Page 81 of In a Pinch

The laughter dies down as we get closer to the gate. Addie has sunk into a seat in the corner of the gate’s lobby. Her red hair is piled on top of her head in a messy bun, and her T-shirt is hidden by a crewneck sweater long enough to cover her athletic shorts.

Coming to sit beside her, I try to bring her a bit of comfort. “It really wasn’t that bad. It’s not like you’ll ever see any of them ever again.”

“Unfortunately, your sister, brother, and brother-in-law are stuck with me as long as I’m with you. So, I do have to see them. Just look at them. Enjoying my pain. Assholes. We should break up.”

“You’re being a bit dramatic, don’t you think?” I lean over to kiss her cheek.

“Plus, I promised that I wasn’t going anywhere. How about I go buy you a coffee, so you can be more human than gremlin?” She tries to hide the smile, but it shows up, anyways.

She heaves out another dramatic sigh. “Fine. I guess I don’t want to breakup, after all.”

“I’m relieved.” Because I can’t help myself, not even in a room full of people, I lean over and give her a kiss.

The rest of our group comes to join us, and Addie averts her eyes to anyone besides them the entire time we wait for boarding.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Sam

The boarding goes smooth, and my buddy system partner passed out one hour into our very long flight. I don’t want to know what they had to pay to get a direct flight out. Makes me wonder what all these other people on the plane do for a living. Looking out the window, I start to see peeps of blue.

“Babe, wake up.” I shake her, noticing the drool sticking to my shoulder. Nice touch to my tropical button up that I am wearing, despite my hour of begging Addie to not make me.

She blinks slow, and then quicker. Sitting up straight and in a hurry, she asks, “Are we there?”

“No, but we are flying over the ocean, and I thought you might enjoy that.”

“Aw. Thanks.” She cozies up to my shoulder. Noticing the drool, a flush rises to her cheeks. “Oops, sorry. I, er, drooled a little here.” She tries to wipe it away, which just causes it to spread further. Probably still the least embarrassing thing to happen to her today.

“Wow, I didn’t notice.”

She nudges me. It appears the little demon that had entered her body pre-flight has been exorcised now that she can visibly see she will not be missing this trip. And she has let go of the whole TSA debacle.

“What’s the first thing you want to do?”

Leaning over my shoulder, she looks out the window and the miles of blue ocean beneath us. “Swim in the ocean. I’ve never done it.”

My head rears back in surprise. “What? You’ve been living by the coast for months now.”

“Yeah, but the water was so cold, it would literally freeze my tits off.” Fair point. Our waters aren’t the warmest. If someone wants any chance of a good swim day, they better wait until mid-June, at best.

“I’m quite fond of your tits. So, thank you for sparing them. Okay, we can change, and then go swim.” The thought of getting Addie half-naked in a bikini isn’t such a bad idea either. Win-win for both of us.

It worked out perfectly that I was able to room with Addie. And it turns out that Isla and Cal had booked all the flights together, so I was still able to get a spot next to her. She isn’t allowed to drool on anyone but me. Even though it is absolutely gross.

The flight lands smoothly. Even with that, Addie’s nails anxiously dig into my skin with every minor bump. The airport here is nice and open, and the warm, Hawaiian breeze movesthrough. I’m not the overly excited type, but even I cannot wait to get into the water, or to hop in a car and go explore.

The wedding isn’t for three more days. So, we have some free time to enjoy before. After that, Cal and Isla are going their own way, and I will have Addie all to myself for the rest of the week.

We move through the airport like cattle. Cal and I stay back at the baggage claim, while Isla and Addie go work out the rental car situation. More people from our flight start gathering around the carousel.

“So, things are going pretty good?” Cal asks.

Unable to help it or hide it, I smile. “Yeah, things worked out just fine.” Better than fine. Addie’s been in my bed, or I’ve been in hers, every night. Right next to her, where I belong.

“Glad to hear it. Tomorrow, Isla insisted on having a girls day with Addie and Liv. Feel free to swing by our hotel. Tyler will be swinging by.”

“Will Dad be there?”

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