by L. A. Casey
"Okay, you can play with my hair. Just try not to pull it, okay?" I murmured and released Alec's hand.
"Thank you," he said and I could hear the smile in his voice.
Knowing he was smiling made me smile and the realisation of that freaked me out.
I have to remain strong when it comes to Alec.
Very strong.
"Have you had sex with Alec yet?" Aideen asked me as I opened my hall door to her.
I yawned and rubbed my eyes as she pushed by me.
"Good mornin' to you too, sweetie pie," I said as I closed my hall door.
"Mornin'," Aideen sang. "Back to my question, have you shagged Mr. Slater yet?"
"I can answer that for you if you would like?"
I didn't look over my shoulder as Alec spoke but when I moved by Aideen I saw that her mouth was hanging open so I came to the conclusion that he was, once again, shirtless.
"Unfortunately Aideen, Keela's vagina is still unknown territory to me." Alec sighed making Aideen cackle.
I rolled my eyes as I ran the tap and filled up a glass with water.
"You're disgustin'," I said then downed my water and placed my glass in the sink then turned around. I picked up a tea towel then and threw it at Alec who caught it in his right hand.
"Put some clothes on, nobody wants to see your half naked body this early in the mornin'."
"I do," Aideen chimed in.
I glanced to Aideen with distaste. "Let me rephrase that, nobody with any self-respect wants to see your half naked body this early in the mornin'."
Aideen snorted, but didn't say anything while Alec jammed his thumb over his shoulder and said, "It's twelve-thirty in the afternoon, it's not morning anymore."
I felt my eyebrows jump as I flicked my eyes to the clock on the wall behind Alec.
"It's that late?"
Alec smiled. "I told you that you would have a great night's sleep."
He was correct but I wouldn't admit it.
"I didn't get to sleep until three or four this mornin' because of you so obviously I slept in."
I looked at Aideen when she snapped her fingers in my direction. "You didn't get to sleep until three or four this mornin' because of Alec? Girl, you better explain!"
Alec snorted. "It's nothing exciting, trust me."
I hissed at him then looked at Aideen. "He kicked Storm out of me room and made him sleep on the settee because he wouldn't sleep there. He also kicked me a lot durin' the night and I couldn't sleep until I addressed the problem."
"By addressing the problem she means scratching me to death with her razor like toenails."
Aideen cracked up laughing which only heightened my rising temper.
"Fuck you!" I snapped at Alec as I pushed by him and stomped to the bathroom.
I slammed the door behind me to block out Aideen and Alec as I searched for my fucking toenail clippers. I was enraged to find that they were on the counter just like Alec said they were. I angrily sat on the side of my bath and put my foot on the closed toilet seat and went to work clipping my toenails until they were a 'safe' length.
I hated that they were pretty long like Alec said.
"Keela, how long will you be before we can go?" Aideen's now chuckling voice shouted from the kitchen.
I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.
We were going somewhere?
"Go where?" I shouted.
"Shoppin', duh."
Shopping?
"Shoppin' for what?"
I jumped when the bathroom door was suddenly flung open. I don't know why I covered myself with my hands, I wasn't naked but if I were, Aideen would have seen everything.
"Shoppin' for what you're goin' to wear to the weddin', you're flyin' out tomorrow. Seriously Keela, get with it."
I groaned and lifted my hands to scrub my face, shopping for clothes completely slipped my mind.
"I've three hundred fifty euros for everythin', will that be enough?"
I hoped it was enough, that's all I could spare from my savings without putting myself in debt.
Aideen waved me on. "Please, I can make that stretch easily."
I gave Aideen a look. "I want to look nice Ado, not cheap."
Aideen placed her hands on her hips as she said, "We're bringin' sexy back, but on a budget."
I laughed. "You're up for the challenge then?"
Aideen laughed. "I got this, Kay."
I smiled. "I trust you."
I laughed when Alec popped his head around the door frame which made Aideen scream with fright. He chuckled and dodged her swinging hands. He put his arms around her from behind and pinned her hands to her sides.
"Did I just hear you say you have three hundred fifty euros to clothe yourself for this vacation?"
"Death sentence - not a holiday, but yes you did hear that correctly."
Alec shook his head. "No girlfriend of mine will be on a budget when she goes shopping, this is on me."
I looked to Aideen when her eyes all but fell out of her head.
"Can I be you girlfriend, please?"
I rolled my eyes while Alec laughed and said, "Sure you can. I'll always be up for a threesome with you and kitten."
In your dreams, playboy.
"Ha-ha very funny but no, I'm not takin' money from you Alec."
"Why not?" Alec asked.
"Yeah, why not?" Aideen echoed.
Really, her too?
"Because I'm not a leech. I don't need a man's money, I take care of meself."
Aideen groaned. "Give it a rest Kay. Alec wants to help you so let him help."
"Yeah, let me help."
I narrowed my eyes to the blue-eyed baby then huffed.
"He will probably want me to have sex with him as payment for the money."
Alec deadpanned, "Keela, I already told you I won't nag you into fucking me. You will take that route to me when you're good and ready."
