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I barked out a laugh. “Epically hard.” As I rubbed the water from my forehead, I thought about what Gaby had said that night at Eastman’s. “She said that if I went back home and changed my mind to let her know.”
“Have you?”
I thought about the past agonizing month. I thought about how I’d been happier the ten days I was with Gaby than the past couple of years. I didn’t know what my decision would mean to my swimming, but I knew I couldn’t stay feeling like I was.
If there was one thing that I’d gone over and over in my head during the last four weeks, was what Gaby had said about her dad. At first, I hadn’t really believed her. Surely he wouldn’t have given up his band,his life’s passion,for his wife and family. But as I looked at her dad with a different lens—one that saw love as his priority, his family as his number one—I saw that Gaby was right.He’d made sure his family knew they were vital to him.His family was his passion. Music still lived in his soul and directed part of his life, but his family? They determined his focus and trajectory. He’d had a career and love.
And I knew I wanted that for myself too. I was certain that I’d never meet anyone who came close to Gaby. “Yeah, I have,” I choked out.
“Good. Then meet us at the small plane hangar at Hartsfield Jackson on Friday night at five.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“Do I sound like I’m joking?”
“Actually, you sound like if I don’t show up, you’re going to hunt me down and cut my balls off.”
“Tempting, but I think I’ll pass.”
The last thing on earth I needed to do was take time away from practice again. At the same time, there wasn’t anything more in the world I wanted than to see Gaby. After the last month of hell, I didn’t think I could bear another one.
“Fine. I’ll be there.”
Chapter Seventeen: Noah
“Holy shit,” I muttered, as I took in the inside of the jet. When Bella had told me to meet at the small plane hangar, I hadn’t quite comprehended that she was offering me to fly down with them on a private jet. Sure, it belonged to AJ’s band, but at the same time, it was still a very luxurious and very private jet. While I’d flown privately with the Olympic team, we’d never been in anything like this.
“First time?” Alex teasingly asked.
“While I haven’t heard that one since I was sixteen, yeah, it’s my first time,” I joked.
“I’m glad we could take your jet virginity.”
Glancing at Bella, I then lowered my voice. “Have you gone Mile High Club up in here?”
Before Alex could answer, Bella replied, “Only with his hand.”
I busted out laughing. “Damn, bro, she roasted you.”
With a grin, Bella patted her brother’s scowling cheek. “That’s what little brothers are for.”
“I have to agree. I give my little brother so much shit. Of course, he can serve it right back to me.”
“Yeah, so do I.” Jerking his chin at Bella, he replied, “So sleep with one eye open tonight.”
“Ooh, I’m so scared,” Bella replied.
I’d just flopped down in my seat when Gaby’s parents appeared in the jet’s doorway. At the sight of AJ, I shifted anxiously. After the elevator incident, I’d never been a favorite of his, but after Gaby and I had stopped seeing each other, I could only imagine his loathing for me had grown. Yep, my assumptions were right when his very disgusted gaze sharpened on me.
“What ishedoing here?” AJ saidhein the same tone as “piece of shit.”
“He’s coming with us to surprise Gaby and get her back.” Bella wagged a finger in front of her dad’s face. “I’m pretty sure you promised Gaby you’d be nice to him, didn’t you?” she countered.
“That was before she came home crying and didn’t stop for weeks.”
At my wince, Bella shook her head. “In Noah’s defense, that wasn’t his fault. It was Gaby’s decision to leave him, and he’s been miserable too.”
“Whatever,” AJ replied before collapsing into one of the leather seats. At his continued scowl, sweat broke out along my forehead. Fuck me, this was going to be a long plane ride.
