Page 8 of Wild for You
Gwen: Ugh! Some old fart caused me to miss my connection to Costa Rica so I’m roughing it tonight in the Miami airport. My head is killing me!
Gwen: Remind me to never drink questionable alcoholic juice from an ice chest ever again!
Maggie: I hate to say I told ya so … but …
Gwen: Too soon, Mags, too soon.
Maggie: Well, I hope your shenanigans last night were worth it. I’ll have you know, I had to run interference with Elliot … I had to lie to her, Gwen. You know I hate lying!
Gwen: What did you say, you know, just so we’re on the same page?
Maggie: I told her you had a female emergency and spilled your menstrual cup blood down your leg which required the hour-long cleanup and explained your disheveled appearance when you returned.
Gwen: Eww, Mags! Could you think of anything more disgusting?
Gwen: Did she believe it?
Maggie: Yup. She, Benjamin, Sam, and her parents were all very concerned. Then I had to explain to Mr. James what a menstrual cup was. It was an enlightening experience for all of us.
Gwen: I hate you.
Maggie: I hate lying! Stay safe and don’t go to sleep tonight. You can’t leave yourself vulnerable like that. I can set an alarm and text you every hour if you need?
Gwen: That won’t be necessary. I’m a big girl. Thanks, Mags. I’ll text in the morning.
I put my phone in my pocket and dig for my charging cable in my bag. Then I plug my phone into a nearby wall socket and pull my hoodie over my eyes. I may as well get some rest, then maybe once my head stops pounding, I’ll actually be able to get some work done.
Willy Wonka will just have to wait.
* * *
A persistent pokingstirs me from my slumber, and I wake with my neck in agony, crooked to one side. I blink away the sleep from my eyes and try to focus my blurred vision. A tall, muscular figure hovers over me. “Gwen? Is that you?” I hear a familiar masculine voice, and it takes me a moment to gather my thoughts.
“Jack? What are you doing here?” I jump in my seat and shift my head from side to side to work out the kinks.
“I could ask you the same thing. I’m flying out at six, headed to Costa Rica to shoot some videos for my Youtube channel.” He sheds his backpack and takes a seat next to me.
“Oh, no, you don’t. I just woke up, and my breath probably smells like a dragon fart.” I shield my face, and then his words sink in … “Did you say you’re shooting a Youtube video in Costa Rica?”
“Yeah, I guess we didn’t really have a lot of time to get acquainted the other night. I’m a Youtuber Adventure Tour-guide. You may have heard of me by the name Wombat Willy. I’m headed on my first ever solo flight. Well, my manager just called me to let me know I’m supposed to be meeting some PR person from Éclat. Apparently, she missed her connection, and I’m all that’ll depart in time.” He grins, “Are you impressed?
I nod in disbelief. He continues, taking my stunned silence as a cue to keep talking.
“I mean, usually, I don’t like to brag that I’m multitalented, but I think we both enjoyed ourselves last night.” He waggles his eyebrows. “I’m sorry I haven’t texted. My manager’s been riding my ass, making me clean up my image for my stuck-up public relations agent. Apparently, she’s a real bitch. Landon says she’s known for having a giant stick up her ass. I tried everything I could to get out of this, but at the end of the day, if the sponsors aren’t happy, I make a helluva lot less money,” He shrugs. “How about you? Where’d you say you were headed?”
Oh my God. This has to be a joke. Please let this be a horrible joke.I look over my shoulder, praying to see Maggie doubled over in laughter, but there are only a few locals and a family of five.
“Fuck.” My mouth falls open, and I let my head fall back onto the seat.Of all the penises in all of Chicago, you let the only one who you are literally forbidden by contract to touch give you a vaginal tune-up.“Looks like I’m your PR bitch …” I say through gritted teeth. “Did I hear you correctly? You said thatyouwere piloting the plane?”
Jack’s lips curl in a devilish grin. ”Oh, Baby Spice, are you doubting my skills? I don’t remember you complaining last night.” He winks and rubs his hands together. “This is awesome! I mean, I’ve always known I was lucky, but getting to show off my flying skills firsthand and my epic nature skills … It’s like that movieSerendipityor some shit.”
I drag my hands down my face, peering between the gaps in my fingers. This can’t be happening to me right now. “It’s Gwen to you, and this is nothing likeSerendipity. This is a nightmare.” I stand up and pace back and forth, “I can’t get on a plane with you! Even if I thought you were a competent pilot and I wasn’t your guinea pig, I can’t do this! It’s against the company’s covenant. It’s against my own personal covenant!”
I throw my hands above my head as I attempt to calm my frantic breathing. “That was the best dick I’ve had in … in …” I snap my gaze and meet his dark green mischievous eyes.
“Please continue. You know, my ego really enjoys being stroked every now and again.” He stands up to approach me, but I push him away.
“No, Jack … or Willy … whatever your name is! How could you do this to me? Why would you have an internet persona named Willy when your name is Jack?”
