Page 138 of That First Flight

“I’d never lie to you about things like this,” Emiline says. “Oliver was kind of a playboy for a long time. He’s always lived his life carefree and like every day is his last. But coincidentally, he hasn’t talked to my brothers about that stuff since his birthday trip last year.”

“How would you know what he talks to his brothers about?” Avery raises a brow. “Marc says he doesn’t talk to you about those things.”

“I mean…” She blushes. “I’m just assuming.”

“Are you assuming? Or is Logan telling you about the conversations they have at the bar when they go out Wednesday nights?” Avery says with an accusing tone.

Emiline’s pink cheeks turn white like she’s just been caught red-handed.

“I fully plan to circle back to this new revelation after you continue with what you were saying about Oliver to Macey,” Avery says. “Because I’m sick and tired of you two hiding whatever relationship you two are having behind our backs.”

“There’s—” Emiline starts, but pauses quickly as her lips close with a tight seal. “Fine. I’ll tell you guys everything but if I find out it gets back to my brothers, you’re all fucking dead.”

“Fine, continue,” Avery encourages her.

“Like I was saying. Oliver changed his ways after his birthday trip. He hasn’t been with anyone since he met you. I’m not just talking about when he saw you again at the bar you worked at. I’m talking about that first flight you two took to New York from Montana.”

My thoughts come to a halt as I take in everything she’s telling me and my stomach does a complete somersault.

I know he’s said things about wanting everything I have to give and wants it all with me, but I’ve been burned once into thinking that someone loved me. Only to learn they didn’t.

But this feels so much different with Oliver. So much more real.

“I think I’m really falling in love with him,” I sigh.

“Oh, babe.” Avery chuckles.

“You fell a long time ago,” Emiline finishes.

I think she’s right. They both are.

I don’t know when or how, but I’ve been falling since that first flight.

“What are you thinking of for dinner tonight?” I ask Mackenzie. Macey is working the dinner shift, so it’s just the two of us tonight.

It’s been a whole week since we’ve been back from our trip. Ever since I got a taste of what Macey sleeping in bed with me is like, I’ve struggled to sleep like a normal human on my own.

She would stay over but we haven’t had a chance to talk to Mackenzie about it. The last thing I want to do is rush Macey into anything. This is a huge step for both of them, and I’m not about to screw it up.

“I have the best idea ever,” she announces.

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

“So I never got a chance to show my mom how happy I am for her to get her dream job. And since I’m just a kid”—she rolls her eyes—“I couldn’t buy her anything.”

“You should have told me,” I tell her. “You know I would have taken you anywhere you wanted to go and pick out whatever you wanted.”

“You would have?”

I nod repeatedly. “Yes. Remember what I’ve always told you?”

“You don’t do anything you don’t want to do,” Mackenzie says like a teenager and it’s so damn cute. “That’s really nice, Ollie. I didn’t even think to ask because I’ve…” She looks somber and my heart folds as her smile disappears. “I’ve never really had anyone to ask.”

Fuck. Every time she brings up her past, it’s another stab to my chest. I wish I could go back in time and find a way to find these two sooner.

Except, I met these two when the universe was ready for us to meet.

Mackenzie deserves stability in her life, and I want to give her that. I want to be as good to her as my father was if Macey allows me the privilege to.

---