“Jesus, is this your first time flying?”
I shook my head again aggressively. “No. I just remembered I’m not a f-fan.” Speed picked up massively and I felt Scott lift my fingers off the handle and into his, squeezing it tight.
“Look at me.” I turned to his soft voice, his eyes holding mine. “Breathe.” He tucked a small strand of hair behind my ear but kept his hand on my face just as we began to takeoff. I sucked in a breath just as Scott leaned in to kiss me. Pressing his lips hard against mine. Releasing only to whisper “You’re okay,” before returning with a softer kiss.
He held onto me until the plane leveled out. His eyes were everything. Unjudging, compassionate, gentle. I released a calm breath. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I smiled at the sentiment. But I rarely took promises like that seriously.
“What?” he asked, as if reading my thoughts.
“I appreciate it, but it’s an unrealistic vow to make.”
“Why’s that?” he frowned.
“Because there will be things out of your control.”
His face fell. “As long as I can help it. As long as I am with you, near you, I won’t let anyone or anything hurt you.” He promised again, more specifically this time.
“You’re very sure of yourself.”
He shook his head. “I’m sure of you. I know I don’t know a lot about you. But over the past few weeks, I learned enough to realize that there won’t ever be anyone like you. And if you give me a chance, I’ll prove to you that there won’t ever be anyone like me.
I already know that.
Perfect. This man was perfection and I was only setting us up for disaster.
The flight attendant brought our drinks and I reached for it instantly, taking a large sip.
I heard Scott whisper to keep them coming and laughed to myself.
“I rarely fly,” I admitted. “The last time had to be over four years ago for my sister’s wedding. It was also the last time I saw my family. Before that, I only flew once—when I left California.”
“When was that?”
“When I dropped out of UC Berkeley in my second year.”
“You went to Berkeley? Seventeen percent acceptance rate. I’m impressed.”
“I wasn’t. That’s why I checked myself out and found a life in New York. Took a few classes in something I was interested in and…” I shrugged. Deciding to skip the part where I’d met Ron and quickly became the city’s most wanted event planner.
“I take it your parents weren’t thrilled.”
“My mother might as well had disowned me for leaving Berkeley. Mocked me for every choice I’d made ever since, from job to boyfriend to the gifts I’d send for her birthdays.”
He frowned. “I’m sorry. That’s got to be rough.”
It would, if I cared anymore.
“I have my fathers support and he’s enough.”
Scott seemed genuinely satisfied with that bit of information. As if the support of one of my parents was sufficient for him.
The second round came and I wasted no time on that one either. I frowned. “They skimped out on the olives this time.” I held up the toothpick with one crushed olive on it.
He laughed. “Here, take mine.” He pulled out an olive with his pick.
