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Today had been one step forward and only half a step back. How could he ensure they kept having that kind of progress in their relationship?
Chapter Six
Ellery was insanely busy Monday and Tuesday from four a.m. until late at night. She worked out with Derek, and he sweetly brought her takeout for dinner each day, but she didn’t have much time to talk to him. It was obvious that bothered him, but he didn’t say anything or make her feel guilty that she was too busy for her ‘ninja prince boyfriend,’ as everybody at the gym had taken to calling him.
Oh my. Even if she longed to be officially dating Derek, she didn’t have the time or the emotional energy to push past her trust issues and develop a relationship. What if he was still trying to win her as some challenge? He never treated her like that, though, so she tried to push it from her mind.
What would it be like going to his home, his country with him? Her nerves caught up with her and were zinging through her exhausted body as they said goodbye to her mom and Aunt Elise at nine-thirty Tuesday night and received many assurances from Aunt Elise that everything would be fine and Ellery shouldn’t worry for a moment.
Ellery didn’t know how not to worry about her mom. Her mom was amazing and had taken so many burdens on herself when her dad had ditched them both. Ellery had also grown up fast, taking care of her mom on bad health days and working nights and Saturdays cleaning with her. She had been the provider by the time she graduated high school, passed her personal training exams, and was blessed with the job at the Warrior Gym.
Thankfully, Jason’s uncle and the former owner had seen something in Ellery’s work ethic, passion for Ninja Warrior, and understanding of the human body, nutrition, and overall health. Nobody but her mom had any idea how many hours she’d spent studying any book or online information she could find to become an expert in her field, even without a formal college education.
Braxton drove the Porsche to a commuter airport with Ollie in the passenger seat and Derek holding her hand in the back seat. He’d held her hand on Sunday, but not since. She loved it but didn’t know that she should get used to it. This trip was simply a vacation—maybe the only one she’d ever have in her life. She could enjoy each moment, but she could not let herself get lost in the fantasy of the handsome prince. She and Derek had no future. How could she enjoy it but somehow keep her head on straight?
That was growing increasingly difficult as they boarded a spacious white jet. It was white and pristine inside, with tan leather seats and bronze accents.
“Is this yours?” she whispered. Her mouth felt like it was full of cotton.
“No. It’s easier to charter a jet when I need one rather than have one sitting gathering rust since I’m not much of a world-traveler. Malik, on the other hand, trots the globe. He has his pilot’s license and his own jet.”
“Interesting.” Feeling faint, Ellery chose a seat by the window and sank into it. The leather was almost as soft yet firm as the seats in his Bugatti.
The pilot, Jeff, and the flight attendant, Brenda, shook their hands and greeted them. Brenda asked if they needed anything before the flight, but they all declined. They buckled in and were taxiing to the runway within minutes. It was dark outside, which was a disappointment.
“Will it be light when we get there?” she asked.
“Yes. It’s a seven-hour time difference and about a nine-hour direct flight in the Cessna, a bit slower than a commercial 747 would be, but definitely worth the comfort and convenience of not dealing with the airport and security and being boxed in a plane with hundreds of strangers.” He shuddered slightly. “So it’ll be about two p.m. when we land. A beautiful time for you to see Augustine for the first time.”
“I’ve never seen you so snotty,” she teased. “Boxed in with hundreds of strangers?”
The plane picked up speed on the runway and her stomach turned over in apprehension. What would flying feel like?
He chuckled and took her hand. “I like people, but being stuck in a small space with a crowd of strangers isn’t my favorite thing.”
The plane suddenly swooped off the ground and veered steeply upward. Ellery cried out and clung to his hand.
“It’s all right,” Derek soothed. “He has to gain altitude quickly for flight patterns. We’ll level off soon.”
“Okay.” She closed her eyes, held on to his hand, and prayed they wouldn’t die. Pressure built in her ears.
“You all right?” Derek asked softly.
The plane soared upward still.
“My ears,” she managed.
“Wiggle your jaw or swallow. If it’s really bad, you can plug your nose, close your mouth, and blow hard. The air will push through your ears and dislodge the pressure.” He demonstrated and somehow still looked regal and handsome despite the funny move.
She followed his counsel, and the pressure abated from wiggling her jaw and swallowing. Once the plane leveled off, she relaxed—and realized she had his hand in a death grip. “Sorry.” She pulled her hand free and tried to rest it calmly in her lap.
“No worries. Always working on your grip for the Curved Body Prop, now aren’t you?” He winked.
She smiled.
“Have you flown before?”
“No.”
