Kayla was tempted to let Mack continue to struggle, groping around blindly for the strap of her backpack. It was really cute how she refused to ask for help. Her best friend had always beenindependent to a fault. After biting back her giggles for longer than she really should have, Kayla took pity on her and bent awkwardly to retrieve the bag.
Mack gave her the ghost of a smile. “Thanks. I don’t know why you wouldn’t let us book first class. These seats are tiny.”
“Because one, those seats are insanely expensive and I’m not a fancy high-powered executive like my wife-to-be.” Kayla put a teasing emphasis on the title, earning a scowl from Mack. “And two, the only flight with seats available in first class was the late flight.”
“I still say the later flight would have been fine. Maybe you wouldn’t have been so damn grumpy.”
“Oh, and you were the picture of contentment when you picked me up this morning?”
“Better than you. You fell asleep bringing your suitcase out to the car,” Mack said.
“Oh my God, you’re such a liar.” Kayla playfully slapped Mack’s arm.
“I didn’t lie. I exaggerated.”
“Which is just a big lie.”
“It was for dramatic effect.”
“So, you admit that you’re a drama queen?” Kayla asked.
“It takes one to know one.”
As they teased back and forth, they poked and tickled like the teenagers they’d been when they first met. It was the routine they always fell into, and one that never failed to bring Kayla out of whatever funk she’d been in. It usually worked for Mack, too, but this time, as their laughter died away and they settled back into their seats, the scowl settled back onto Mack’s features.
Kayla leaned against her shoulder, looking up into Mack’s eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Huh? Oh. Nothing.”
Kayla gave her a single sharp poke, earning a yelp. She held on tight when Mack tried to pull away. “Come on, spit it out.”
“Nothing’s wrong.” After a moment of avoiding her eye, Mack said, “Just work stuff.”
“What work stuff? You’re practically the CEO. Don’t you just play golf, flirt with secretaries, and cash paychecks big enough to buy a house?”
Mack rolled her eyes. “Yep. That’s me. Jeff Bezos in a better suit.”
“And with much better hair.” Kayla reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind Mack’s ear where it had escaped from her ponytail.
“And I’m not the CEO. Even if I was, folks at the top still work, you know?”
“I know you do. You work harder than anyone I know,” Kayla said.
If anything, that was an understatement. At thirty-seven years old, Mack was wildly young for the success she had in her professional life. It was true, she wasn’t CEO yet, but she was head of the women’s wear arm of the world’s third-largest sportswear company. And that was despite her being not only a woman, but a masculine-presenting lesbian who wasn’t afraid to make her opinions known. She was ambitious and articulate, and somehow managed to lead without being intimidating or bowing to the pressure to antagonize and compete against other powerful corporate women.
Unfortunately, that drive didn’t shut off. They’d bonded over their boundless energy and lofty goals in their youth, but, as an athlete, Kayla had been taught to take care of her biggest asset: her body. Mack, while she worked out every day, hadn’t had the benefit of professional trainers to tell her how to eat, sleep, and hydrate. Kayla had always valued a good night’s sleep in complete darkness like most elite-level athletes, but Mack hadnever been the type to turn off for eight hours. In fact, four hours was a long rest for Mack. Her diet mostly consisted of coffee and health shakes. At least she made them herself to avoid tons of chemicals and additives, and she’d rather die than drink an energy drink, but that didn’t make up for the rest.
She also didn’t relax. Mack’s idea of a fun night was a salad at home for dinner, followed by a mug of detox tea and paperwork until midnight. She rarely went out, and Kayla could count on one hand the number of times she’d seen Mack drunk. She could also count on one hand the number of girlfriends she’d had. When Kayla secretly called to schedule this time off, Mack’s secretary said she hadn’t used a single vacation day in the previous five years. At first, Kayla had been appalled, then mortified that she hadn’t known just how little R&R her best friend had been getting. In that moment, she’d decided this trip had two purposes. She would win Skye back, and Mack would actually relax her body and brain. Kayla would make sure of it.
“I’ve got a big project launching in a month. I really can’t believe you talked me into this. They need me at the office,” Mack said.
She probably should have felt guilty, but this close, she could see the strain around Mack’s eyes and mouth. In Kayla’s experience, nothing could cure that like a week of sand and sun, complete with a swim-up bar. “You’ll work much better after a little time relaxing. I promise. Besides, I need you here.”
Mack met her gaze, and there was a guarded, almost worried look in her light green eyes. “Do you? You’re here to seduce Skye away from the altar. How on earth could I help you with that?”
“Hey, we’ve talked about this.” Kayla rubbed a soothing hand up and down Mack’s arm. Despite the seriousness of the situation, she couldn’t help but notice that Mack must’ve been picking up extra arm days. Her bicep strained against the cuff of her short sleeve button up. “You’re the key to the whole plan.”
“You honestly think Skye will be so jealous she’ll leave her fiancée to steal you away?”
