Page 38 of Line Change

“What are we discussing?” Hunter asks, sliding into the seat in the row in front of us.

“Nothing,” I say as Wes says, “Bachelor party.”

“We’re having it at my place, right?” Holt asks as he takes the seat next to Hunter.

Elias sits down across the aisle from us. “Count me in too.”

“We’re not doing this,” I tell them.

“We are,” Hunter says, crossing his arms. “We need to make it believable.”

“Plenty of people get married without a bachelor party.”

“Madison and the ladies are throwing a bachelorette party for Sutton at our house next Thursday night, since it’s the beginning of the break. What else are you going to do that night?” Hunter asks.

“Come on, it’ll be fun. Nothing too crazy.” Wes knocks his shoulder into mine, and I glare at my linemate.

“Fine.” I shove a hand through my hair. “But low-key. Nothing over the top.”

“Did you hear the news?” Hunter asks after a few beats of silence.

“What news?”

Hunter’s gaze lands on Elias. “Ansley’s leaving. She’s taking a job in New York.”

“What?” Holt asks.

Hunter says something, but I’m not paying attention because I’m watching Elias. We all have our suspicions that he has a thing for Ansley. I’ve caught him staring at her a few times when he didn’t think anyone was watching him, with the same look on his face the other guys have when they look at their spouses or partners. Plus, Wes insists that they’re meant to be together. He predicted Brody and Aubrey would end up together and that Holt and his ex-girlfriend weren’t right for each other. The only time he’s been wrong is about Sutton and I, but he can’t be right every time.

Elias leans back in his seat as he runs a hand through his hair, a pained expression crossing his face.

“You alright?” Holt asks, picking up on the weird energy coming off Elias.

“Fine, just tired.” Elias says. Right.

Hunter leans closer to his brother. “Want to talk about it?”

Elias shakes his head. “I said I was fine.” He sinks back against the seat and turns to face the window.

Guess that conversation is over.

We all exchange looks, and Hunter shrugs as if to say he’ll talk when he’s ready. I settle back in my seat as the plane begins taxiing down the runway.

I’m glad we’re heading home today. We’ve been gone for five days, and I’m ready to be home. Back with Sutton. We’ve texted a few times and even talked on the phone the other night for a few minutes, but it’s not the same thing.

I miss her.

A lot.

I close my eyes as the plane takes off and the next thing I know, Wes is shaking me awake as the plane is taxiing down the runway in Orlando. I blink, rolling my shoulders and neck.

“Shit, man, you were out. You feeling alright?” Wes asks.

I rub a hand down my face. “I’m good. Tired.”

But unlike when Elias said it, I mean it. I didn’t sleep well this entire trip. I woke up multiple times each night worried about Sutton and the baby. One night, I even had a nightmare that she went into labor and I couldn’t get to her. Which is crazy, because first of all, she’s a day or two shy of twelve weeks pregnant, and second of all, I won’t be here when she does go into labor in September. I’ll be running my family’s farm. She won’t be part of my life. I swallow a few times, feeling like I have a golf ball sized lump lodged in my throat.

Wes gives me a knowing look. “I never sleep as well on trips because the bed is too empty, too cold.” I raise my eyebrows. “You know, because Hadley’s not there. It was never an issue before, but once you start sharing your bed with the love of your life.” He shakes his head.