Oh my god! The embarrassment is overwhelming, especially when his eyes widen in surprise. He has to think I’m a weirdo. What sixteen-year-old hasn’t been kissed yet? It seems like everyone back home makes out all the time. It’s annoying. Mostly because I want to be kissed, but I have too many nerves and I don’t want it to be just anyone, so these lips remain kiss-free.
Ian’s hand cups my cheek to turn my head toward him. “Close your eyes again.” The plane begins to move and I do. Why am I doing this? Why is he touching me?
My stomach somersaults, but I don’t know if it’s from Ian’s hand on my cheek, the feel of his forehead now against mine, or because we’re picking up speed and I really, really hate takeoffs. My hand tightens around Ian’s. I take a deep breath that is completely stolen when a soft brush of lips grazes against mine.
Oh.
My.
God.
My first kiss!
A jostle of the plane nearly snaps me out of it until Ian’s tongue glides across my closed mouth in a somehow gentle but demanding way, wanting in. I break into a smile, laughing a little because this situation—a random guy I met in the airport giving me my first kiss to calm my nerves—is so utterly ridiculous, but a tongue enters my mouth and I forget why I was laughing. My mouth takes over, moving hungrily in harmony with Ian, and it’s like all the nerves in my body have come alive.
Wow.
This is amazingly awesome and terrific and I need more of this. The kiss is frantic. Is that a low groan I hear from Ian? How can kisses be so consuming and good, especially with someone I barely know? Ian’s mouth slows, the tongue is gone, and one quick kiss is pressed to my forehead. My eyes are still closed; I can’t open them yet and ruin this feeling. There’s a current of adrenaline coursing through me. It’s delicious, making me nearly delirious. If I’d known kissing was going to be like that, I would have crossed it off my list a long time ago. I’ve been missing out.
Ian chuckles. “We’re in the air, gorgeous. You can open your eyes now.”
I open my eyes and sure enough, a quick glance out the window proves we’re in the air. That’s the first time the takeoff didn’t bother me. I didn’t even realize we were taking off. All future flights should start this way.
But they won’t.
I highly doubt I’ll see Ian ever again once we get off this plane. Why that makes me sad, I don’t know. Just because a guy is nice to you in an airport and gives you your first kiss doesn’t mean the two of you are destined for great things. Unfortunately. Ian is hot and seems to be really nice so far.
“I bet you don’t have a truck that squats,” I mutter aloud.
Ian turns his head sharply to look at me. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“No, tell me.”
“It was just a stupid thought that I didn’t mean to say.”
“I don’t care. Tell me.”
Goodness, he’s persistent. “I said I bet you don’t have a truck that squats.” Ian looks confused. “You know, where the bed sits lower than the front. It looks so stupid, I think, but they think they’re hot shit.”
“For real?”
“Yep.”
Ian starts laughing.
“I don’t like riding in them either.”
His laughter dies. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
“No.” I wouldn’t have let him kiss me if I did!
“Then what are you doing riding around in stupid-looking trucks?”
Oh. “Just because I have doesn’t mean it was recent.”
He only nods. I realize we’re still holding hands. That’s weird, right? Ian shifts in his seat and brings them to rest on his leg as if he knows I’m contemplating pulling away and he wants to make it a little hard. If I do it now, it’d be obvious and I’d rather make it more sneaky and subtle.
Even his leg is warm! There’s only the cotton material of his gym shorts separating the skin of my hand from his leg, but I can still feel the heat. My cheeks start to warm again and I try thinking about other things like flying and naked old people and—that did it. I can stop now.
“Do you like where you live?” Ian asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah, I guess so. It’s a small town and people know too much and gossip too much and know everyone. I’d like to move to Raleigh or Charlotte once I’m older to put some space between the small-town life and me, but without leaving North Carolina. The weather is too perfect to move to another part of the country.”
“So, do you know what you want to go to college for yet?”
