Page 34 of What It Must Be


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“Not much aside from threatening our teammates the few times she’s come around. Thankfully I didn’t have to do much since our father is a senator. Walker and I have a ten-year gap between us, so by the time she started dating, I was pretty busy with hockey and traveling too much to be as protective as I would’ve liked. Honestly, I think she scares off more guys than Jax or I would.”

“A girl after my own heart,” Scarlett hums.

The rest of the movie goes by in comfortable silence occasionally interrupted by a fit of laughter from Scarlett, and I commit to memory each reaction she has to various scenes.

Just as the end credits roll, the pilot announces we’ve made it to Chicago and requests the flight attendants prepare us for landing. Scarlett stiffens beside me so I take her hand in mine again and offer her a reassuring squeeze.

With her left hand in mine, I attempt to distract her. “Don’t tell me you’ve lost your ring already,” I tease, though I’m also curious to hear why she kept it off.

“No, I just thought since we hadn’t shared our big news with our families yet that I probably shouldn’t be flaunting my massive rock in front of your brother and my grandfather.”

“Good call. Are you worried what they’ll think of us sitting together?” I ask her, gesturing toward the front of the plane where her grandfather sits.

“Not at all. I think it’s good for us to be seen together before we announce our engagement. We’re already going to look like we rushedinto things, but it’d be even more unbelievable, not to mention suspicious, if we went from not speaking for six years to engaged overnight.”

“Valid point. So does that mean we’recourting?”

Scarlett throws back her head and lets out a genuine laugh that nearly steals the breath from my lungs—the sound of it is mesmerizing. “I suppose so. How in the hell do you know that term?”

“My mom was a huge fan ofDownton Abbeywhen I was growing up, and from time to time I’d be guilted into watching it with her.”

“Ah, I love period dramas. I just started watchingOutlanderand I’m hooked.”

“Haven’t heard of it,” I admit.

“I read the books first and just started the first season last week.”

“Should we watch it together?” I ask and she just stares back at me in confusion.

“And why would you want to do that?”

“I don’t know. Carson said he and Dakota watchBridgertontogether. Isn’t that what couples do? Find a show and watch it together?”

“Sure, but shouldn’t we find a show that you’d be interested in watching?”

“I like historical fiction. I’d be willing to give it a shot.”

“It’d be quite the commitment, there’s eight seasons. And you’d have to promise not to show-cheat on me.”

“Show-cheat?” I question her with a quirked brow.

“Yeah, you know, like watch an episode without me there. That’s a surefire way to break off our engagement.”

“I didn’t realize you were scared off so easily.”

“I’m not.” She chuckles and bumps her shoulder into mine. “Thank you, by the way.”

“For what?”

“This,” she says, gesturing at our joined hands. “For being just the distraction I needed to get through this flight without a mental breakdown. It took all the courage in me to put one foot in front of the other and board the plane. I’m not sure I could’ve gotten through the flight without you.”

“You could’ve, but I guarantee you wouldn’t have had as much fun. Besides, you not only got to fawn over Heath Ledger, but you also got to ogle your fiancé in a suit.” I wink at her, and it’s only then I notice the plane has landed and Jax has decided to turn from his seat in front of us with a shit-eating grin.

Fuck, this can’t be good.

“Did I just hear you correctly or have my ears yet to pop?” he whisper-hisses, looking over his shoulder to ensure no oneelseis listening.

“That depends, what do you think you heard?” Scarlett asks with narrowed eyes.