Page 89 of Down Beat
THIRTY-THREE
Rey
“Shadows” - Red
“Time to wake up, babe.” I lean across and kiss her temple as the flight attendant announces we’ve started our descent.
We caught the red-eye flight after what can only be described as one uncomfortable as fuck evening on the terminal floor. Uncomfortable, but nice. It felt good to be needed. I felt good to have somebody happy to just be. No expectations, no schedule to keep. Just her and me, chilling, being, existing.
I never knew how much I missed that until I realized it was something I’ve never had.
Without a doubt, it would have been more practical to stay at Tabby’s, but after the showdown last night I can’t blame the woman for wanting to have the space away from her roommate. Café Girl tore me a new asshole after I shoved four hundred dollars in her bag as we headed for the door. Bitch refused to take the bills from my hand, so what else was I going to do? I can’t up and kidnap her roommate and expect her to cover costs on her own.
No matter how much she doesn’t approve.
I wasn’t being intentionally difficult; that’s just who I am.
“Kitty.” I nudge her arm when she refuses to wake.
Her eyes open and shut a few times before she straightens in her seat and stretches out. “Are we there?”
“Almost. Put your belt on.”
Messed up hair, and next to no makeup, she’s still the best thing I’ve sat beside in a long time. “Feel better?”
She shrugs, eyeballing the attendant who waits on her to buckle up. “Maybe. This whole thing still feels so surreal.”
“I know, but I’m happy you came.” I reach out and ruffle her hair.
Not the smoothest thing to do, I know, but I’m awkward when I’m nervous. And nervous is exactly what I am. Fuck—I didn’t sleep a wink last night, arms around her while I stared at the ceiling. My mind swirled like a fucking kaleidoscope, unable to focus on any one thought in particular, good or bad.
What if she freaks out under pressure and heads home?
What if the guys don’t make her feel welcome? Or Wally won’t let her play?
What if this whole idea is a mistake on my part and she doesn’t change a goddamn thing?
Tabby doesn’t say anything more as the flight attendant moves on. Simply runs her fingers through her ruffled hair and then pushes her head back into the seat to indicate she’s done.
I roll my neck to face the window, watching the city grow beneath us as we come in to land. I honestly thought she’d change her mind when Kendall gave her that out. After all, I’d just wrapped up being a right asshole at the mini-mart down the street. It wasn’t my conscious intention to make her mad enough to refuse to come, but maybe that’s what my subconscious wanted out of it all?
Why else would I beg her to join me, and then be a right fucking bastard about it?
Am I scared of letting her get close? A little. Am I terrified of failing to get better with her guidance and merely pulling her under with me? Totally.
It’s one thing to loathe the journey you’re on when it’s this troubled and dark, but it’s a whole other level of assholery to forcibly take somebody along for the ride.
“Who’s picking us up?”
I turn back to face her, smacked yet again with how fucking lucky I am. “Rick’s making the trip.” Why the hell a good soul like her wants to get messed up with one like mine, I don’t know.
“How much trouble are you in?” She lifts an eyebrow, showing the hint of a smile.
I grin. “Loads.” She makes it totally worth it, though.
A sigh falls from her lush lips as she leans her head against my shoulder. “I hope they honestly don’t mind having me along. You better not be making it out to be less of a problem than it is.”
I totally am, but I’m also convinced they’ll soon see the method in my madness when they witness what Tabby does for me. I’ve found the fucking Holy Grail. Like hell I’m letting it go over something as petty as luggage allowance.