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16
WHAT AM I DOING?
In the history of bad decisions, this one has to be in my top ten. Maybe even top three. Two. Fuck, what am I doing?
As the fasten seatbelt light turns off, my anxiety skyrockets. The airplane has reached cruising altitude, and that little dinging sound zips through my body, making me vibrate like a tuning fork. I hit the point of no return the moment the flight attendants closed the cabin doors, but somehow it didn’t sink in until this moment.
Jesse is going to be so pissed at me.
After the Viking twins left yesterday, he grabbed his phone and booked a flight––a single ticket for himself. I argued until I was blue in the face, demanding he let me come with him. But Jesse was unmovable.
“It’s too dangerous, Eden. If my father is indeed dying, there has to be foul play. Someone did this to him, and I need to find out who and force them to reverse whatever they did. I can’t bring you into the middle of this. I…care too much about you to risk your safety.”
Those words have played over and over again in my head. That tiny pause made my heart flutter, and I was sure he’d almost said something different. Something…deeper. Something I’m starting to feel, myself.
Which is insane, because we’ve only known each other a few weeks.
Nevertheless, I feel something strong, and those feelings are the reason I made the questionable decision to book my own flight just a few hours after his plane took off yesterday. The queasiness in my gut that refused to subside made up my mind. The driving force of my anxiety outweighed my common sense.
He’s going to need me. I’m sure of it. Despite being only human. Despite knowing I will be a distraction, and if Jesse has to focus on protecting me from whatever he’s on his way to face…
I shake my head in an attempt to clear the doom and gloom. Jesse asked me to stay behind, but he didn’t use his powers to force the issue. That has to mean something, doesn’t it? His head might’ve told him not to bring me along, but his heart refused to let him compel me into obeying.
My rationalization does little to calm my nerves, and when the flight attendant stops by to take my drink order, I request a double Bloody Mary. It’s still morning, and for some reason, that particular cocktail seems like an acceptable breakfast choice.
“Some tea would do a better job of easing those jitters.”
I look to my left and meet the gaze of the older lady seated next to me. She’s been quiet since our initial greeting, but apparently, my nervous tension hasn’t gone unnoticed. Her gaze returns to the yarn she’s been knitting, and her lips move silently as if she’s talking to herself.
When I look back at the waiting attendant, my desire for alcohol abates, and tea actually sounds fantastic.
“Cancel the Bloody Mary,” I say, giving her an apologetic smile. “I’ll have––”
“Hot water,” the old woman interjects, and my head whips toward her. She smiles softly, saying, “I have the most delightful lavender tea. It will have you relaxed in a jiffy, and will taste much better than anything the airline has to offer.”
She shoots the flight attendant a smile, and I follow her gaze with a nod. “Hot water, please.”
When my cup of hot water arrives, the old woman pulls a vintage-looking tin from her bag. She takes of pinch of dried leaves and sprinkles them into my cup, advising me to let it steep for a few minutes.
“I’m Eden, by the way,” I say, giving her a small smile.
“Theodora,” she says with a nod. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Eden.”
“Likewise.”
We sit in easy silence for several moments before she nods toward my cup. “Drink your tea, dear. And focus on things that make you happy and relaxed as you sip it.”
I pick up my cup and take a tentative sip. It’s good. Really good, even without cream or sugar. Giving Theodora a smile of thanks, I sip the tea and do what she said. I think of my books. Chocolate ice cream. Ladybugs.
Jesse.
My body seems to relax, and I lean back in my seat as my eyelids start to droop. At Theodora’s whispered urging, I manage to finish the tea. I set the paper cup on my fold-down tray and close my eyes with a contented sigh. Thoughts of Jesse roll through my mind, growing fuzzier and fuzzier as the seconds tick by.
I wake with a start, looking left to right as the plane’s engine noise roars in my ears and the vessel bumps lightly against the ground. Looking past Theodora to peer through the window, I see a huge building with airplanes lined up along the side.
LAX. I made it.
“How was your nap, dear?”
