Page 121 of That First Flight

Avery

Yes, we do.

Thank you! We just boarded the flight! I hope Mackenzie is ok for you.

Peyton

She’s an angel! As always.

Avery

Unlike you this weekend…

This flight feels so much different than the first.

Coming to New York was the first flight I ever took. But knowing I’m actually travelingwithOliver for this one and knowing we’re going away for fun makes me way less anxious than the first time.

Oliver hasn’t let go of my hand since we boarded the plane.

To my surprise, we’re flying first class.

It feels like a whole new world up in the front of the plane. He told me on the ride over that he rarely flies first class because it screamsmoney. He has it, but deep down he hates it.

It’s something I admire about him but also something I would love to understand more. He’s not one of those uptight people who flaunts their money and shove it in someone's face so I wonder why he feels this way about it.

When I asked him why he decided to fly first class for this trip, he said it’s because I deserve to be spoiled.

I won’t lie… my heart soared.

I’ve always known that I’ve been broken. My past broke me. My parents broke me. I forced myself to believe that I never needed anyone to fix me. Hell, I still don’t. I don’t want anyone carrying my baggage with them.

But Oliver become a supportive staple in my life in terms of lifting me up anytime I’m feeling down, has been everything a girl could ever dream of.

I don’t want his money. I don’t want himthinkingI need his money. I’ve taught myself to be independent. That’s what being a single mom will do after all.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” Oliver asks at my side. “You have a ten-mile stare in your eyes.”

I shake my head. “Nothing. I’m just thinking about how we were in a similar situation last summer.”

“You mean when I landed a seat next to the most beautiful woman on the flight?”

I look up at him and smile. I can’t help but shiver from his words. They have the same effect on my body that his touch does. “I think you must have been overtired, because that wasn’t my finest moment.”

He turns to look down at me before his palm lands on my thigh before giving it a tight squeeze. “Every moment with you is the finest moment.”

Swoon.

The walls around my heart have been broken down for god knows how long at this point when it comes to this man. I fought it as hard as I could.Clearlynot trying hard enough because he’s completely in now.

He has me.

Every part of me.

He’s like the tattoos on my body—imprinted with no way to be washed away

I’ve spent so much of my life wondering what it’s like to have that all-consuming love. To have a real family. To have a partner in the journey of life. To not feel so fucking alone. Apart from Mackenzie, I don’t know what love is. But if I had to guess… this would be it.

More often than not, I find myself missing Oliver when he’s not home. When he’s on his way home, I’m anxious for him to walk through the doors. When I’m at work, I can’t wait to get home and see him and Mackenzie.

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