Page 16 of Chasing Forever
I cautiously take the phone from her grip, and my stomach fills with dread. What could it possibly be now?
I look at the screen as the plane taxis toward the terminal. It’s a picture of Brooks and me at the wedding chapel, looking as if we drank our way up and down the Strip. I suck in a breath. My stomach freefalls as if I’m on an elevator at the top of the Willis Tower, and someone cut the cables.
It’s from Romy’s friend, with a text asking her if it’s true.
Then I hear the vibrating of phones in the seats around me and any hope that my secret will stay in Vegas vanishes as my phone lights up with a text from my mom.
So I have a new son-in-law?
I turn my phone toward Romy, and she bites her lip to stop herself from laughing. I glare at her, but my heart isn’t in it. Although I want to pull her hair like I used to, at the same time, I can’t blame her. I’d be laughing too if the roles were reversed.
The plane comes to a stop, and after the tone sounds, everyone unbuckles their seat belts.
“I guess that whole ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’ thing doesn’t have a shot against the Willowbrook gossip gang. I’m oddly proud to be from Willowbrook.” Bennett grabs his carry-on from the overhead bin, looking at me. “Don’t think about using Wren to get out of talking to Mom.”
“What is the kid good for then?” I’m joking, but he’s clearly in no mood.
He shoots me his stern fatherly glare and hands Romy her bag.
“Can you get mine?” I slide to the edge of my seat, although I’m not really in a hurry to get off the plane. I’d be fine staying right here and pretending the outside world doesn’t exist for a while.
“Sorry, that’s not my job anymore.” He turns to face down the aisle. “Brooks, get your wife’s bag.”
All of my family laughs while the other passengers look at all of us as though we’re the loud, obnoxious family. Okay, we kind of are.
“I can get my own bag.” I stand from my seat but hit my head on the overhead. “Fuck!”
“That lady swore,” a little kid a couple rows behind says.
“Sorry,” I mumble, but I swear it was the same spot where I knocked heads with Brooks this morning.
Instantly, my thoughts float back to him.
Brooks naked.
Brooks naked and on top of me.
Brooks naked on top of me about to slide into me.
God, the weight of his body felt so good. Too good. Good enough to ruin me for all other men if I let it.
I shake my head to get rid of the memory that is sure to haunt me for who knows how long.
“Let’s go,” a deep voice says from the aisle next to me. Brooks stands there, pulling my carry-on out of the overhead bin.
Romy’s lips twist next to me. “I’ll just be in the terminal, waiting.” She ducks under Brooks’s muscular arms, shooting me an apologetic look.
Great help she is.
I stay crouched until I’m free of the overhead and put my hand on the handle of my suitcase. “Thank you, but I got it.”
As I’m about to snatch it from his grip, my head feels light, and I wobble a bit. My suitcase tips to the side, then both of Brooks’s hands are on my hips, guiding me down into Romy’s vacant seat. His touch is warm, grounding, and I hate how badly I need it right now.
“Sit,” he says and slides into what was my seat. “You’ve had a couple hard hits today.”
He laughs, and I side-eye him. “This isn’t funny.”
“Come on. It’s a little funny. This whole situation is a little funny.” He tips his head to look into my eyes.