I groan. “No, Mother.” The corners of his mouth quirk in amusement. “I have time. Do you know what you want to go to college for?”
“Something in math or history. Those are the only subjects I’m good in and it’s something my parents would go for.”
“See, you might like my book, then! It’s set in a different time period. There you go. History.”
Ian laughs and shakes his head. “Doubtful.”
The flight attendant has finally made it to us to hand out our complimentary drinks. I use this as my opportunity to pull my hand from Ian’s, even though I had gotten comfortable. It was so comfortable that it was starting to get weird. It’s unnatural that we have this easygoing thing between us.
“Do you like where you live? Never mind. Dumb question. You decided to stay there with your dad instead of moving with your mom, so obviously you like it.” What else could I ask him? “What’s your middle name? What’s your last name?” I tack on, realizing I don’t know it either.
“Ian Adam Rhett. Thank god I wasn’t named Ethan or something or my initials would spell ear. You?”
I giggle, thinking of what it would be like to have those initials. “Sydney Mackenzie Jarvis.”
“Wait. Is your dad a dentist?”
My shoulders slump. “Yeah. How’d you know?”
“Jarvis isn’t a name I hear often and so far, your dad seems like a total asshole. I don’t really like my dentist, and turns out, that’s your dad. Go figure.”
It’s somewhat comforting that he knows who my dad is. It makes him more real, more like someone who can be trusted. Usually, I’d defend my dad, but not today. If he’s waiting for me at the airport, then I’ll feel guilty about it, but I’ll worry about that later.
“So, do you have any siblings?”
“Well, I have a younger half-sister, Rachel, from my dad’s new marriage and with my mom’s new marriage, I have a stepbrother, Logan. He’s actually the same age as I am. He offered to come with me, but I stupidly told him I would be okay.”
“You guys are close?”
“Yeah. We weren’t at first, but he’s become like a real brother to me now. Sometimes, he’s a real pain in the ass, but I’m really glad to have him as part of the family. What about you?”
“Older sister and younger sister; both a pain in the ass all the time.”
I laugh as he shakes his head. “That bad, huh?”
“Yeah. It hasn’t been so bad since they decided to jump ship and live with my mom. It’s been nice for there to be no women in the house for a change. Lot quieter. Less shit on the counter.”
“Oh, but what do you poor things do about dinner?” I roll my eyes. It almost sounds like the house was ran by women and they’ve been left to their own devices.
“Hey, we can cook. We’re fucking awesome in the kitchen.”
The lady in the aisle seat frowns, probably because he’s cussing. I wonder if she frowned when he kissed me earlier, too.
“Really?” I ask.
“Yeah. Dad made me help him shortly after Mom left. I didn’t want to at first, but it’s cool now.”
We talk about these kinds of things for the rest of the flight. He easily feels like a new friend by the end of it. It seems he likes his dad more than his mom. He speaks more highly of him and about him more often anyway. I turn off airplane mode as soon as I can to see if there’s any word from Dad, but there’s nothing. Ian reaches
over and squeezes my knee.
“I’ll wait with you.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’m sure he’s only running a little late. Or, maybe he’s here waiting for me.”
“I won’t leave you to wait all by yourself.” There’s a determination in his voice and though I’ll try once more, I have a feeling there’s no changing his mind.
“Isn’t your dad going to be here?”
“Yeah, and he won’t leave you to wait either.”
Well, what argument am I supposed to have for that? Dad better not let me down. It’s embarrassing if he’s a no-show, especially since I can’t get rid of Ian and possibly his dad. Ian takes my carry-on again. It’s weird, but nice. Lots of guys back home claim to be true Southern gentlemen with manners, but I open doors for myself, carry heavy stuff without much help, and things like that. I wonder who instilled these things into Ian. His mom or his dad? Both?
Dad isn’t waiting for me, but Ian spots his father easily. I see some of Ian’s features in the older man. The similar build. The same hair color. The same green eyes.
“Who’s this?” Mr. Rhett asks after greetings between them are exchanged.
