“Yes, please.”
“I’ll bring it right over.”
Callie has taken my spot next to Julian and is in an animated conversation—about content, I hope. I take the seat on the other side of the plane directly across from them. As I settle in, I look up at the click I hear. Austin “Auz” is snapping shots of our flight. He aims his lens atme, and I smile self-consciously. He doesn’t click until I start to look away.
“Going for natural, unposed stuff,” he explains.
I smile again and nod as the flight attendant, Trina, hands me a tall bubbling glass.
The first sip tickles my nose and puckers my lips. It’s delicious. I open the Kindle in my hand. It’s been a while since I lost myself in a book. I always have a book loaded and ready to read—several actually—but I haven’t found time to unplug into a fictional world lately. And since I don’t have any new releases cued up, I open my comfort book and begin to read. I could’ve journaled, but the drink in my hand is giving vacation vibes, so I indulge. I really do need to update my go-to comfort book. This one is over thirty years old. I turn to chapter three right away to begin on my favoritefirstchapter.If I’d written it, I would’ve started here.
This book really is outdated now, but maybe that’s what I like about it: The simplicity of the characters not having social media and cell phones and text conversations. Content and branding and highlight reel lifestyles. I feel it first. Before I even look up from my Kindle to find Julian piercing me with eyes that rival the blue of the sky. Callie has vacated my spot and is now scrolling through the images on the back of the camera Auz used to capture the flight—their heads bend toward each other while he points out and captions the ones he likes best.
Swinging my eyes back to Julian, I catch his little half smile as he places his hand on the seat next to him, silently asking me to join him. My stomach does the little flip it always does when this man showsme what I mean to him. I lower my eyes and smile, then dart silently across the aisle into the seat beside him.
As soon as my ass hits the chair, he buries his nose behind my ear and inhales deeply. His slow, warm exhale tickles my ear and sends heat coiling in my lap.
I pinch my knees together and lean into him.
“Your drink smells yummy,” he says, bringing his nose to the corner of my lip.
“Want a sip?”
“M-hm.” He kisses the corner of my lip as he hums his answer.
I turn my body toward him, intending to extend my glass, when he captures my lips fully and kisses me, sucking my bottom lip softly. “Mmm.”
Giggling quietly, I pull back. My bottom lip popping out of his mouth makes an unintentional pout. The heat swirling in my lap is turning to pressure and the pressure is making me squirm. I try to hide it by shifting my position, but his darkening eyes tell me he sees the effect he’s having on me, and now the pressure escalates to throbbing.
“Try some.” I press the flute into his hand. I close my free hand into a loose fist and press it into my lap.
He takes the drink and sips it slow, never breaking eye contact.
I do though when I watch his throat as he swallows. I swallow too. “I . . . I’m going to use the restroom.” I stand up quickly and turn toward the back of the plane and the lavatory. His low baritone chuckle follows me as I scurry from our seats. Closing myself into the tiny bathroom, I lean back on the door and wonder if I will ever get used to my body’s immediate and complete response to this man. Ialso wonder for the millionth time if we are special or if everyone in love feels like this?
In these moments, shit like Callie fades into oblivion. It feels foolish now to think I’d ever have to worry about anyone coming between us. He never fails to make me feel like his world begins and ends with me. And I know mine does with him. Even images of attending Pepperdine can’t sway me now. Whatever life I could dream of would be nothing without him. I don’t even hate that I’m giving wife-of-the-fifties energy. Maybe love can be the priority and everything builds around it.
Like in your books?I hear my sister’s voice in my head.
When I return to my seat, Julian is on his laptop flipping through what looks like footage from the last couple days of content.
The shots of us catch my attention. We look hot. I know we’re glammed up and it’s heavily produced, but I’m impressed. Trina appears and lets us know we’re landing soon and to stow our belongings. I can’t wait to be home. It seems like we’ve been gone forever. I sigh just picturing Blue Lake.
Julian reaches for my hand and, linking our fingers together, brings the back to his lips for a soft kiss and settles it in his lap. He holds it until we’re on the ground, then stands to retrieve our bags and deplane.
Chapter 11
Everly
“You’re welcome to stay at our place, but if you want more privacy, there is my old apartment over the café. It’s small but has everything you need,” Julian offers to Callie and Austin sitting in the middle row of seats in front of us.
“If we’re not intruding, we’d love to stay with you. Might give us more opportunity for the personal content Ashley’s looking for,” Callie answers over her shoulder for both of them.
Auz nods, agreeing with her, munching on a protein bar.
Julian squeezes my hand.
We’re in the back of the black Escalade Ashley had waiting at the airport in Oak Valley to take us to Blue Lake. Just being this close to home calms my system. And because I’m calmer, I find I don’t mind Callie and Austin staying with us. I’m even a little excited to show off the place I love so much. I’m proud of this life we’re building.
