Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Even worse, I was terrible about hiding how I felt. My face always betrayed me. I tried, but it never quite worked. If I hated you, you fucking knew it.
“Could you try and smile?” Bodhi asked hopefully.
“I would,” I said snidely, “but yanno, I’m in pain.”
He rolled his eyes, and we continued forward.
Reaching Perfect Hayden, Bodhi leaned in and kissed him briefly, and when he stepped back, I tried for a smile and offered him my hand.
“Oh, Jed, I’m so glad you’re joining us for the week,” he said, and it sounded genuine. “My extended family is coming to our compound, and this is the last time we’ll see them before the wedding.”
Super.
“I’m excited for you to see the venue.”
“Well, with me or without me, Bodhi was going, right?”
His brows furrowed. “Not with his partner hurt.”
I glanced at Bodhi, who was glaring at Hayden.
“What?” Hayden asked worriedly.
Bodhi gestured at me. “Way to make him feel like you didn’t really want him to come,” he said sharply, taking several steps back so he was shoulder to shoulder with me. “This might have been a mistake.”
I knew well that flat tone, the set stare, and the crinkle between his eyebrows. He was about to undo plans, as he always did when he was displeased. And while I didn’t want to go, and I would have preferred to stay home on my couch, and I might even get Bodhi there watching TV with me…it wasn’t the best thing for him.
Hayden Burdine the Third was.
“No,” I rushed out, moving forward to give Hayden a pat on the shoulder. “He didn’t mean it like that. He just meant he knew you were worried, so he wanted to make sure I was included.”
Hayden sighed. “That’s exactly right, Jed. I’ve wanted you along many times, and I’m thrilled you’re coming to meet my family and especially Davis.”
“See?” I said to Bodhi. “Now let’s get on the plane already before we all fuckin’ melt out here, yeah?”
Bodhi nodded, told me to walk in front of him, and I started up the stairs. When I bent to enter the plane, I saw that several seats were already taken, and so went quickly toward the back and took the first open one by a window. There were two seats there with another two facing them, and I put my duffel down to my left. A couple of minutes later a very handsome man, tall with wide shoulders, an easy smile, and dark green eyes, was standing over me.
“Are you Josiah?”
“I am.”
He offered me his hand to shake. “I’m Davis Warren, the other best man. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I stood up to greet him. “The pleasure’s mine.”
His eyes mapped me, and he squeezed my hand tight, not letting me go. “May I sit with you, or are you going to try and get some sleep? I know you’re recovering from being shot, which is so completely outside of any frame of reference I have, I’m not even sure what I should say.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “You can say, ‘I’m so glad you’re not dead.’”
He laughed then, low and husky. “I am very glad.”
“Okay,” I replied, pleased that he released me so I could sit back down.
He took the one across from me and signaled for the flight attendant. Once she arrived, he said, “I could really use a Scotch and water, and do use Hayden’s Macallan Lalique, the fifty-year-old one he told you not to open.”
The immaculately dressed blonde woman with the perfect makeup and chignon gave him a hint of a nod and turned to me without uttering a word.
“Just a bottle of water if you would please, ma’am,” I said softly. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said with a smile that crinkled her eyes. “Would you like it chilled?”
“If it’s cold already, great. If not, no worries. It’s just water. It ain’t that big a deal.”
She nodded and walked away.
Davis leaned forward, but Bodhi and Hayden arrived then, Bodhi picking up my duffel and putting it in the overhead compartment along with his, and Hayden taking the seat next to me. I wasn’t thrilled, but it was fine.
Bodhi didn’t sit, just stood there with his what-the-fuck face I normally was on the receiving end of.
“I thought this way we could all talk,” Hayden said.
“Jed was in the hospital for the past three days,” Bodhi reminded him. “He’s gonna pass out halfway there, so you should sit over there.”
What?
Bodhi had basically made a statement that meant nothing. Like what did my falling asleep have to do with where he sat? That made no sense, but Hayden didn’t question him. I certainly would have. Instead, Hayden got up quickly and sat down beside Davis.
I could feel my whole body unclench as soon as Bodhi leaned sideways in the wide chair and his shoulder was shoved up against my good one. There was really no reason for any part of us to touch—the seats were like those in first class that I’d seen walking by to business the few times I flew by myself or was making my way to coach when transporting a witness. We didn’t need to have any physical contact, but I was not the best flier, and of course, Bodhi knew that. I realized suddenly how much I’d missed having him with me when I was paired up with Pazzi. He knew me so well, I didn’t even have to speak.