Page 103 of Fall I Want
“Yes.” I twirl a strand of her dark hair around my finger. “I’m concerned that something awful will happen before I can make amends. It would be one of the biggest regrets of my life because, while we don’t always agree or get along, I love and care about him.”
She nods. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Her kindness warms my heart.
“Having you here is more than enough.”
I keep my fingers in her silky strands to confirm she’s real and that I’m not dreaming.
Her phone rings, grabbing her attention. She pulls it from her pocket and Julie’s photo appears on the screen.
“You should take that. There’s a conference room with privacy if you’d like.” I point toward it.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. Don’t ignore your friends. I’m sure they’re concerned, considering I captured you.”
“I willingly joined you.” She playfully rolls her eyes and unbuckles, then walks across the plane to the sliding door. I watch her walk away and our eyes meet as she slides the door closed. She grins.
I lean my head back on the seat, smiling wide. Her voice is muffled, but I can hear her laugh.
I pull my phone from my pocket to see if there have been any updates from Harper.
Nothing. Not a word.
Silence stresses me out more than hearing from my sister nonstop. It’s never good when Harper grows quiet, and that plagues me. I try not to think the worst, though, and suck in deep breaths, trying to relax.
Eventually, Autumn returns. “They’re already planning our wedding.”
“I love that for us.” I chuckle, enjoying that I have her best friends’ stamp of approval.
She stares at me. “Julie said you paid off her parents.”
It’s impossible to hold back a smirk. I knew she’d find out. “You’re worth it.”
She playfully shakes her head but looks at me with stars in her eyes. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Like Mr. Dreamy?” I ask.
She glances past me out the window at the fluffy clouds floating as we soar through the bright sky. Then I see that familiar gaze, the one I’ve come to recognize.
“You’relivingthe dream.” I shoot her a wink, wanting to kiss her but deciding against it. I won’t make the first move today, not after last night. But damn, right now, the urge to slide my lips across hers nearly overtakes me. I break the intense eye contact.
“Areyou?” she asks.
“Yes. I’m having the time of my life,” I tell her. “Truly.”
We soar through the sky like a speeding bullet and I open my arms. Autumn comes to me without hesitation and I inhale the sweet scent of her shampoo as I hold her against me. When her breathing slows, I replay everything that’s happened and try notto worry about the future. A future I can’t predict. The past tries to flood in, but I push it away.
Last night, something inside me unlocked, and Autumn felt the shift, too. I saw it on her face, heard it in her moans, and knew it when she held me tight. I close my eyes, trying to get some rest, not knowing what emotional roller coaster I’ll ride when we arrive in the city.
Hours later, the jet lightly touches down and the two of us wake when the cabin lights click on. My pilots grease the landing, but they’re the best in the country and I’d expect nothing less. A blacked-out SUV waits for us once we taxi to the private hangar and deplane. We’re escorted inside like I’m the president of the United States and are driven to the hospital across the city.
When I breathe deeply, Autumn grabs my hand and flips it over, stealing my attention.
“This is your love line,” she says, tracing my palm. “But I don’t know anything about it, you’re out of luck.”
I laugh. “Thank you. I needed that.”