“This is Sydney Jarvis, the dentist’s daughter. She’s in town for her grandmother’s funeral. Her dad isn’t here yet.”
“Yeah,” Mr. Rhett interrupts. “His car was at his house; I drove by it on the way here, but he could’ve left after I did. I’m always early.”
“Well, can we wait with her?”
“Yes, of course.” We follow Mr. Rhett to a trio of seats and I try calling my father. It rings and rings and rings, but no answer. I call the house phone.
“Hello!” my half-sister, Rachel, who is three, answers.
“Rachel, is Daddy there?”
“Daddy! Daddy!”
“Can you give the phone to Daddy, Rachel?”
“No!” She giggles and the line goes dead. I call back, but it rings busy. Crap. She probably didn’t put it back on the hook right. She has a knack for doing that.
He hasn’t left if her devious giggle can be trusted.
“Y’all really don’t have to wait with me. I guess I should find a taxi or something.”
Ian takes my hand, interlacing our fingers, and gives them a squeeze. My gaze flicks to his dad, who is watching with surprise and interest. “You don’t think he’s coming?”
“Well, last time this happened, it took him an hour to show, and I’d hate for y’all to be stuck with me for that long.”
Mr. Rhett surprises me by speaking over Ian’s response. “Have you talked to him at all today?”
“No, sir.”
He nods. “We’ll give him fifteen minutes and then we’ll give you a lift home, if that’s okay.”
If I were to tell my mom that a guy I met on the plane apparently knows Dad and he and his dad were offering to give me a ride to his house, she’d have a fucking cow. But I feel safe. Shouldn’t red flags be going off if something wasn’t right?
“Are you sure?”
“We pass by his house on our way home,” he says with a nod.
“Okay, thanks. That’d be great.”
“Do you want to let your mom know the latest or anything?”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot to let her know I landed, too.” I’ll leave out that Ian and Mr. Rhett are taking me home, but in a just-in-case safety measure, I text Logan, who promptly calls me. “Excuse me.” I stand and walk away.
“Are you out of your ever-loving mind, Syd?”
“Don’t yell at me. I’m pretty sure they are legit.”
“Pretty sure? What if you come home in a body bag? How are you pretty sure?”
“Ian is the one who brought up my dad being a dentist.”
“That’s it?” His voice takes on an incredulous tone.
“It’s enough for me.”
“I want you to text me constantly and if you go two minutes without responding to me, I’m telling your mom to call the cops.”
“Deal.”
Logan is quiet for a moment. “So, he must be hot, then?”
I laugh. “I’m hanging up now.”
“Text me. Two minutes and not a second longer.”
I end the call and text him as I walk over to Ian and Mr. Rhett. The fifteen minutes seem to pass quickly. Logan is more freaked out than I am as I text him the update that we’re about to leave the airport. Mr. Rhett drives an old truck, and there’s only one row of seats. Ian takes the middle, so I can have the passenger seat.
“Sorry for the tight space, Sydney. If I’d known I was picking up an extra passenger, I would’ve driven Ian’s ride,” Mr. Rhett comments.
“It’s okay. You have a car?” I ask Ian.
He shrugs. “It’s nothing special, but it does have a backseat.” He grins and I laugh softly. Then, I blush because my mind turns dirty, thinking of things that can happen in a backseat.
The ride is relatively quiet for the rest of the way. Ian’s knee brushes mine every so often. I’m not sure if it’s on purpose or pure coincidence because the road is bumpy at times. Either way, my skin tingles where his skin touches mine.
“Thank you so much,” I say as Mr. Rhett pulls into the driveway.
“No problem.”
“Hey, hand me your phone,” Ian tells me. When I hesitate, he smiles and adds, “Please?” I hand it to him and he enters his number into my contacts. “If you need anything while you’re here, text me.”
