Page 66 of The Attraction

But as soon as he makes the comment, Felisha elbows him in his side. “Don’t be a dick, Flynn.” She looks at him with a scolding face.

“Yeah, what she said.” I pout like a child, but I can’t help it.

There is so much going on in my head, but the biggest thing is that I’m letting Forrest get too close.

Living together in forced proximity is one thing, but now he is taking me for a cute romantic weekend away. That’s more than him being my regular one-night-stand man that he promised to be.

His hand rests on my thigh, and I want to push it away, but it feels too good. I’m so wound up over nothing, to be honest, but his touch is soothing.

I feel his body move toward me from the side, and his lips are near my ear. “You trust me to protect you, so trust me to take care of you in other ways. Let me help you live the life you deserve.” The whisper and the softness of the air on my ear has a shiver running up my spine as he then pulls back and starts up a conversation with his brother, as if he didn’t just say the words that could make me melt into a puddle on the floor.

I try to push down the irritation of having no control and just look out the window all the way to the airport. The other three are talking about their day and how it’s been a challenging few months for us all.

I want to contribute that as hard as it’s been for them, none of them have a threat hanging over their head like I do. I try to keep a lid on my emotions, but for some reason it is rising again, because I feel out of control.

Like he can sense my head is starting to race again, Forrest’s thumb starts stroking my thigh back and forth. There is something about this simple motion that seems to bring me some kind of peace.

Pulling up to the plane, I try to take a deep breath as I step out of the car. I need to stop being such a bitch to Forrest. After all, he is trying to do something nice for me, yet just like normal, my default mechanism is to put up the walls and push people away with my brashness.

Watching Felisha and Flynn hurry to the plane in front of me, I know I need to apologize to Forrest. And that’s when it hits me. Shit, my period is due any day, so no wonder I want to scratch everyone’s eyes out. Welcome, hormones, nice of you to join the party to bring out the crazy bitch in me.

“I’m sorry.” I mean it, but of course it still comes out a bit harshly.

“Thanks, but I don’t need the apology. I know I’m pushing you past your comfort zone. I was expecting it.” He takes my hand and pulls me toward the steps up into the jet.

What the hell was that supposed to mean? Since when should someone put up with backlash for doing something nice? I don’t think I have ever taken the time to stop and assess my own personality over the years. But maybe it’s time I did.

Forrest steps through the plane door and then turns in the entrance to direct me to walk past him.

The moment I step into the main part of the cabin, there is an eruption of cheers and clapping. I try to step backward to run away from whatever this is. My back hits Forrest’s chest, and he wraps his arms around my waist.

“Happy fortieth birthday, baby,” he says in my ear as I start taking in the vision in front of me, streamers and a big sign that’s hanging up.

“How… I wasn’t going to… Felisha, you are dead to me,” I snap, pointing at her.

We agreed that we would keep my birthday quiet. I’m not big on celebrations, so we were going to just do lunch on Monday. I didn’t want Forrest to know that Sunday is my fortieth birthday, knowing he would make a fuss and buy some expensive present that wasn’t necessary. I’m not worth it. And I was so wound up about not knowing what was going on when we left the office that it didn’t even occur to me it was to do with my birthday that I was trying to forget about.

“Hey, it wasn’t me. I wasn’t told until this morning and was sworn to secrecy!” she screams back at me.

The plane is full of all our friends. Nic and Tori, Rem and Elouise, Cherie, and of course, Flynn and Felisha.

I turn back around to face the man who is responsible for this explosion of noise. “Why?” I ask.

“Because, like I told you, you’re special to me. And this is just the beginning of me showing you that. No one should let a big birthday go past without a party. I knew you wouldn’t leave the house on Sunday, so yes, I’m kidnapping you, and instead of a day, you now get the whole weekend to enjoy the celebration of my beautiful Harper.”

I don’t get a chance to reply before his hand takes the back of my head and draws me to him. Our lips collide, and he is reminding me in case I forgot that he owns my body, but what he doesn’t know is that whether I like it or not, he owns my soul too.

Who can stay mad at a man who is trying to make me feel seen, no matter how hard I try to hide?

“You know, you are more sickening than any of us were, big brother.” Flynn hands Forrest the beer that he ordered for him once we were in the air and had leveled out. I decided that just a sparkling water was all I needed to calm me down. Alcohol on an empty stomach probably isn’t the best idea, but I’m not admitting to Forrest I didn’t eat today. That is not the smartest move in a confined space.

“That’s what manly charm looks like. Time to step up your game.” Forrest smiles at me in the seat next to me, with Felisha and Flynn opposite us.

And something inside of me has me wanting to defend him.

“You should hear what he says when you’re not around, it would burn your ears.” I take a sip of my drink, and Flynn almost chokes on his beer.

“Nope, we aren’t doing that. Any talk about sex is off the table. That’s a rule, I’m sure of it, and if it’s not, we are making it a rule right now. No discussions between you two about us brothers because that’s just wrong. Oh God, please tell me you don’t compare notes. I mean, I know I’d be better, but I don’t want Forrest to feel inferior, because that’s just cruel.” I have never seen Flynn so rattled, and I can’t help but continue.

---