She flushed pink and nodded then got out of the car. I waited until she had disappeared into the office before I buried my head against the steering wheel and let out a loud groan. There goes my day off.
I was so busy thinking about all the things I needed to do that I forgot to call Nathan. By the time I got to the house, he was also pulling in and I muttered a small curse under my breath. I hesitated before coming out of my car wondering how I was going to break the news to him that I was going to have to cancel.
After a second of deliberating, I figured it was now or never and I opened the door.
“I thought you had a day off,” he began as I got out of the car. “What changed?”
“There’s been a tiny mess up with the flight and I have to call the airline and try and see if I can get tickets for today. It is just a complete mess and the day hasn’t even started yet.”
“Marissa messed it up?” he asked as if it was an impossible concept to grasp. “She is one of the most competent people I have ever met.”
“I was as shocked as you were. I don’t know what’s been going on with her lately but I told her I would figure it out and now I actually have to do that. Everything is such a mess and I planned on sleeping in-”
“I’ll handle it,” he said as if it was the simplest thing in the world and I turned to him mid rant.
I blinked at him as if he had spoken a foreign language and I couldn’t stop the word before it left my lips. “What did you say?”
“Would you prefer if I said it in French because I can?” he asked and I delivered a sharp elbow to his side. “Honestly Adira, relax, I will handle it.”
My first instinct was to tell him that I could do it. I am so used to doing things for myself that even help seemed foreign to me but then a softer voice in my head told me to just let him. The worst case scenario is that he doesn’t handle it and I end up leaving tomorrow. Jet lag will be a bitch and I would have to get ready straight from the airport but I think I can do it.
I sighed and nodded. Nathan smiled and led me towards the house. It felt weird for me to just let things go. Usually I would panic for a few minutes, maybe drown myself in junk food and then start scrambling for a solution. It felt different but for once I just decided to let someone else take charge.
Nathan and I spent the day in a very productive manner. I had completely lost track of time that it wasn’t until I got a text from Miles asking when we were leaving that I remembered that we were supposed to travel. I started to panic again and Nathan told me that he had everything sorted out already.
Nathan took my phone to text both Miles and Marissa and he didn’t give it back to me because he knew I would freak out. While he spoke to them, I changed into sweats and a t- shirt for the trip so I would be comfortable.
We drove Nathan’s car to the airport and when we got there, I found the other two waiting for us. I expected us to go through the usual security checks but instead, we were led through another route. At first I was confused about what was happening and then I saw it.
It was sleek and white and pristine. My mouth fell open and I turned to Nathan with wide eyes. He had a small smirk playing on his lips and he took in my shocked expression. He was pulling my box behind him without a care in the world while I was staring jaw slacked at the private jet in front of us.
“Did you rent out a private jet?” I asked incredulously.
“Of course not,” he said as if it was a completely absurd idea. “I own a private jet.”
My brows disappeared behind my hairline and Nathan laughed then used his pointer finger to tap the bottom of my chin.
“Close your mouth sunshine, you’ll catch flies.”
He handed my box to the attendants and gestured for me to go up the stairs. I turned back to gauge everyone’s reactions and Marissa was as stunned as I was. She was staring wide eyed as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing while Miles looked more stoic faced but I could still see in his eyes that he was impressed.
The interior screamed sophistication and luxury. There were leather seats curved around what I assume are handcrafted tables. The lights inside were turned down to cast a sort of warm glow over the space. I was completely in shock as I took it all in and I felt Nathan’s hand at the small of my back as he guided me towards a seat.
He sat right next to me and two hostesses came to ask us if we needed anything. All I could do was shake my head and they moved on to Marissa and Miles who were seated behind us. I waited until the aircraft was in the air before I turned to Nathan.
“When you said you were going to handle it all, I didn’t think you meant this,” I began. “I didn’t even think you owned a jet.” He raised a brow and I mentally face palmed myself. “I didn’t mean it like that; you just don’t strike me as the kind of person who does.”
“I understand, don’t worry,” he assured me. “My parents were well off, not crazy rich but good enough and I used the money I inherited from them to invest in some major businesses like Grayson’s, so journalism and film isn’t my only source of income.”
“That is crazy smart,” I said after a beat of silence. “What did you end up doing with the tickets?”
“I asked Olivia to come with your parents.”
I paused and blinked once, then twice and I turned to him. He was staring at me with a blank expression and I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out.
“Olivia has work tomorrow.”
“I guess that’s what happens when you’re friends with everyone.”