“Thanks.” When he gives it back, I see that he also sent a text to himself, so he’d have my number, too. I hop out of the truck, wave goodbye, and head inside. There’s a lot of cars here, including my dad’s. I knock on the door. This isn’t my home and I’ve never felt comfortable here. I don’t want to waltz inside.
Dad answers, his eyes widening the moment he sees me. “Shit. How’d you get here?”
I shake my head. He’s not even going to apologize for forgetting me? “I found a way, no thanks to you. Are you going to let me in?” He steps aside. People are everywhere. I don’t recognize most of them. “Can I lie down for a while?”
“Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll come get you when it’s time to eat. I’m glad you’re here, Sydney.”
Instead of answering him, I respond to the latest text from Logan and let him know that I’m safe and sound with Dad. Oddly, I wish I was back with Ian and Mr. Rhett. At least they seemed to want me around. Dad doesn’t even hug me. This is going to be such a long trip.
“What are you doing, son?” Dad asks from the doorway of my room.
“I feel like I need to go to the funeral.”
“Sydney’s grandmother’s funeral?”
“Yeah. We were texting last night, and she said her dad didn’t apologize to her. She took a nap, he didn’t wake her for dinner, so she ate alone, and she’s had to watch her three-year-old half-sister, who she’s only been around a handful of times. She said being here has made her miss her grandma even more, and she feels alone. I should go and support her.” I glance over to find him frowning.
“You don’t know this girl, Ian.”
“Yet we gave her a ride home.”
“Because you pushed us into that and we sort of know her father. What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing. We talked the entire time; I got to know her.”
Dad watches me as I tie my tie and I know he’s thinking. I’m already in a suit, so it’ll be hard to change my mind after I’ve gone through the effort of getting dressed nicely. It’s hard to change my mind after I make a decision, regardless. He takes a deep breath. “Want me to go with you?”
“No, that’s okay.”
He nods as if he was expecting that answer. “Don’t get too attached, son. She doesn’t live here.”
“Attached?” I scoff. “Who said anything about that?”
He raises an eyebrow at me. Right. I’m going to the funeral of a woman I don’t know for a girl I met yesterday in an airport. I’m attached already...in a friendly manner.
“Maybe I’ll hang out with her afterward if she wants. That okay?”
“You aren’t hanging with Bruce?”
“Nah, I already canceled.” Bruce is my buddy I texted yesterday in the airport; we were supposed to hang out today, but now, I have other plans.
“Okay. Keep me posted and maybe I’ll cook dinner around the time you’ll be home.”
“Deal.” I grab my keys, slap him on the shoulder as I’m about to pass him, but Dad stops me.
“You’re doing a nice thing for her.”
I’m totally doing this for her and not for any selfish reasons like the need to see her again and spend more time with her. “Yeah.” With that, I leave the house. Thank goodness Sydney decided to overshare yesterday. I know where and when the funeral is being held. I should get there with enough time to spare to find her. Maybe this isn’t a big mistake. Maybe she won’t think I’m creepy for showing up like this. I don’t know why I care so much about what she thinks, but I’m drawn to her and I like her, so there you go.
There’s quite a few people here. I’m assuming some of them flew in, like Sydney had to, since the Jarvis family isn’t from here, but I’d bet some of them are friends of the family who were acquired while living here as well. I walk through the throng of people until I spot her. She’s in a black dress, her brown hair hanging down her back, and she’s standing a few feet away from a group of people.
Completely alone like she feared.
She jumps and swivels around when I tap her shoulder.
“Ian! What are you doing here?”
“Just thought I’d come so you wouldn’t be alone.”
Sydney searches my eyes for so long, I start to think this was such a bad idea. But then, she throws her arms around my neck. “Thank you,” she whispers.
My arms carefully sling around her waist like I’m worried I’ll scare her off. Damn. She’s perfect in my arms. This is where she needs to be. Clearing my head of such thoughts, I mutter, “Welcome.”
“Sydney, who’s this?”
She pulls away and turns to face an older gentleman. “This is a friend of mine—”
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