“Hold this.” I thrust my water bottle into her hands before heading to the nearest shop.
Returning to Addie two minutes later, I find her in the same position, eyes closed, nails dug into her thighs.
“Sixty-seven, sixty-eight, sixty-nine,” she murmurs, lost in her own thoughts.
I unwrap an apple candy from the bag and the crinkling sound catches her attention. “Open,” I coax. “Open your mouth, Addie.” Her eyes flutter open, a frown creasing her forehead. She can’t see what I’m holding but obediently parts her lips. “Mia says candy helps her relax.”
“It’s the sucking that helps,” Addie mutters, her tongue twirling around the candy.
I smirk. If we run out of candy, I can certainly offer something else to keep her calm and help us unwind...
“Mia is Nico’s wife, correct?” Addie asks, changing the subject, probably to keep her mind off the flight.
“She is. And their daughter is...?
“Melody, two years old.”
“Correct. The very first blonde born into the Hayes family. You have no idea what a shock to the system it was when her hair stayed that light.”
Everyone was certain she’d be dark haired by the time she turned one, but she’s as blonde as her mommy. Big eyes, too, not green like Mia’s, but almost black like Nico’s.
“WhyMelody?” Addie asks.
“They’re crazy about music. Both play the piano, and Mia’s a vocalist, lyricist, and a multi-instrumentalist.”
Speaking of music, the song seeping from the overhead speakers is interrupted by a female voice informing first-class passengers of the Los Angeles to Miami flight that it’s boarding time.
Addie’s hands start trembling again, the coffee in her takeout cup sloshing left and right. I set it aside before an accident stains her pretty dress.
The Hayes family trivia continues—now a proven way to distract Addie—as we make our way across the airport.
“I spend a lot of time with my family. They’re my best friends. All of them, including the girls. If we’d been dating for the past three months, you’d know them inside out by now. You sure you’ve got the basics?”
No one will ask her a single question about my family, but she’s close to hyperventilating, and other than hauling her into my arms and distracting her with a kiss, I’m out of ideas.
“You can test me all you want. I know your family.”
“Fine. Name all my siblings.”
She takes a deep breath, falling into a sheepish walk beside me. “Shawn, Logan, Theo, Nico, Cody, Conor, Rose.”
“Good. I thought you’d forget Rose.”
“Not a chance.” She forces a chuckle, buther pace slows as we approach our gate, it’s teeming with first-class passengers. “She sounds like the most fun.”
“Who’s Cassidy?”
“Logan’s wife.”
“Yeah, good.” We join the back of the line. “What about Vivienne?”
“Conor’s wife. Blair is Cody’s.”
The flight attendant inspects our documents then steps aside. I motion for Addie to walk ahead, keeping my eyes on her because not only do I half-expect her to bolt the moment I look away, but also because I have a clear view of her wide hips and perfect waistline.
This girl is made of wet dreams.
“Can I have the aisle seat?” she asks as we board. “I can’t handle looking out the window.”
