Page 2 of Sweet Escape
Is it too much to ask for some kind of flight upgrade that includes sedation? Fuck first class, I’d pay to be unconscious. We’re not even in the air yet and I’m already on the verge of losing my shit.
Attempting to distract myself from every worst-case scenario running through my mind, I pull out my phone and shoot off a quick text to my mother-in-law.
Wilder: How’s mygirl?
Caroline: Perfect as always.
A minute or so later, a video message comes in. Emmy’s sitting on the floor of her playroom, flipping through a board book. She’s surrounded by her pile of stuffed animals like she’s about to read them a story. She can’t read, but don’t tellherthat.
Caroline’s voice comes through the speaker. “Say hi to Daddy, Emmy Lou.”
Emmy glances up at the camera. “Hi, Daddy.” She waves enthusiastically. The smile on her chubby face is exactly what I needed to set my mind at ease. I replay the video, wishing I had someone to share it with, and the ache resurfaces.She should be here.
A text from the group chat with my siblings comes in, pulling me from my misery.
Griffin: I’d make a joke about plane crashes, but they never land.
Jaxon: You’re more likely to be struck by lightning than die in a plane crash.
Griffin: Nerd.
Jaxon: Dickhead.
Ruby: Ignore them. Safe travels. Text us when you’re back on solid ground.
Wilder: And y’all wonder why Ruby’s my favorite.
“I’m so sorry, I think this is my seat.”
I look up from my phone, instantly taken aback by the striking blonde woman standing in the aisle. She looks at me expectantly through puffy, bloodshot eyes, but I can stillmake out the gorgeous shade of blue. She sniffles, her red-tipped nose crinkling.
Despite the mess of mascara trailing down her cheeks, she’s the kind of gorgeous that stops you in your tracks and forces you to take notice. My eyes trail lower, over soft curves, wide hips, and a round ass I just want to take a bite out of. Her thighs are just begging to be locked around my head. Fucking hell, I haven’t felt anything like this since…
A throat clears.
She cocks her head to the side and narrows her eyes. A line has formed behind her while I’ve been staring.
I grimace. “Right. Sorry. Would you mind switching with me? Ireallyhate sitting by the window.”
“Oh. Um. Okay.”
She glances around nervously, her hands shaking as she struggles to hoist her bright pink duffel into the overhead bin. The man standing behind her purses his lips and checks his watch every five seconds. A tear trails down her cheek as she continues to shove at the bag to no avail.
“Here. It should fit under the seat in front of you.” I gesture for her to hand me the bag, then stow it under the window seat.
She takes two steps back, knocking into the asshole in the suit.
“Watch it, fat ass,” he grumbles.
I don’t think she heard him, but I sure as fuck did, and that shit doesn’t fly with me. My nostrils flare. I’m overcome by the need to jump to her defense.
I lift out of my seat to let her scoot toward the window, resisting every instinct to punch the asshole square in the jaw. The last thing I need is to be forcibly removed from the plane. I tower over him by at least a few inches, and I’m not a small guy by any means. I’m not above using my size to intimidate shitbag men. He looks terrified, and rightfully so.
Onceshe’s situated, I lean toward the dickhead in question and whisper, “You’re lucky she didn’t fucking hear you. If you so much as look at my girl one more fucking time, I’ll beat your ass and throw you out the emergency exit. Got it?”
He swallows thickly, fixing his gaze on the floor before he scurries to the back of the plane.
“Oh, I heard him. And you, for that matter.”
