The pilots voice came over the speakers. It made me jump and make that girl eep. Jason kissed my forehead.
Were about to land, Ms. Blake, Mr. Schuyler. If you could take your seats, thatd be good.
Im okay, Jason, neither of us is at our best.
Forgive me.
Nothing to forgive, I said.
Jason nodded, but not like he believed it. I wasnt used to him being like this, emotional, forgetful. His father was dying. His mother was blackmailing him, emotionally. I guess he was entitled to be a little off his game.
I tightened my grip on the seat and his hand. Id be better when we landed. It would all be better when we landed. I tried to believe that, but part of me knew if Jason was already having problems, it was only going to get worse.
How did I end up holding his hand for this? Oh, right, Nathaniel volunteered me. I was so going to make him pay for this. The plane bounced a little on the runway, and I gasped a little. But we were on the ground. Things were looking up, at least for me.
Chapter Nine
I SAT IN my swivel seat for a second relearning how to breathe and fighting down the nausea. I told my stomach to stop being such a baby. We were on the ground, for Gods sake. I could always insist on renting a car for the ride homethough I knew I wouldnt. Id never be able to live with myself if I let my fear get that much of an upper hand. Fear was like cancer in remission. If you gave in to it, even by an inch, it would flare up again and eat you alive.
Jason stopped at the open door and looked back at me. You are coming, right?
I nodded. The nausea was past. I could breathe again. It was cool. Okay, that was a lie, but it was the best I could do.
Jason came back to stand and look down at me. I couldnt quite read his expression. It really scared the shit out of you to do this, didnt it?
I shook my head, then shrugged. I finally said in a voice that was way too breathy for comfort, The runway is kinda small, dont you think?
He bent down and kissed my forehead again.
I looked up at him. What was that for?
Being brave, he said, and he looked serious when he said it. He offered me his hand.
There was a time when I wouldnt have taken it, when I would have seen it as a sign of weakness, but Id grown up a little since then.
I took his hand. He squeezed it and gave me a smile. This smile was one of the reasons I was on the damn planethe smile that said he understood how much it had cost me, and thaTHE understood me in a way that a lot of people didnt. We would never be real boyfriend and girlfriend. Wed never be each others sweetie, but Jason got me in a way that some of the men I was dating didnt. And I tried my best to understand him.
I realized as he led me down the narrow aisle hand in hand that it wasnt just Nathaniel who considered Jason one of his best friends.
Jason went first down the little folding steps, bent sort of backward, to help me. That was a little more help than I probably needed, but then I was wearing heels.
A man met us at the bottom of the steps. He was average height, more bald than hair, in a nice suit. Not as nice as the one Jason was wearing, but it wasnt a bad suit.
Mr. Summerland, I didnt expect you until tomorrow. He was smiling until Jason helped me down the little stairs in my heels.
Im not one of the Summerlands, Jason said. He said it as if the confusion wasnt unexpected.
The man looked at Jason, then at me, as Jason helped me down from the plane. The man winked at him. Of course not, youre Mr. Smith?
I was finally on solid tarmac, yea! Why dont you make it Mr. Allbright, its more original, I said. I thought I was making a joke.
The man began to scribble down Allbright on his clipboard. Of course, Mr. Allbright, were glad to have you with us.
Jason sighed. She was making a joke. The name is Schuyler, Jason Schuyler.
The man crossed out Allbright and wrote in the right name. Whatever you say, Mr. Schuyler.
Crap, Jason said under his breath.