Page 67 of Flyboy's Nightingale
In her words,“Men are stupid and slow! You have to lead them to the promise land and then shove their faces in it for them to get the job done right!”
I laugh so hard that my sides hurt. I want to believe and trust that she’s right. That this beautifully smart, talented, charismatic man would want me. I know I'm beautiful and smart, that I have things going for me. I just don’t believe that in my heart of hearts, that I’m the caliber of woman that is right for this man. On top of all the things going for me, I also know that I’m broken on the inside, emotionally, mentally, and physically stunted from childhood abuse. He needs a woman who is whole and confident.
“Hey, are you even listening to me?” Avery gasps.
“What? No, I got lost in my own head, what was it you were saying?” Cringing, I apologize, “I’m sorry!”
“Riley, best friend and crazy woman of mine, do something for me, will you?” The tone of Avery’s voice tells me that I need more information first.
“You know I don’t agree to anything until I know what you're asking for,” I state quietly.
“Don’t think about it. Let it happen! Let that man love you! We all see it, even if he doesn’t. Don’t run, Riles. Stay until you know, without a shadow of a doubt, that the man doesn’t want you. Promise me, you’ll at least try,” Avery begs.
I let her words soak in, and decide right here and right now, that I’ll do it. I’ll stay and fight. I won’t run, or give up, until this man tells me I have to.
“Deal, I won’t walk away. I’ll stay and let him tell me what’s going on.” I say the words, feeling them take root in my soul.
“Hell, yeah! That’s my girl,” Avery cheers before I hear her sigh.
“Ma’am, that sigh only means one thing and it’s for me to let you go. I love you and will talk to you later,” I hurriedly toss out as her chair squeaks again.
Sitting up, I go over to my stuff and finish packing. I promised I wouldn’t run and that I'd let him tell me how he feels. I never said I wouldn’t be ready to go when my fears are confirmed. A sound I never thought I’d hear in the clubhouse catches my attention. I make my way to the door, pulling it open. I look out, searching for the sound, hearing it once again from the main room.
“Why would they have gurneys in the clubhouse?” I mutter, making my way down the hall.
I make it to the mouth of the hallway in time to see Noah disappear down the path that leads into Steel’s office. I go to follow when the door flies open, letting in Flyboy who’s pushing a second gurney. Instantly, I go into nurse mode.
“Hey, is everyone okay? What’s going on? Do you need me to do anything?” I rapidly fire off the questions.
Flyboy’s head pops up, and his eyes go wide before he plasters the‘I did it, but I’m going to pretend I’m innocent smile’on his face. “Hey, baby. Are you okay? Do you need something?”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I raise a single eyebrow. “Flyboy, what’s going on?”
He stands to his full height, coming over to me. “There’s nothing going on that you need to worry about.”
I open my mouth to ask questions, but he cuts me off. “No one is hurt, and these are all a part of the plan. Trust me, Riles, don’t stress, and let me take care of everything.”
I stare up at him, searching his face for any signs that I shouldn’t trust and believe in him. Keeping my promise to Avery, I decide to let it go and trust in him.
“Oh, now you choose to just believe,”the snarky bitch in my head snaps.
Nice to see you’ve decided to return, I internally roll my eyes.
“Okay, you say it’s nothing. I'm going to believe that. I guess I’m going to go out to the pool and see if I can find the other girls.” I stretch up, placing a kiss on the underside of his chin and then his mouth.
“Fuck, I don’t deserve this or you,” Flyboy mumbles, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“Hey, brother, you coming? What’s taking so long?” Noah yells from down the hall.
Flyboy pulls back, smirking. “I hope I get done in time to see that body in a tiny bikini.”
“Guess you’ll have to get the shit done quickly to find out how tiny the bikini is.” I turn, walking away, ensuring that I don’t fall on my ass or look desperate.
“Damn, baby, that ass is what dreams and fantasies are made of,” Flyboy calls out, talking to my back causing me to smirk.
I shake my head and keep walking. I’m planning to do exactly what I told him. I’m going to get ready for the pool and seeif I can get the others to join me. I wonder where everyone disappeared to.
I’m still in the same twenty-four hour time period I was in when I babysat Starla this morning. Meaning, all the other moms must be putting their babies to bed and don’t have time to hang out at the pool. Shrugging, I decide to just do it on my own. Going into the bedroom I get ready, grab my latest book,Ethan’s Sky, by J. L. Quincy, and make my way to the pool.
