I pulled out the brochure to follow along. Alistair looked over at me and shook his head, obviously amused.
At least one of us would know where the emergency doors were located.
As soon as the stewardess sat down, the plane started to move.
“Ready?” Alistair asked with one of his signature lopsided smiles.
“About as ready as I’ll ever be,” I grated out.
The plane continued down the runway, rattling slightly as it picked up speed.
“Holy goddess,” I whispered and clamped my eyes shut, refusing to look as it began to ascend.
“Everything is a-okay. Just the normal takeoff turbulence. Nothing to worry about,” he reassured me, his voice calm and even.
From anyone else, it would have been useless, but from Alistair? I believed it.
The rumbling stopped, replaced by an airy, weightless feeling.
“We’re up in the air now, Pam,” he whispered. “Why don’t you open your eyes.”
I eased my grip on the armrest, squinting one eye open and then the other. Gazing out the window, I watched as we passed through a thick layer of fluffy clouds and settled in the clear blue sky above them.
“Beautiful,” I mumbled with my face pressed against the window.
Alistair leaned over as much as his seatbelt would allow. “This makes it worth it, doesn’t it?”
“Maybe, but I’ll let you know for sure once we’re safely back on the ground.”
There was a soft ping, and the stewardess spoke over the intercom. “You may now access your carry-ons. Feel free to connect to the in-flight Wi-Fi, but please keep your devices on airplane mode.”