I felt my jaw drop open just as Aideen burst out laughing. Alec chuckled also then kissed the crown of her head, released her arms and then left bathroom.
I angrily folded my arms. "Can you believe the filth that comes out of his mouth?"
Aideen smiled. "Yes I can and if you want this to work out you had better keep your mouth shut and put up with him. He is doin' you a favour after all, now hurry up so we can leave already."
I sighed as I stood up from my sitting position on the side of the bath.
"That will be me greatest accomplishment," I said.
Aideen raised her eyebrows and asked, "What will?"
"Just keepin' me mouth shut."
"Make her stop! I can't go into another store, I just can't do it."
I looked at Alec and snickered. He looked like he was about to cry and drop to the ground from tiredness. It was currently six in the evening and we had been out shopping in Dublin City Centre for the last five hours. His tux and dress shoes were the first thing bought because it was straightforward and simple. Alec hung the tux that came in the body bag looking cover up in the back of his Jeep while Keela and I hit a few shops on Grafton Street.
I bought myself all the essentials for a foreign country holiday like bathing suits, towels, sun cream, flip flops, the whole works. When Alec found us in Pennys he too got items a man would need on a holiday to a hot country. His basket was a lot lighter than mine because he literally just bought one pair of slip on shoes, four pairs of neutral coloured shorts, four white t-shirts, four coloured t-shirts, a packet of boxer briefs and a toothbrush. He said he would just make do with whatever I have with me in case he needed anything.
I don't know how much he can make do with female products but I didn't question him because I was tired myself. I was ready to go home an hour into shopping, but Aideen was in her element so I didn't even mention the word home, she probably would have hurt me if I did mention it.
"How long before we can go home?" Alec shouted to Aideen who was a few steps ahead of us.
Aideen turned and smiled. "We have everythin'.
We just need to go to the hairdressers and get Keela's gruig under control."
Alec's face scrunched up in confusion.
I laughed. "What's that attractive face for?"
Alec looked to me and asked, "What does gruig mean?"
"It means hair in gaeilge... in Irish."
Alec raised his eyebrows. "You speak Irish?"
I shrugged. "I'm not fluent, I know most of what Aideen says but I still get stumped every so often."
Alec glanced to Aideen then back to me. "Aideen's fluent?"
I nodded. "Her family is fluent and so is she."
Alec smiled then looked at Aideen. "What is kitten in Irish?"
Aideen laughed and said, "Puisin."
I rolled my eyes and folded my arms across my chest as Alec laughed.
"Oh, that's fucking perfect."
I glared at him. "I don't like bein' called kitten in English let alone in Irish so don't even think about it."
"I can't call you my little puisin then?"
I wanted to laugh, his accent and the pronunciation of puisin was adorable.
"No, you can't."
"We'll see about that."
I growled making him laugh.
"Aideen, how do you say pretty girl in Irish?"
"I would go with cailin deas."
"Spell that for me please," he said then took out his phone and tapped on the screen as Aideen spelt the words.
"What are you doin'?" I asked.
"Texting my brother what pretty girl means in Irish, it will help him out when he and Bronagh are arguing."
I laughed. "You think she will melt?"
Alec looked at me and nodded. "Bronagh will think Dominic went out of his way to find out what his term of endearment for her means in her native language. It will be an instant lay for him."
My face scrunched up. "You're so nasty."
Alec laughed. "I'm just looking out for my bro."
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, let’s just go get me hair done so we can get out of here."
"I second that."
Aideen waved us on so we followed her.
Alec nudged me as we walked. "We have all the materialistic things needed for this wedding, we're pretty much ready on that front. Storm is being doggie sat by Aideen, he will be thrilled about that by the way. All we need is you to be ready... are you?"
I kept looking ahead as we walk.
Was I ready to face Jason, Micah, and the rest of my crazy family?
"We will find out soon enough."
"Do you reckon someone is a terrorist on this plane?" I murmured to Alec when we took our seats in coach.
We were at Dublin airport and arrived here roughly four hours ago. I was a jittery mess from the moment we stepped foot through the entrance doors of the airport and I wasn't any more relaxed now that I was on the plane.
"Jesus, Keela. Lower your voice, you don't say things like that on a plane."
I ignored the hiss in Alec's tone and looked at my surroundings and at every face that was in my view. I jumped when Alec's elbow nudged my arm.
"What?" I snapped.
He looked at me and shook his head. "Why didn't you tell me you were afraid of flying?"
I licked my lips and looked directly at the back of the seat in front of me.
"Because I didn't know I was afraid until I stepped into the airport."
That wasn't a lie; I've never been on a plane before so this was all very unexpected.
Alec rubbed his face with his hands. "Do you feel like you're going to freak out?"
I looked to him with raised eyebrows. "What do you mean by 'freak out'?" I asked, quizzically.
Alec chewed on his lower lip before releasing it. "Do you feel like you're going to scream, cry or do anything else to cause a scene and have us removed from the plane."
I wanted to snap off a snarky reply, but I didn't simply because I didn't know whether I would do any of the things Alec just mentioned.
"I don't know."
Alec cursed and then leaned into me and said, "I don't have any sleeping pills or muscle relaxers on me, but the flight crew might have some. I'll go see if I can get you something to help you relax."
