Page 25 of Rivals

Our pilot shows up and tells us we are ready to board our private plane. Sutton’s eyes go large. I chuckle. “We get special treatment. It’s the company’s private jet. It’s really nice and pretty damn comfortable too. Plus, there are things to entertain us. You won’t even realize you’re in a plane after a bit.”

“I hope you’re right.” Jowanna, the media coordinator, appears in the area. She smiles and greets us both as she passes by. We follow her out to the jet, and I take Sutton’s luggage because it looks heavy and my mother would have the hide off my ass if I let her carry them. She tries to protest but I manage to wiggle them away from her. I feel the shock that comes off Sutton in waves as she steps into the jet. It’s a bit extreme but it’s awesome. All black leather seats, dark wood paneling, black and turquoise carpet with turquoise accents everywhere. It’s truly a Revv-It Racing jet. There’s a fully stocked bar, a large screen TV complete with a Blu-ray player and a private bedroom in the very back. I also happen to know there is a stack of board games stashed in the little closet in that bedroom. Chris and I loved to play games while on flights to help pass the time.

“I told you it was nice.”

Sutton nods her head. “You weren’t kidding.”

“Nope. Grab a seat and I’ll grab us something to drink.” I head to the bar but decide to grab a soda or water from the mini fridge instead. Last time the two of us drank together, we ended up making out with one another. Not that I’m complaining, but that would definitely get both of us fired if we repeated in front of Jowanna. I can’t take that chance and I doubt Sutton would either. Once I reach her seat, I hand her a bottle of water. “Do you like board games?”

Sutton gets a funny look on her face. I watch as she fidgets then looks away. “I never really played them, but they seem fun.”

“If you aren’t into them, we can just watch a movie instead.” I know board games are childish to a lot of adults. I find them fun and a good way to kill time but that doesn’t mean she agrees.

“I really don’t mind playing them. I just don’t know a lot of them so you may have to explain the rules to me,” she says.

I shrug. “I mean explaining the rules isn’t a problem to me, but you don’t have to play just because I asked.”

Sutton shakes her head. “That’s not why I’m playing.”

“Okay, I’ll go grab some,” I tell her, as I stand up and head back to the closet. I grab Sorry, Clue, Checkers, Guess Who and Battleship and head back to the front. “So, let’s start with Sorry. It’s always been one of my favorites and I think you’ll like it. Jowanna you want to play?”

She looks over and smiles. “No, I’m good. I have some work today, but I’ll definitely play Clue with you guys.”

I give her a thumbs up and then I start to set up the game and explain it to Sutton. The smile on her face is easy and carefree. She’s clearly already forgotten about the fear of the plane. After a couple of games, Sutton starts to get drowsy because she decided to take a motion sickness pill because of her fear of flying. So, I help her back to the bed and tuck her in, so she can sleep until we hit Detroit. When I come back to the main part of the jet Jowanna just smiles at me. “What?”

“I was worried the two of you wouldn’t get along. I mean, the two of you had a rough start there. It’s just nice to see how you’ve both come so far.” I nod and start to pick up the games. If she only knew just how far I’d come, she might not think it’s so great.

Twenty-Six

Sutton

I wake up with a jolt. I’m disoriented at first, but things quickly come back. I’m on the Revv-It Racing private jet and I was getting sleepy so Rathe made sure I made it back here to the bed. I don't know how long I’ve been asleep, but surely not too long. I stand up and stretch. There’s a knock on the door that startles me, but it’s cracked open before I can cross the room and open it myself. Rathe’s dark brown eyes find mine. “Oh good, you’re awake. I was just coming to let you know that we’re going to be landing soon, so you need to come and buckle up.”

“Oh good. I’m ready to be back on land.” I run a hand through my hair hoping it doesn’t look too crazy.

Rathe opens the door for me. “How’d you sleep?”

I shrug as I pass by him. “Pretty well, I think. That motion sickness pill that Evanna shoved at me seemed to really knock me out which is both a good and bad thing.”

“Well, at least you didn’t freak out on the flight. You looked so nervous before that I was a little worried.” I can see the concern in Rathe’s eyes when I look at him. It’s not a look I’ve gotten often in my life, so it makes me feel a little left of center.

