Page 69 of Cabin Mate

“The naked walk of shame at my mother’s garden party,” I say in my spookiest voice. I’m being playful, but on the inside, I’m absolutely dreading the humiliation. Plus, can’t you get arrested for stuff like that?

She wrinkles her nose. “Honestly? I don’t want anyone seeing you naked … I don’t care if they’re sixty. And it’s only like three more weeks.

“Whoa, you’re hot when you’re territorial.”

She slaps my arm and I laugh. “If you want to keep things quiet for three more weeks, I’m on board. I mean, I don’t want my mother’s country club friends lusting after me.”

Molly rolls her eyes.

The flight attendant stops at our row and takes our drink orders. Before she leaves she looks at me and does a double take. “Oh my gosh! Brooks?” her eyelashes flutter and she leans an arm on the seat in front of me.

She looks faintly familiar, but I can’t quite place her. I smile politely. “Hey, great to see you,” I say, pretending to remember her.

Her expression tells me she doesn’t buy it. “You took me on a date last year, and we had a great time. And then you never returned my calls.”

“Right.” I grimace, finally remembering her. “Sorry about that. I got busy. Life, you know.” I laugh awkwardly and shrug.

She looks at me, unamused, then turns to Molly. Molly is watching our interaction like it’s the best entertainment she’s had in months.

“I can see you’ve been very busy,” the flight attendant deadpans. “Anyway, I’ll be back soon with your drinks.” There’s an evil twinkle in her eyes, and I decide then that it’s probably best not to drink whatever she brings me.

Molly snickers next to me once the woman is out of earshot.

“Not funny,” I grit out with a tight smile.

“Does that happen often?” she asks, looking curious but not offended. I grimace in lieu of a response.

Molly just sighs. “I suppose I’m going to have to learn to deal with that.”

Smiling, I lean in and kiss her. “I only have eyes for you.”

“I know. And you’ve had to deal with Todd all these years, so I can handle it. I think.” She bumps her shoulder into mine.

After her experience with Todd, I can’t imagine it will always be this easy when she’s reminded of my past. I need to make sure to show her constantly that she means more to me than anyone in the world. That all of those dates were wasted, a means of trying to forget her. To ease the pain of seeing her with another guy. But it was all futile.

She leans her head on my shoulder and I enjoy the feel of having her there.

“Oh, hey. What about Christmas?” I ask, remembering that today is Christmas Eve.

“What about it?” she says in a half yawn, like she was about to fall asleep.

“It’s tomorrow. And I want you to spend it with me.” I hesitate. “But my family would speculate.”

Her head pops up and I can see by her bright eyes that her brain is working on a master plan. “How about I stop by to have you sign a contract or something? Diane will inevitably invite me to stay.”

“You and my mom are on a first-name basis already?”

She ignores me and continues with her idea. “I’ll even bring some wine and cookies, and say I was heading to a party I wasn’t really that excited about.”

“Brilliant! They definitely won’t see through that!”

Molly shoves me playfully. I love all of her little touches, even this.

“Do you have any better ideas?”

I scratch my chin while I think. “How about this? When I get to my parents’ house on Christmas day, I’ll tell my mom you’re going to be alone this Christmas. Naturally, she’ll be horrified. Then I’ll ask if she can save a plate of food for me to take to you.” I give Molly a smug look, knowing my idea is way better. “My mother will not only demand that I go get you immediately, but will also lecture me for being a horrible person and not bringing you with me in the first place.”

Her eyebrows raise, clearly impressed.