Page 78 of That First Flight

Oliver, a playboy? I really don’t know how because he’s rarely gone out since I moved in and he definitely hasn’t brought any woman to the apartment. At least that I know of.

But the most blaring thought from their revelation is the girl he met on his flight from Montana.

It’s me.

I’m the girl.

He thought and talked about me after our flight? I mean, half of that sticks for me too. I thought about him a whole lot after that flight.

He was the man who made me feel at peace on that flight. He made me feel like this was the right decision after all.

“Fate is a funny thing, isn’t it?” Avery interrupts my thoughts.

Yeah… it really is.

I’ve never been more anxious to get back to the apartment than I am right now.

My leg bounces in the Uber as the driver approaches the building and I can feel my clammy palms against my exposed thigh. I can’t exactly pinpoint what I’m so anxious for.

But for once, I know it’s not the bad kind of anxiety. It’s more exciting than anything else. I can’t wait to get home and see Oliver again.

I pray he’s still awake.

Once I make my way up the elevator and enter the living room, my excitement turns to disappointment quickly. It’s dark except for a small lamp next to the couch that I assume he left on for me, and it’s quiet as if everyone is already asleep.

Even though I’m in a different place than I was months or even years ago, my routine is still the same. I come home and head right to Mackenzie's room to see her and make sure she’s okay.

She’salwayssleeping, but it brings me peace just to say goodnight to her even when she can’t hear me.

Before I head to my room and get ready for bed, I decide to make one more pass in the living room thinking thatmaybehe heard me come in and wants to see how the night was.

However, it’s still quiet.

I grab a bottle of water from the refrigerator and just as I turn to make my way toward my room, I hear a loud “fuck” come from his bedroom and a loud bang like something fell.

I rush to his bedroom door to make sure he’s okay, but I freeze when I hear moaning coming from the other side. I can’t tell if it’s a moan of pain or pleasure from where I’m standing.

My first thought is… did he invite someone over after Mackenzie went to bed?

No. He wouldn’t.

“Oliver?” I say through the small crack in the door, but there’s no answer.

Since the door is already slightly cracked, I gently push it open a little more so I’m able to peek my head into the room to assess the situation. But the minute I do, the moans grow louder.

The only light in his bedroom is coming from the en suite bathroom off to the side shining just the right amount of light into the room that I can tell he isn’t in here.

I should leave.

I should turn around right now.

I shouldn’t invade his space.

I take in the enormous primary suite as I tiptoe my way through the room. Dark blue curtains that match the dark bedding on the king-size bed. Even with the little light in the room, I don’t miss the random stuffed bear in the middle of the bed. It even has a small bandage wrapped around its foot.

I feel like that’s something Oliver would do to a stuffed animal if it had a hole in it. If I had to picture his room and what it would look like, this would most definitely be it. The bear certainly adds a touch of his personality to the space.

Just as I’m in the middle of scanning the room, I hear a “Jesus Christ” come out of him. This time, his groan sounds more painful, like something might really be wrong. I still don’t hear a female moaning which has me thinking that maybe he really doesn’t have anyone over.

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