I nod my head. “I was more than a little freaked out before, but you helped distract me with the board games so thank you.”

“I’m all about the service baby.” He winks and my head falls back in laughter. At the mention of the board games I make a mental note to look up the rules for the ones he pulled out today. He seems to really enjoy them, and I don’t want him having to stop every time and explain how to play a new game. Besides, board games are usually a huge part of a childhood, if you get to have a normal childhood. I never had a board game growing up. Evanna received Operation for Christmas one year. A local charity did an elf tree so people would pick an elf off the tree and buy a gift for the child. The elf would have the child’s sex, age and things they enjoyed printed onto them. I don’t know how, but Evanna and her siblings got placed on to the tree one year. It was pretty much the only year that they really had a Christmas. I remember Evanna giving me one of her gifts to make me feel included. A few days after Christmas we were all playing Operation. Evanna’s mom came barreling into the house and we all ran. We could tell by the wild look in her eyes that something was about to go down. We hid out in the living room closet and watched as one of her pimps came running in behind. He tripped over the game we had left behind on the floor. It quickly became the thing he used to beat Evanna’s mom with. By the time everything was said and done, and the pimp had disappeared the game was nothing but pieces. That was the last time I remember playing a board game. “Hey, are you okay?”

I shake my head trying to remove myself from the past. “Yeah, sorry I guess I spaced out a little. It must be a side effect of the pill.”

Rathe accepts my excuse without further questions and I’m thankful for that. “Yeah, it must be. We should sit down.” I allow Rathe to guide me back to the seat and I buckle up, just as the pilot comes over the speaker telling us to prepare for our landing. I feel the panic start to rise in my gut and make its way through my body. I wonder for a split second if this is what Rathe was feeling on the track when he would suddenly slow down on the curve. I look over at him, studying his profile which is really too handsome for words. As if he can feel my eyes on him, he looks up. Our eyes hold onto one another and then I feel the warmth of his skin against mine as his fingers wrap around my hand, giving it a little squeeze of encouragement. “Just breathe,” he says to me as I feel the shift in the atmosphere. My eyes stay locked on his and his thumb rubs back and forth over the back of my hand. It’s soothing and calms the panic within me. Before I can even realize it, we have officially landed. I let out a deep sigh of relief which causes Rathe to chuckle. “You did great, Sutton.”

“Thanks, but I’m pretty sure you had a lot to do with that.’’

Rathe shakes his head. “No, that was all you.” I stand up and go to grab my leather jacket I had left in my seat, but it’s gone. When I turn around, I see Rathe holding it open for me, waiting for me to slide my arms into it. I seriously only thought guys did this type of thing in movies but here Rathe is proving me wrong, so I turn around and slide my arms into my jacket. Rathe’s hands rest on my shoulders for a few moments, I’m not sure why but it feels like something more. Maybe, the kiss is clouding my judgement. I’ve tried hard to keep my mind away from the kiss we shared a few nights ago. It hasn’t been the easiest task, but I’ve managed.

Jowanna turns around and Rathe’s hands move away so quickly you would think that I tried to bite him or something. It’s confusing. My feelings are a little insulted. I straighten my back and remind myself to act like nothing happened. If he’s going to pretend, we didn’t kiss then so will I. “Are you two ready to go?”

I nod my head and plaster on the brightest smile I can. “Yes, I can’t wait.”

I follow Jowanna off the plane with Rathe on my heels. I can feel his presence which is overwhelming and distracting but that voice inside my head keeps reminding me that it doesn’t matter, that he doesn’t matter. A large black SUV with black tinted windows is waiting for us outside of the plane and Jowanna quickly ushers us inside. Once we’re on the road, Jowanna starts to give us the schedule for the next couple of days. “So, tonight you will have the party for the launch tomorrow. It’s at Club Dread. In your rooms you will find a few options for clothing. Hair and makeup artists will arrive at six sharp, along with room service for eating. The limo will be outside and ready to go which also means you will be ready to go by eight sharp. You will play nice and meet a list of important people, take photos and be done by midnight. The limo will return you to the hotel then. Here is the schedule for tomorrow. I’m sure you can read and set your alarms accordingly.”

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