Page 324 of Filthy Elites

Aubrey

When Dare picksus up to take us to the airport, it’s so early that it’s still dark outside. Even though I know where we’re going, it doesn’t really hit me until we literally drive up to a matte black private jet that I am goingon a private jet.

Dare isn’t fazed as we all get out of the car. Mom walks up ahead to give us a moment to say our goodbyes. Dare wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me close.

“I wish you could come with us,” I tell him.

“Me too. We’ll go somewhere another time. I’ve got a lot to deal with here this weekend, and you’ll only be there long enough for the doctor’s appointment, anyway. When I go with you, we’ll go somewhere fun.” He leans in and kisses my lips, murmuring teasingly, “Maybe Italy.”

I bite down lightly on his bottom lip before I pull back. He cocks an eyebrow in surprise.

“What? I’ll miss you.”

He cradles my head in his palm and pulls me in to give me a slower, more lingering kiss. “I’ll miss you, too.” When he breaks the kiss, he says soberly, “But, to be honest, I feel more comfortable with you in New York today. At least I know you’ll be safe there.”

“Thank you again for doing all this for us. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

He smirks down at me. “You can show me when you get home.”

I grin and steal a look over my shoulder at my mom to make sure she didn’t hear that. Seeing she didn’t, I look back up at him. “Oh, I will. Come over tonight after my mom’s in bed and I’ll let you do anything you want to me.”

“Oh yeah?” he murmurs with interest.

I nod and lean up to kiss him one more time. “I better go. It seems like they’re waiting for us. I don’t want to be rude.”

He chuckles, but lets me go. “Here,” he says, reaching for his wallet.

I frown, watching him open it. “What’s this for?” I ask as he holds out a credit card.

“Anything you might need. I told you the whole trip was on me. I don’t want you paying for so much as a coffee.”

“You are much too generous,” I tell him, leaning in to give him one more kiss. “Thank you, Dare.”

He smiles, caressing my face briefly before letting me go. “You’re welcome, mermaid.”

Dare falls back and I walk over to join Mom in looking up at the plane. It’s lit from the inside, the staircase already open for us to climb aboard.

“This is crazy,” Mom says.

“Right?”

“His plane matches his car,” she adds.

I crack a smile. “He has an aesthetic, that’s for sure.”

“It’s a bit ominous for such a nice boy,” she remarks.

I bite my tongue rather than respond to that. “Well, I guess it’s time to board.”

A pretty brunette flight attendant smiles at us. “No luggage?” she asks since we just have our purses.

I shake my head, and she waves for us to come aboard.

Mom walks up ahead of me. I trail behind so I can wave at Dare one last time before I disappear inside the cabin.

The interior has a black, gray, and silver color scheme. The flight attendant shows me and Mom to our seats and says we’ll have to buckle in for takeoff like we would on a regular flight, but once we’re in the air, we’ll be free to roam around. She asks if we’d like anything to drink and tells us we’ll have brunch in a couple of hours.

It feels strange to have the whole plane to ourselves, but I’m so much more comfortable flying with Mom this way. I’m not sure if we have to on a private plane, but I put my phone on airplane mode to prepare for take-off just in case.

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