My stomach gives another lurch. I nearly laugh at how absurd this all is. "Uh, just water. Thanks. Maybe a ginger ale? If you have it.”
She nods and moves off to get it.
Robbie is still talking, and Cole is nodding along, answering his questions, looking more relaxed than I’ve seen him in weeks.
And me?
I stare out the window as the jet prepares for takeoff, my heart pounding.
This is happening.
I’m flying to a private island with Cole Wagner.
And I have no idea what’s going to happen next.
***
The seatbelt light flicks off with a soft chime, signaling that we’ve reached cruising altitude. Around me, everything is calm—the plane glides smoothly through the sky, Robbie chatters happily from his seat, and Cole sits completely at ease, flipping through something on his phone like we’re just sitting in the living room instead of thousands of feet in the air.
But me?
I feel anything but calm.
I grip the armrests, my knuckles white, my stomach twisting in a way that is not normal.
It’s not just nerves—it’s worse. A slow, creeping nausea that started when the plane took off and has only gotten stronger. The air feels thick, pressing down on me, and the last thing I want to do is make a scene.
Nope. No way. Not in front of Cole, not in front of Robbie, and definitely not on a private jet.
I take a slow breath and try to keep my expression neutral. "Where’s the bathroom?" I ask, keeping my voice steady.
Cole looks up from his phone immediately, his green eyes sharpening then narrowing. "Are you okay?"
I shake my head. I can’t speak. If I do, I’m afraid I’ll throw up right here, all over this ridiculously expensive jet, all over myself. And Cole definitely wouldn’t find that attractive.
His expression changes in an instant, his brows drawing together in concern as he gestures toward the back of the plane. "Down the hall, second door on the right."
I don’t wait for anything else.
I fumble with my seatbelt, unclicking it with shaky hands before pushing myself up. The moment I’m on my feet, the world tilts. A cold sweat breaks out across my forehead. My stomach lurches, but I force myself forward, focusing on the hallway ahead.
One step. Then another. Just get to the bathroom.
I feel Cole’s gaze following me as I move. I don’t look back.
The second I reach the door, I wrench it open, step inside, and slam it shut behind me. My knees hit the cool tile floor just in time before everything inside me comes up.
Oh, God.
I grip the sides of the toilet, heaving violently, my body shuddering asI empty my stomach. I don’t know how long it lasts—seconds, minutes—but by the time it stops, I feel drained, weak.
After it’s over, I drop back against the sink cabinet behind me and rest my head against it, taking deep breaths.
This is so not how I imagined this trip starting.
Chapter Twenty Nine
Cole