Page 56 of Tell Me Again
He shook his head. “No talking,” he said through clenched teeth. “I’m watching the safety demonstration.” He focused on the voice being piped through the airplane’s speakers and the young woman standing at the top of the aisle demonstrating how to use the oxygen masks.
Sam gave a small laugh. “Trevor, seriously. What’s—”
“Shh,” he whispered. “I’m listening.” When the flight attendant finished, he glanced over the seat back. “You know where both exits are, right? What to do in case of a water landing?”
She looked at him like he was speaking Greek. “We’re flying from Colorado to Texas. There’s no water landing between here and there.”
His gaze slammed into hers.
“And,” she added slowly, “there will be no need to land until we safely reach the Houston airport.”
He gave a sharp nod then faced forward as the plane taxied toward the runway.
Sam leaned closer. “Are you afraid of flying?”
“Of course not,” he growled and forced himself not to flinch as the jet’s flaps lowered. “I just don’t like it.”
The captain’s voice came on in the main cabin. The plane picked up speed and Trevor let his head press back against the headrest with the thrust of takeoff.
She placed her hand over his on the armrest. “Because it terrifies you?”
“Can’t talk,” he whispered. “Too busy praying we don’t crash and burn on takeoff. Did you know almost a quarter of fatal crashes happen during the initial takeoff and climb?”
“Probably not what you should be focusing on now,” she said with a soft chuckle. She took his hand between both of hers as the nose of the plane lifted. He felt the moment they were airborne, the thrust of the engines and the rumble and thud of the landing gear retracting into the wheel wells.
He blew out a breath as the plane banked sharply to the right.
“You’re hot when you’re terrified,” Sam said close to his ear.
He slid her a glance.
She flashed a smile. “I’m trying to distract you.”
“Good luck.”
“That sounds like a challenge.”
He had to smile at her cheeky words. “Takeoff is the worst part,” he told her. “I’ll be fine once we settle int—” The plane dropped several feet and he squeezed her hand tight. “Shit,” he whispered, closing his eyes. “I fucking hate turbulence.”
“It’s fine.” She laced her fingers with his. “Did you know Grace has a crush on a boy in her social studies class?”
“What boy?”
“His name is Jackson,” she said, her voice measured and calm. “He plays football—”
“No football players,” he said through clenched teeth as the plane continued to climb. “I was a football player. They’re bad news. Football players are off-limits.”
“You’re her dad. I imagine all boys are off-limits as far as you’re concerned.”
“Exactly.”
She laughed. “He sounds like a decent kid. He’s on student council and they have the same lunch period. I guess one day last week he carried her backpack to her locker.”
“She can carry her own backpack.”
“That’s what I told her. I also said she’s too young to have a boyfriend, but it’s nice to have boys who are friends—”
Trevor growled low in his throat and Sam elbowed his arm. “As long as they are kind and respectful,” she continued. “Like you were.”