I suddenly panicked when Alec made a move to stand up so I reached out, grabbed Alec's hand and held it tight in mine.
"Don't leave me on me own!"
Alec tried to pull his hand from mine and when I wouldn't release it he grunted and leaned even closer in my direction.
"Keela, I will be right back. They won't take off until everyone is in their seat, I'm no exception."
He was right, they wouldn't take off unless everyone was secure in their seats.
I swallowed my nerves and slowly let go of Alec's hand. I glanced over the seats in front of me and up to the top of the plane where I could see the flight crew moving about.
I looked back at Alec and frowned. "Do you not need written permission for prescribed drugs on planes?"
Alec petted my head. "It's cute you think I need permission for something that I want."
I raised my eyebrows. "How are you goin' to get- Wait, Alec, you aren't going to chat one of them up... are you?"
He simply smiled at me then winked as he stood and slowly moved up the aisle. I was nervous, but not nervous enough to overlook the roaming eyes of my fellow passengers that clung to Alec as he moved.
"Oh, for God's sakes," I muttered.
This was ridiculous, he was hot but some of these women and men were halting their movements and focusing on Alec as he walked by was just stupid. I looked away from Alec and my fellow passengers and busied myself with buckling my seatbelt. I tried tightening it as much as I could but I was slowly suffocating myself and had to loosen it a little. I read the safety booklet that came with my seat and memorised where the exits on the plane where and where my life vest was just in case.
Okay. This was going to be okay.
I was going to be okay.
I smiled and felt myself relax a little until I overheard a conversation from the two men that were seated behind me.
"Did you hear they found the plane that went missing a few weeks ago?" one man said.
"Yes, it crashed somewhere in the ocean, everyone died on impact people were sayin'. I reckon the pilot was in on it-"
I stopped listening to the men and focused on the start of their conversation. A plane crashed into the ocean... and all the passengers died on impact!
Oh, fuck no!
I unbuckled my seatbelt and jumped up to my feet so fast that Usian Bolt would see me as serious competition. I looked up and caught Alec's gaze as he walked down the aisle and towards our seats.
"I have to get off this plane," I said, my chest rapidly rising and falling.
I didn't realise how fast I was breathing but when I noticed, I started to notice everything else. I was sweating, my stomach contents threatened to spill at any given second, and I really needed to take a wee.
"Kitten, look at me."
I shook my head and pushed at Alec's chest when he blocked me into our seats. He was deluded if he thought he was keeping me here. I'd climb over the seats to get off this silver dildo if I had to!
"No, I want to go home. I don't want to be here!"
I heard my voice crack and I felt tears sting my eyes.
I sniffled loudly and lowered my head. "Alec, please, you have to get me out of here."
"Baby, I've have a drink made up for you that will relax you in just a few minutes. I promise you will feel perfectly fine flying after you drink it."
I looked up to Alec and blinked. My blinking caused my tears to fall which Alec frowned over. He lightly smiled at me as he reached out with his left hand and used his thumb to swipe away my tears. I looked away from him and down to his right hand that contained a glass.
"What's in it?" I asked when I looked back up to Alec.
"Something to make you feel better."
I was wary of the drink, Alec, and this entire situation, but I decided t
o take the drink and sit down because when I realised the entire fucking coach section of the plane was looking at me I wanted to die.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to react like that. I just got scared-"
"Hey, you don't need to you apologise to me or anyone else. Do you understand me?" Alec asked.
I nodded my head then lifted the glass to my lips and downed it in one go.
I smacked my lips together a few times before licking them, there was a nice fruity taste from the drink.
"No alcohol?" I questioned.
"No, you shouldn't mix alcohol with a sleeping pill."
Sleeping tablet?
"You gave me a sleepin' tablet?" I asked Alec, wide eyed.
"Yeah, I'm sorry but I figured it would be best for you sleep for the entire flight."
"You decided? How about you let me make my own bloody decisions!" I hissed in a low voice wary of our close proximity to the other passengers.
Alec sighed. "You weren't very reasonable when you were trying to make a break for it off the plane, Keela."
I scoffed. "You seemed you make the best out of that situation though didn't you? Who did you finger fuck in order to get me that drink, huh?"
Alec burst out laughing, and so did the men behind me.
My ears burned as mortification flooded me.
"I hate you!" I growled.
Alec was still laughing as he said, "I like you, kitten."
He was a bastard!
I angrily folded my arms across my chest and looked out the window of the plane. This was quite possibly the worst seat for me to be sat in right now, but looking at the airport distracted me from Alec's stupid self.
I turned forward a few minutes later and leaned back into my seat as I watched the flight crew go through their safety drills. My eyes started to get heavy then and keeping them open became a real struggle.
Time seemed to fold then because suddenly the passengers were fully seated, the crew was in their own area safely strapped into their seats and the plane was moving.
Not only was it moving, but it was up in that damn air.
"Wow!" I shouted.
How did it take off without me noticing?
I all but flattened my face to the small window just so I could see outside.
"That's a big fuckin' cloud!"
I felt hands on me then and laughter in my ear as I was gently pulled back to my seated position.