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“We should get going,” I tell him once I’ve gotten myself under control.
I look in the direction Tenn headed. Thankfully, he’s jogging back over, though it’s odd that he made it so far without me noticing. Then again, my mind was reeling and then there was a sleepy-looking Austen. How in the world am I supposed to notice anything else?
The three of us got through the boarding process without much trouble. The attendants give me wide-eyed glances as I pass. They don’t speak up yet. I stop the one standing near our seats to tell her what I tell every set of flight attendants when I go commercial.
“If you can ensure I’m not heavily bothered, I’ll sign whatever the staff wants and do a group selfie when we land. Can you help with that?”
Viola, according to her name tag, nods rapidly before rushing down the aisle to the others. I’m sure she’ll share my deal with them. So far, I’ve never had anyone turn it down. And I’m definitely not above selling little pieces of me off to make the plan ride bearable.
“I wish you didn’t have to do that,” Austen whispers.
“It’s part of the business. I promise it’s not a big deal.”
Tenn takes the window seat, putting me in the middle and Austen in the aisle. It makes sense, given I’m the smallest of us three and can give the pair of brothers more room.
Even so, I don’t expect to feel pulled in so many different directions. Part of me knows I should hang out with my best friend since he’s been MIA a lot lately. A slightly (ok, maybe not so slightly) bigger part of me wants to spend the flight with Austen since he fell asleep at the gate.
I don’t get much time to think the predicament over before they start the preflight speeches about safety and everything. Everyone must have boarded already. I glance around to see the plane is empty except for a couple in the far back corner. Austen notices it too.
“Umm, this is weird. I don’t think I’ve ever flown like this before.”
I snort a laugh. “It’s kinda like a private plane situation.”
“Yeah, if you take away the extra staff and the couple in the back. Though I doubt they much care since they’re swapping spit.”
Viola makes her way back over to us as soon as the safety briefings are complete. “You’re welcome to spread out a bit. This type of flight is rare. No need to be smushed together.”
“I will take you up on that offer,” Tennyson says as he motions for me and Austen to move. “It’s my turn for a power nap.”
I watch as my friend makes his way a few rows up, then promptly bellyflops onto the seats. Viola giggles at him, then disappears up front.
“Do you want to move?” Austen asks me once we’re alone.
“Absolutely not. You?”
He shakes his head. “It would feel weird having you so far away.”
My worry disappears at his reassuring answer. I could never have imagined Austen would want to be in my company like this. Up until the fake dating conversation the first night I came to town, I thought he was completely indifferent.
But now I know better. I know that him not talking to me was part of him being reserved. Where Tennyson just walks up to strangers to say hello, Austen likes to assess a situation before diving in. And if there’s a chance for him to help without being in the spotlight, then he’s all for it.
Ironic, I guess, since I live my entire life in the spotlight. So far, it’s not been a problem for us. I hope it doesn’t become one either.
“What do you want to do to keep busy? I feel energized after that nap.” Austen bounces in his seat a bit, showing a glimpse of a playful nature I’ve yet to see from him as the plane taxis down the runway.
I shrug. “I’m out of ideas. I’d been prepared for an awkward plane ride between the two of you, not this.”
“Why awkward?”
I recount what Tennyson told me earlier about how he’d be fine if there was something between me and Austen. Unlike me, the younger Page doesn’t appear to be all that bothered by it.
“How come you aren’t freaking out? Your brother is acting like he knows!” I whisper-shout at him.
He grins and shakes his head. “He does know. The world knows.”
“It’s not the same. They all think we’re fake dating.”
I realize too late what I’ve said when Austen’s gaze fills with heat. Gone is the teasing way he seemed energized just seconds ago. Now he’s a temptation wrapped in loose sweats in a far too empty plane cabin.
