Page 24 of Fate Forever and Always

“Cal, do I need this?”

After clutching my chest to calm my racing heart, I grinned at him. “First of all, did you forget how to knock? What if I was naked?” His eyebrow raised. “Second, do you plan on snorkeling, Nicholas? I sure don’t.”

“Why not? It might be fun.”

I gave him a dumbfounded look. “So, you are not afraid of being eaten by things in the ocean, but you are afraid of flying in a plane?”

He rolled his eyes and knocked me playfully off balance onto the bed before leaving.

“Sweets, that isn’t even close to being the same thing.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I really shouldn’t be making fun of him, especially since I’m the one scared of the ocean. But he doesn’t need to know that.

Non-Honeymoon Day 1

The next morning, I got up at three to shower and make sure Nick and I both had everything all set. Nick was sitting on the couch like a statue when I entered the living room. He was ghostly white.

“Good Morning. Are you all set?”

I stopped walking toward the kitchen when he didn’t answer. I looked at him; he was still looking forward to the front door.

“Nick, are you okay?”

He gave me a dirty look. “Do I look okay, Callie?”

“You look like you're about to shit yourself, honestly.” I smiled, trying to make a joke, but he didn’t think it was funny.

He looked away from me and back at the door. “I don’t think I can do this.” He looked back at me with anxiety clear on his face. “Will you hate me if I bail?”

I realized he was serious, so I slightly changed my tone. “Honestly, a little.” I sat next to him. He looked so defeated.

“Callie, I can’t do this.”

I grabbed his hand and made him look at me. “If you really don’t want to go, I won't make you…but I would love to spend time with you.”

He squeezed my hand and stared at our intertwined hands for a few minutes, as we sat in silence. Finally, he looked back up at me and nodded.

“Okay.”

I leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.” I knocked our shoulders together and hugged his arm. “You are my new favorite best friend.”

He smiled a little.

“I fucking better be. If we don’t die, you owe me for this. You are lucky I like you.”

Something passed between us when he said that.

I broke the silence. “We will have fun, I promise.”

“I’m holding you to that.”

Nick fidgeted the entire car ride to the airport. It was cute, honestly. We got through all the security checks without any incidents and were about two hours early. Nick spent almost an hour in the bathroom while we waited. I don’t know if he was puking his guts up or if it was coming out the other end. I was really starting to feel horrible.

I grabbed some Tums from one of the stores just in case he needed them. When he came out of the bathroom and sat next to me, he looked a little green.

“Nick, I can’t do this to you. Let’s call Aubrey to come pick you up. I will see you guys when I get back. I’m sorry I made you do this. I don’t want you to be this terrified.”

I tried touching him to help him out of the chair, but he stopped me. “Callie, I’m fucking here, aren’t I?”

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