Page 83 of 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

Joey laughs, and I groan.

“It’ll be fine,” he says, twisting my hand in his, the soothing motions of his fingers intended to lull me into a false sense of security, I’m sure. “How about this? Once we land, I’ll ensure the trip waswellworth your while.”

I eye Joey’s little smirk, my pulse hopping. “Yeah?” Glancing quickly around, I lean closer and ask, “We talking handies?”

He snorts lightly. “Or…”

Or…?

“Or what?” I demand when Joey doesn’t say anything else. His eyebrows do a little dance, gaze dropping to my lips, and I suck in a breath. “Blowies?”

His laugh this time is louder, but he only shrugs, as if to saymaybe.

“Joey,” I hiss. “If your lips are on the table, that’s going to be a firm yes.Fuck. I’m getting a boner.”

“At least you’re not scared anymore,” he says.

“Oh, I’m still terrified. Not of the blowjob,” I hasten to add. “Just that I might die before I have the chance to experience what your tonsils can do.”

A beep overhead cuts off our conversation, and I reflexively squeeze Joey’s hand.

“Shit,” I chirp.

He makes a soothing sound as a voice comes over the intercom. I pay attention to every word, clocking where the closest emergency exit is, visually planning who I’ll have to step over to get there. At least there are no children in the way, so I won’t have to feel guilty.

“I’d bring you with me,” I tell Joey, even though he’s not privy to my internal thoughts. “We could share a flotation device.”

His smile is warm.

When the plane starts moving, I realize I’m crushing Joey’s hand. I ease up on the pressure, but he doesn’t seem to care one way or another. I’m sitting in the window seat, so I have a clear shot of the ground as it passes. We turn onto what looks like a runway… And then we take off.

“You said there’d be a wait,” I squeak, squeezing Joey’s hand harder.

“Guess we were ready to go,” he says.

My reply is something akin to “ahhh,” and I close my eyes, not wanting to see us leaving the safety of the tarmac. There’s a small whoosh in my stomach, a distinct loss of vibration, andthen Joey’s free hand is tugging my head around. He kisses my forehead, leaving his lips there, and Ibreathe.

“Okay?” he asks after a moment.

It feels like we’re still going up. “Uh-huh.”

“You’re doing good.”

“I’m ridiculous,” I counter. “I’m a grown man who should not be afraid of flying.”

“Hey,” he says softly. “It’s your first time. Of course it’s going to be a bit scary.”

“You sound like the girlfriend I lost my virginity to.”

There’s a pause. “Do I want to know?”

“Probably not,” I admit. “There was a lot of emotional crying. On my end, not hers.”

He hums. “Look.”

Slowly, I open my eyes. The first thing I see is Joey’s face an inch in front of mine. There’s a small smile curving his lips, andoh. So pretty.

I give his cheek a pat.

---