Page 13 of Wants and Needs
“I have way too many good friends who are football players to answer that. I think Derek’s amazing as well.”
“You mean Derek Johnson?” Ed asks. “He plays safety for LA.”
“That’s right,” I confirm.
“He’s married to Hawk Storm. Are you close with them too?”
“Oh, yes I am. I’ve known Derek almost since we all started at Cavendish. He became quick friends with Adam because of football and I did the same because of classes. He brought all his friends together, and so I know all of them pretty well. Though I don’t get to see Derek and Hawk nearly as much as I’d wish, I’m actually flying to California tomorrow for another friend’s birthday and I’ll see all of them there.”
“Wolf’s boyfriend, CJ,” Ed says. “London told us you went to pick up a gift for him.”
“Yeah, I couldn’t think of anything and she helped me pick out the perfect gift.”
Because for... whatever reason I feel so attuned to him, I notice the second Liam’s body freezes, and then when his gaze lands on me. It’s like a shot of attention straight to my veins, and a bit exhilarating if I’m honest. So I don’t look away from Ed in the hopes that Liam will keep looking directly at me.
“We’re also going,” Sam suddenly says, and it takes my brain a second to latch on.
“To CJ’s party?” I ask, just to make sure, and she nods. “All the kids were invited too, since we’ve been close to the Storm boys all their lives, but none of them can make it this?—”
“I’m going,” Liam interrupts his mother with a shout that finally makes me look at him again.
He’s staring intently at Sam who’s sitting next to him.
“What?” She reels back, a frown on her face. “But you said?—”
“That I’d go,” he interrupts her again. Then they’re staring at each other for a long time, and I go back to eating, hoping to figure out why I feel like shifting on my seat suddenly.
“That’s right, I’m sorry sweetheart, it must’ve slipped my mind,” I hear Sam tell Liam in a very motherly tone. This time there’s a different reason completely why I don’t look up, but something tells me I’m supposed to say something.
“Then I’ll see you on Saturday as well.” I make sure to infuse all the cheer I can muster in my words so it makes up for me not looking up and piling on food like a starving man.
“You will,” Ed says, and then he thankfully takes the attention away from me and asks London about her time in England.
She already told me all about it on the plane, so I use the time to get a good grip on my emotions. When I feel in control again and look up, it’s to see Liam staring right into my soul. This time he holds eye contact for two seconds, and then we both look away.
The sun isn’t even out yetwhen we take off on Theo’s dad’s private jet, and everyone is exhausted.
There’s complete silence in the cabin, and I don’t mind it one bit, though it was surprising when Sebas didn’t even ask me why I didn’t go to the gallery yesterday. He told me it was fine when I texted, and assured me he never expected me to work after my transatlantic flight, just like Rachel, the other manager of CJ’s gallery told me she has everything under control.
But it is unusual for Sebas not to be nosy, and now that I look at him, sleeping with his mouth wide open and his head resting on Adam’s shoulder, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Sebas so early in all the years I’ve known him.
I’m smart enough to know he’s going to interrogate the hell out of me when he’s feeling more human.
Their daughter, Daniela—Dani for short—is sleeping peacefully in the crib attached to the front wall, while Mike, Theo, and their two dogs, take up the back of the plane on the two couches.
Dani’s almost a year and a half old now, and can finally sleep through the whole night, so we’ve all made extra sure not to wake her. Adam even had me go up into the plane before them to let the flight attendant and pilots know not to make too muchnoise. She could have woken up with all the noise when we took off, and all that effort would’ve been pointless, but she only fussed a little, and didn’t even open her eyes when Adam offered her her binky.
We’re served breakfast four hours in, and slowly everyone starts acting more alive and actually talking.
It’s only after Adam is done feeding Dani and carries her to the bathroom that Sebas’s eyes lock on me, and they narrow.
Here we go.
“What did you end up doing yesterday?”
The question is simple enough. I could very well tell him I just went home and crashed, but there’s no reason to lie. Not even the simple reason that I feel compelled to is good enough.
“I was actually invited to dinner at Samantha Sawyer and Ed Trent’s home.”
