Page 58 of Double Shot

“Shady, I don’t care,” he said impatiently. “Come here.”

I looked up and down the aisle and seeing no flight attendant I went over the low wall and into Kyle’s waiting arms. He hugged me through the thin fleece blanket and rubbed me up and down soothingly through it. I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes, listening to the steady throb of his heartbeat beneath my ear. He kissed the top of my head and sighed.

“I could sleep so much better like this,” he said and I smiled.

“Read my mind,” I said back with a sniff.

I don’t remember doing it but I drifted off, I think Kyle did too, because he jolted awake under me the same time I did, a figure bending over us in the dark, the flight attendant shaking me gently by the shoulder. I saw Roan startle awake just behind her.

“I’m sorry miss, I’m going to have to ask that you return to your seat.”

“Just a little longer?” I pleaded.

“I’m sorry, but it’s airline policy,” she said straightening.

“It’s okay,” Kyle said over my head and I could picture him giving her one of his thousand-watt smiles. “Bad dream earlier, just let her get her bearings. Two seconds.”

I got the vague impression of the flight attendant nodding but she didn’t move. Damnit, I hated feeling like a naughty child, her standing there all imperious.

“Everything alright, mate?” Conan asked sleepily from the next seat.

“Yeah, we’re good, mate. She just had a bad dream is all.”

I pushed off of Kyle awkwardly and with a slight noise of exasperation from the flight attendant went back over the low wall separating the footwells of our seats and back into mine. I guess she wanted me to walk the long way around. No way was I pulling that walk of shame. I had nothing to be ashamed of.

“You alright, Poppet?” Roan asked and I looked over to him and nodded, Kyle was smirking, the flight attendant was pissing off up the aisle and Roan sat just beyond it all looking quite amused.

I felt slightly less bad when the attendant returned with a complimentary hot coffee made just the way I liked with lots of cream and sugar and when I sipped? Spiked with something absolutely lovely.

“I wish I could let you stay,” she said sympathetically, “but flight safety.”

I smiled and nodded, thanking her gently and Kyle looked up and thanked her too.

None of us went back to sleep, we only had a couple of hours of our flight left, and so I settled in and watched another movie, eyes wide and stinging too tired to feel anything anymore. Conan quietly switched seats with Kyle and reached over to smooth a hand over my hair. I looked up at him and tried to smile, but I think it fell flat, the boys exchanging a look when they didn’t think I was looking.

The men made me take the window seat for landing, and I didn’t know why at first but then the lights and magic of New York appeared below us, rising out of the clouds like some sprawling fairytale castle in the sky and I was transfixed, completely engrossed in the view as we circled for landing, both my men talking and chuckling behind me as I was glued to the window portal.

I could barely keep my feet under me through baggage claim and Kyle turned to Conan and handed off his rolling bag asking, “Can you manage?”

“Aye, with one of those.” I frowned perplexed and followed Conan’s gaze to the carts lined against the railing meant for luggage.

“Alright, be right back.”

“Why do we need one of those?” I asked blearily, swaying on my feet. I’d been up for more than thirty hours by now with only an hour’s catnap at most in there a total of maybe twice?

“Because, Poppet. You’re dead on your feet,” Conan said kindly, tucking me into his side.

“I can make it,” I protested.

He simply chuckled in response.

Kyle came back with a luggage cart and loaded it deftly and Conan took over driving it.

“Okay, Shady,” Kyle said sweeping me up into his arms. I gave a quiet yelp and put my arms around him. “I’ve got you,” he promised then said to Roan, “Shit, what’s my name again?”

Conan laughed and said, “Kelly Gregson.”

“Right, thanks.” Kyle scanned the men holding signs above my head and I blinked up at him owlishly.

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