Me: This is my life we’re talking about. Remember?
Cheri: Do I need to figure out where you will be and show up there? You definitely need your ass kicked. And if those sexy Gallant brothers try anything, I’ll threaten them with my family.
The pill must be working. I’m sitting here giggling as I reread that text. Oh yeah, just what we’d need: the mafia and the Gallants. I wonder who would win. Not that I believe the Gallants are doing anything nefarious, but they are billionaires, so who knows? Right.
Yawning, I realize I’m not gripping the armrest like my life depends on it anymore. I feel kind of floaty or something. Is this why people do drugs? Losing control doesn’t appeal to me unless it’s in bed with a Dominant. Not that I’ve ever found one—I think they’re like unicorns. They’re in books, but no one has ever met one in real life. The one guy I dated in college was a loser. He couldn’t find my clit with a map.
Me: I’m tired.
Cheri: Good. Means the pill is working. Get some sleep if you can.
Me: I’ll try. Thank you, Cher, I don’t know what I’d do without you.
Cheri: Good thing you’ll never find out. Love you, Jac.
Me:
I really don’t know what I’d do without her. She’s the only person I’ve had in my corner—ever. My mother was usually too high to remember she had a daughter. When the social worker picked me up from school, I figured it would be another trip to visit her in the hospital. But nope. It was to take me to my new home. Foster care isn’t all bad, but it’s not good, either. When I met Cheri during freshman year at UCLA, she was the first person who actually cared about my happiness.
After tucking my phone back into my purse, I drink the rest of the water and lean back in the chair. For a hot minute, I contemplate moving to the couch, but I’m still on the plane. So nope. I’m keeping my happy ass in this seat and praying for no turbulence. I check my seatbelt and pull it tighter. If it cuts off my circulation, so be it. Now there’s no way I’m falling out of this chair, no matter how bumpy it gets or if I fall asleep.
“Ms. Tanner… Jackie? We’ve landed,” Laura says as she gently touches my shoulder.
I still jump. What the fuck? How the hell did I fall asleep? The pill! Cheri said it would relax me, not knock me out for four hours. Except, am I really mad? I missed the whole hair-raising flight, and I can see trees outside the window. I’m back on solid ground—hallelujah.
“Sorry. Thank you.” I get my bearings and realize the water bottle and glass are gone, and the side door I came in through is wide open. After blowing out a sigh of relief, I unbuckle the seatbelt and rise on unsteady legs. I really hope I don’t have to do this again soon, especially since I only had one of those sleepy pills with me.
“There’s a car waiting to take you to Gallant Mountain. Whenever you’re ready, just head down the stairs. Your suitcase is already in the car,” she explains with a soft smile.
“Okay. Thank you for your help.” My cheeks heat, and I know they’re beet red. It’s all I can come up with, not knowing what proper etiquette is in this situation. I don’t have a clue what I should say to her. Especially since I slept through most of the flight. Still, she was kind when she didn’t have to be.
“You’re very welcome. Enjoy your visit.”
Then she leaves me to work out the kinks from sitting still for so long. After I double-check my phone is still in my purse, I make my way through the plane and down the steps to the tarmac.
Again, I’m surprised by what I see. I guess I expected to land at another large airport, similar to San Francisco. Instead, it’s small and mostly deserted. Where the hell am I?
“You’re in Asheville, North Carolina, ma’am,” the man standing next to the black SUV says as he holds open the back door for me.
Shit. I said that out loud? Maybe I’m still under the influence of that damn pill.
“Okay, thank you. How long is it to Gallant Mountain?” I ask, grabbing hold of the ‘oh shit’ handle and pulling myself in. Sometimes being short really sucks.
“It’s about an hour. Normally, the scenery is beautiful, but since the sun is setting, you probably won’t see much.”
“Thank you.” I settle into the seat and buckle in for the ride. An hour isn’t too bad, especially after sleeping through the flight. Now I’m wide awake and antsy. I need to know why Andrew Gallant sent for me.
He slides into the driver’s seat with no issue at all, then pulls out a phone. Does he need GPS to get us there? Hopefully, we don’t end up lost in the forest somewhere. I hear the echo of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my.” Except, they wouldn’t be cowardly or friendly; they’d probably look at me as dinner.
Damn! Why do I keep thinking the worst? I’m going to be a total basket case by the time I get there.
After the driver puts down his phone, he meets my gaze in the rearview mirror. “We’ll be there in no time at all.”
Yeah, that wasn’t creepy at all. Maybe this visit will be more like Hotel California. Before I talk myself into a full-blown panic attack, I get out my phone and consider calling Cheri, but then I look up and see the driver watching me in the rearview mirror. Yeah, I’m not letting him listen to our conversation.
Me: I made it in one piece. No thanks to you with the sleeping pill. You could have warned me, bitch.
Cheri: Ha. Why would I do that? You wouldn’t have taken it if you knew. Tell me I’m wrong.
