Page 62 of How to Kiss a Movie Star
“You remember Tatum,” Olivia says. She leans a little closer. “This is the first time she’s ever left the baby, so she might be a little emotional today. She’s married to Lennox, who is two brothers up from Flint.”
I nod, appreciating that she’s including family ties in her introductions. I don’t think I would have remembered everyone on my own.
“And Kate, she’s married to Brody who is next up from Flint. And that’s Lila, Perry’s wife. Perry is the oldest. We love her because she tamed his grump and turned Perry into a big softie.”
“Got it,” I say. “And you and Perry run the farm, right?”
Olivia nods. “Yes! And Tatum’s a restaurant consultant, Lila’s a piano and voice teacher, Kate’s a fancy magazine editor, and we really don’t expect you to remember any of this.”
I smile. “I’ll do my best.”
“I promise we’re a forgiving bunch,” Tatum says, standing and reaching for a plate. “Especially when we’re fed.”
“What about your husband?” I ask Olivia. “He wasn’t at Flint’s that night, was he?”
Olivia smiles, her expression softening. “Tyler. He’s a videographer based in Charlotte, and he travels for work quite a bit, but he doesn’t have any trips planned, so you’ll totally meet him the next time we’re all together. He’s great.”
I don’t miss the way she so easily includes me—like it’s justassumedI’ll be with Flint whenever the family gathers.
I try not to read into it while we all fix our plates, happy chatter bouncing around the plane. It’s hard to believe these women are just sisters-in-law because they sound a lot like my sisters do. Finishing each other’s sentences, teasing each other with good-natured jokes. It seems incredibly lucky that, in a family with four sons, all their wives get along like this.
In an unusual beat of silence, I ask, “So what are you guys going to do if Flint marries someone you don’t like?”
They all stare, their expressions curious, and I suddenly realize how random my question must sound without context. “Sorry. I just mean, you all seem to get along so well. You sound like actual sisters. At the very least, best friends. I just…” I shrug, feeling sheepish. “I was just thinking about how sad it will be if Flint ends up with someone who doesn’t fit.”
Lila shrugs. “You can love anybody if you try hard enough,” she says simply. Her lilting Southern accent makes her words as soft and lovely as their meaning.
“Aww,” Olivia says. “I love that. But also, if he picks someone we don’t like, we just won’t let him marry her.”
Everyone laughs, but the sound quickly dies when a throat clears behind me. “Good morning, ladies.”
Kate and Tatum are facing me, and I watch their expressions shift before I turn and look over my shoulder, immediately understanding their open-mouthed reactions. The man standing behind me is one, clearly the pilot who will be flying us wherever we’re going, and two, drop-dead gorgeous. Tall. Dark hair. Strong jawline. Beautiful brown eyes.
“My name is Captain Blake Salano, and I’m honored to be your pilot today.”
We nod in unison, but no one says a word.
“The weather is clear between here and New York, so it should be an easy, relaxing flight. I’ll leave you to your breakfast. I just wanted to assure you—you’re in very good hands.”
“I bet we are,” Tatum says under her breath, and Kate snorts as she stifles her laugh.
The second the captain has returned to the cockpit, Olivia pulls out her phone as the rest of us start to giggle. “What on earth?” Lila says. “Where didhecome from?”
“I feel like we need to be concerned about whether he’s a real pilot or just one of Flint’s actor friendsposingas a pilot,” Tatum says.
“We definitely need answers,” Olivia says. “And I’m going to get them right now.” She makes a show of calling Flint, then drops the phone onto the table where we’re all sitting with our breakfast.
“Hey, what’s up?” Flint asks. “Is everything okay? Did Audrey make it okay?”
My heart skips at the mention of my name, and Kate looks at me and presses a hand to her heart, like she can’t believe how sweet it is that he asked about me.
“She’s here, she’s fine, and you’re on speaker phone. We just thought we should call and make sure Captain Blake Salano is arealpilot and not someone you pulled off your last movie set.”
Flint chuckles. “I thought you might like him.”
“Looking at him, sure. But all your happily married sisters want to make sure he can get us to New York in one piece.”
“Liv! Did you just spoil Audrey’s surprise?” Flint says.
