Page 138 of Introvert

"I see you laughing at me."

"I'm not," I saidto which he scoffed."It was just so obvious."

Something occurred to me then, and I felt my lips turn down.

"Were you like this on the flight up?"

"Worse," he said. "You weren't here. The weather was just as bad, and the stewardess threatened to tell the pilot to turn around if I didn't get it together."

"Oh," I breathed. "I'm sorry,Felix."

"I got to see you, so it was worth it."

Felix's eyes warmed as he continued to stare at my face, and I tried not to let my guard down.It was hard around him, though. Always had been. And that was before he came to get me, facing his fear of flying, just to bring me back.

"I hope you'll believe me when I finally tell you the truth," he said.

"About what?" I asked.

"How I feel for you."

I gulped then looked away. "We should try to sleep. Get some rest before the showtonight."

The storm ragedoutside, winds jostling the cabin, rain pelting the windows. We breathed together for a long time, and eventually, Felix fell asleep. Ishould have nodded off too, but I was restless, thinking about what he'd said, how even recovering from a near-panic attack Felix was still the loveliest person I'd ever met.And the most devastating.

Case in point…

Softly, slowly, as if drawn by gravity, his head came to reston my shoulder. His arm went around my waist, his breaths landing against my neck,causing goosebumps. Felix was seducing me in his sleep, and he didn't even know it.

When the jet landed, I hadn't slept a wink.

Felix's head was still on my shoulder.

And I really didn't want to wake him.

The stewardess took one look at us, smiled brightly, and said, "Mr. Cordova, it's time to get up. We landed."

Felix stirred, murmured something against my skin.

"Felix, we're here," I said.

"Five more minutes," he mumbled.

"We might be late for the show."

"Don't care."

"Felix…"

He sighed then sat upright. "Okay, princess, we'll go."

I breathed a sigh of relief mixed with disappointment, and as we walked off the plane onto the tarmac, I could feel Felix's eyes on my back.A familiar figure stood beside a sleek black car. The windows were tinted, and it looked expensive. She looked happy to see us.

"Glad you're back," Essie said.

"Glad to be back," I said.

"You going to stay till the end this time?"

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