Page 8 of The First Time

I reach into my purse and pull out my earbuds, then find a movie on my phone. The short flight to New York is over quickly. I’m too focused on getting to our connecting flight to bother talking to Josh. He’s been oddly silent since our flight took off. It’s almost as if my comment hurt his feelings.

But it’s not like I’m wrong. I’ve said that to him before. I don’t know why he’s acting like I haven’t or like it’s not true. Hedoeslike to annoy me.

Once we’re settled on our connecting flight, the silence has gotten under my skin. Plus, we have an eight-hour flight ahead of us.

“Did I say something wrong before? Like… did I, uh… hurt your feelings?” I stumble awkwardly through my words. I’m not used to asking about his feelings, but if I’m forced to be alone with him for a week, I’m not going to be able to handle the cold shoulder. It’ll grate on me.

He hesitates, taking his time to lower his headphones. “I’m not trying to ruin this trip for you. Did you ever think I’m doing thisforyou? I have a lot going on at work, but I packed up everything on a whim so you could have this time away from work.”

I neverthought of it like that. I guess he did put all his life on hold to come here with me. And here I thought it was just so he could torture me—like that’s the only possibility there could be.

Before I can speak again, he continues, “And I know we don’t always get along, but that’s not all on me. Despite what you want to believe, you play a role in that, too.”

Well, I don’t know if I’d go as far as to say I play a role in it. I mean, I may give him shit, but it’s only because he deserves it.

It has nothing to do with a broken heart or anything. I’m over what he did to me all those years ago.

Whatever the reason for our disdain for one another, it would be nice to try and put that aside for the trip. He’s clearly trying to do that.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I guess I didn’t think about you having to drop everything. Thanks, I guess, for doing that.”

He chuckles to himself. “I’ll take that half-assed apology.”

Then he puts on his headphones and ends our conversation abruptly again.

Ugh, this man is so infuriating. I throw my head back against my seat and do my best to suppress my groan so I don’t freak out the other person sitting next to me.

How hard is it to just accept my apology? I mean, it wasn’t the best, but I tried.

This is going to be the trip from hell. Not only is my best friend not here, but the man who broke my heart and left me to pick up the pieces is accompanying me instead.

Chapter Four

Josh

As the plane comes to a screeching halt on the runway, I pack up my headphones and place everything in my backpack.

The plane ride was long. Eight hours of Layla ignoring me or giving me one-word answers.

I know she gave me an apology, and I should have just accepted nicely, but it seemed so forced. I’m giving up my time and money to fly halfway across the world for her, and all she could muster was a half-assed apology.

And now, here we are inItaly. I should be excited, but I’m dreading it.

How are we going to fill the silence of this trip if she isn’t willing to talk to me? We have to spend an entire week together, and the plane ride alone has been miserable.

When we get to the train station, I find out I now have to endure a thirty-minute train ride to Como next to this ice queen. We’re both clearly exhausted after the day of traveling, and our heads hang low as we try to fight off sleep.

Once we’re in the cab and headed to our hotel, I let my head fall back against the seat and close my eyes. I was already struggling to get to bed last night knowing what I agreed to. I’m hanging on by a thread here, trying to stay awake.

I hear a gasp fall from Layla’s mouth at the same time the warmth of her hand hits my thigh. My eyes fly open.

“Look,” she whispers as she leans further over me, looking out my window.

The vast mountains surround the lake, and the crystal-clear water makes it look like a painting. As we weave through the roads, I can see large villas tucked away on the edge of the mountains.

“Wow,” I gasp as we both stare out in awe of the beauty.

She leans even further over me, her mouth a mere couple of inches from mine. Her hand moves higher on my thigh as she looks for more leverage to hold herself up. My body is all too aware that it’s Layla’s hand on my thigh, her lips close to mine, and a growing problem is now arising in my pants.