Page 83 of Eleven of a Kind

“Yeah.” He chuckled. “Love you, bro.”

“Love you too, my brother.”

* * *

Piper

“Wait!” I shouted as I ran to my gate. “Don’t shut that door!”

“One more second, and you wouldn’t have been able to get on,” the attendant spoke with irritation.

“I’m sorry. Traffic was a bitch, and so was security.” I scanned my ticket.

I entered the plane and stopped when I saw Gabriel sitting in first class.

“Gabriel?”

He looked up with a shocked look on his face.

“Piper? What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I have a medical conference in Seattle.”

“Well, I have a father to cuss out.”

“Miss, you need to take your seat,” the flight attendant said.

I had the aisle seat across from where Gabriel’s window seat was.

“Would you mind switching seats with me?” I asked the man who sat next to Gabriel.

“Um, yes, I do mind.”

I furrowed my brows as I sat down. “Why? What’s the difference? It’s the same seat, just a different side.”

“I happen to like this side. It’s the side I always sit on.”

“Life’s too short to be so boring. Mix things up. Please. Pretty please,” I said.

“No, lady. I’m not switching with you.”

“Why are you so mean?”

Gabriel snickered, and the guy looked at him.

“I’m not mean. This is the seat I paid for, and this is where I’m staying,” the grumpy man said.

“Fine.”

“May I get you something to drink?” the flight attendant asked.

“I’ll have a mimosa.” I leaned over to talk to Gabriel. “So, you’re attending a medical conference?”

“Yeah. I’ll be in Seattle for three days.” He leaned over the man. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

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