Page 131 of Drop Shot
My bags are packed, sitting at my feet ready for us to depart for the US Open. Our time in Miami has flown by and it’s only served to make me fall more in love with this man.
There’s no denying what this is—love. Have I told him that yet? No. Selfishly, I want to hear him say it first. I don’t think I’m crazy in thinking he feels the same way.
“Maybe,” he laughs. “Craig and I have a special bond.”
My mom is going to come by and pick her up after we leave. I hate to leave her again so soon, but at the same time I wasn’t expecting to have these weeks with her either.
“You better miss me while I’m gone,” he tells my kitty, and she purrs in response. I shake my head, trying to hide my amusement. “We could take her with us?” he suggests with an excited gleam in his eyes. “We’re staying in the States so it would be fine.”
I plant my hands on my hips. “No.”
“No?” He frowns, picking up Craig and holding her against his chest. His black shirt is going to be covered in cat hair. “But you didn’t even think about it?”
“It would be too stressful for her on a plane,” I reason, doing a quick check to make sure I have my AirPods in a handy spot to grab as well as my sunglasses. “And then I would have to figure out how to get her back here.”
Elias holds my cat out and pouts at her. “Sorry, Craig. I tried. Your mom hit me with logic.”
I shake my head, trying to hide my amusement. He adjusts the cat so he’s holding her under his arm.
“I have a private jet. She could roam free on the plane.”
And here I thought I’d gotten him to drop this. I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Elias, no.”
“Fine,” he gripes, and kisses the top of her fluffy head. “I’ll miss you, Craig. I hope you miss me.”
He sets her down and scoops up his baseball cap, setting it backwards on his head. “I guess we should get out of here then?”
“If we don’t, we’ll be running behind.”
He shoulders his backpack and picks up one of my bags. “Jesus, Whim. What do you have in here?”
I shrug. “Shoes.”
“Shoes,” he replies with a small laugh. “I should’ve known.”
I check my phone. “The car’s downstairs.”
“Craig.” He turns back to my cat, who’s jumped up on the couch, and made herself comfortable on her favorite blanket. “Hold down the fort while we’re gone. Grandma will be here soon.”
I shake my head, trying to hide my amusement but I’m sure it’s written all over my face.
Elias takes as many of my bags as he can manage, leaving me with only my purse and large suitcase to wheel behind me. I have to say, it’s kind of hot seeing him carry all my stuff.
When we make it to the airport and board the jet, I’m shocked to find that his sister and parents aren’t there.
“Where is everyone?” I ask him, confusion clouding my tone. “I thought we were running behind.”
“They’re already in New York. They wanted time in Manhattan before the Open.”
“Oh.” I look around at the empty jet. “So, it’s just us?”
“Just us,” he confirms with a tiny, conspiratorial smirk that has my stomach dipping. “And a bed that hasn’t been used to join the mile high club. Which, if you ask me”—he looks down at his blunt fingernails, feigning indifference— “is really a shame.”
My mouth pops open and closes several times. “I have no comment,” I finally say.
“That’s okay.” He drops into one of the seats. “You don’t have to say anything. Just scream my name once we’re in the air.”
“Elias,” I hiss, taking the seat beside him that’s next to the window. I look around to see if the attendant overheard him, but she’s at the back of the plane checking something.
