Page 122 of Second-Rate Superstar

“If I can be left alone long enough to get my formatting and graphics done, I think we can make it work and still have time to enjoy the trip.”

Letting out a whoop, Braxton jumped to his feet. Laughing at his response, I wanted to bottle this joy. It alone was a reason for living.

Young and in love—was there anything better in this world?

Chapter 28

Braxton

Dakota was much morerelaxed this time as we pulled up to the private airstrip outside of Hartford. Letting me handle her bags, we stepped onto the plane to find almost everyone else already on board.

The core group was all there—Natalie and Jaxon, Liam and Amy, Lucy and Preston, and Benji and Liv. The only ones missing were Cal and Hannah.

I ushered Dakota toward a pair of open seats, and we had barely sat down when I heard the voice of the one woman who loved to make an entrance call out, “Who’s ready for the party plane?” Hannah came into view, holding up two bottles of champagne. She was ridiculous and over-the-top, but she owned it.

If I was right and this weekend was about her, it would be one hell of a bachelorette party.

She passed off the bottles to the flight attendant before pointing at each of her friends, including Dakota. “Listen up, bitches. We are onvacation. The babies are all at home. I don’t want to hear any excuses.” She paused, taking a deep breath with her eyes closed before reopening them. “And Iswear to God, if somebody evenmentionsa pregnancy test this weekend, I’m throwing you overboard. Got it?”

Peeking around, I saw the women nodding in agreement. What was the deal with the pregnancy test? Honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

“Good.” Hannah plopped down in the seat across the aisle from us.

Cal appeared at the front of the plane, spotting his girl and stalking toward her. Bending at the waist, he gripped her chin in one of his large hands. “You behaving?”

Smirking, she raised her chin as her blue eyes flared, the combination signaling she was rearing up to be defiant. “Never.”

A growl worked its way up his chest. “Guess you’re lucky I’m in a good mood. You might just escape punishment this time.”

“That’s too bad.” Hannah pushed her lower lip out in a pout. “I’ll have to find a new way to earn one.”

Without warning, Cal lifted Hannah, sliding her into the window seat before taking the aisle seat for himself.

Dakota leaned into my side, practically panting. “That was kinda hot.”

Stunned, I turned my focus back to the woman accompanying me on this trip. The fire in her eyes had my cock thickening behind the fly of my jeans. Nipping at her lower lip, I teased, “Then I guess it’s too bad you have work to do before we can play.”

Eyes narrowing at the threat that I might withhold sex until she finished her appointed tasks, her lips curved up and she shifted her gaze to the couple across the aisle. “Can’t stop thinking about how he’s pierced . . .” Dakota threw a pointed look at Cal’s crotch. “Down there.”

Shocked, I swallowed my own damn saliva, choking and coughing, drawing the attention of everyone seated around us, including the man in question, who apparently had a pierced dick.

Cal slapped my back, and I managed to take a deep breath.

Surveying me with ice-blue eyes, he asked, “You all right there, man?”

Nodding, I swallowed a few times, my throat scratchy from coughing violently. “Fine,” I croaked out.

Dakota slid her hand over my forearm, addressing Cal, “He’ll be right as rain as soon as we reach our destination. The dry winter air is rough on his throat.”

I cut my eyes to her but remained silent. Oh, she was a little vixen, and it would take all my self-control to keep my hands to myself until she completed her administrative checklist.

Cal sat back down, quickly becoming preoccupied with Hannah beside him. That woman was more than two handfuls, but he was fully up to the task.

Dakota slid her hand over my thigh, drawing my attention back to her. The smirk on her face and the sparkle in her sapphire eyes had my heart swelling inside my chest. The love for this funny, intelligent, beautiful girl consumed me and made life worth living.

The engines turned on, drowning out any chatter inside the cabin. Speaking directly in my ear, Dakota said, “Sorry, babe. Figured you already knew. Since you guys all shower together.” Pausing, she kissed my jaw. “Or is that another stereotype I need correction on?”

I pinched her side, and her squeal split the air. Happiness with this girl wasn’t a question; it was a guarantee. I owed Bristol a thank-you gift for bringing Dakota into my life. If it weren’t for her, I would still be miserable, shuffling along, worried about factors I couldn’t control impacting my mental state. Dakota had changed all that, and I eagerly anticipated the future for the first time in my life.

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