Page 110 of Built to Fall
They’re persistent, always quiet, but still constantly pulling. It’s exactly what it feels like to be around Grant. Like there’s an invisible force humming between us, and no matter how much I pretend to be unaffected, I’m already moving in his direction.
Thankfully, before I can try and argue, a flight attendant comes out of the front cabin. “Mr. Vandenberg, we are going to be taking off soon. Is there anything we can get you?”
Grant turns in his seat to meet the lady’s eyes. “Champagne would be great, thank you.”
“You know how old I am, right?” I ask underneath my breath, leaning into the table between us.
I’ve never been a stickler for rules when it comes to underage drinking. That’s not why I asked if he knew my age; I asked because I’m realizing how little the two of us know about each other.
Our connection feels stronger because we know more about each other’s deep-rooted issues rather than basic facts. I don’t know Grant’s birthday or his favorite color, but I do know about the love he has for his sisters and the tattoo he got for his mom.
It feels wrong in a way.
“Calm down, Lina; it’s champagne, not heroin.”
“I would hope not, because heroin is illegal no matter what age you are,” I counter. “Are they not going to card us?”
“It’s mydad’sprivate jet. They’re not going to care. Trust me, he pays them enough.”
As soon as he finishes his sentence, the flight attendant comes out with two glasses of champagne in her hands. “Merry Christmas!” She says cheerfully.
Grant only smiles.
“Merry Christmas!” I say back.
“We’ll be taking off any minute now. Let me know if there’s anything else I can get you guys.” The bright white smile never leaves her face as she walks back into the front cabin.
I take a small sip of the champagne in front of me and almost moan at the taste of it. I tilt my head back in contentment right as the engine of the plane sounds.
“You’re not scared of planes, are you?” Grant then asks, looking the slightest bit concerned.
“Probably would have been a better idea to ask thatbeforeyou dragged me on one. Don’t you think?”
“Can you ever just answer the questions I ask? Without attitude, maybe?” His tone is playfully sarcastic, but his expression is stern.
“Okay, Dad.” I roll my eyes, taking another sip of the champagne.
But I almost spit it out when Grant says, “Wow, Lina, didn’t know you were intothat.”
I’m coughing too much from almost choking on champagne to even respond. Then the plane begins making its way down the runway.
I look out the window to see the blue sky as we slowly rise toward the clouds. My eyes don’t stop moving, looking all around me as I watch the sun gleam high in the sky.
“And… we’re off,” the pilot says through the overhead speaker once we’re in the air.
Grant looks at me with a crooked grin. “You better be prepared for the best trip of your life, pretty girl.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
LINA
Istill don’t know where we’re going. We’ve only been flying for about forty-five minutes, which means we haven’t gonethatfar. But I haven’t been allowed to look out the window, and Grant had taken my phone the second we stepped onto the jet.
“I hope you know I don’t carry my passport in my purse,” I tell him, arms crossed as I turn to face him.
Grant feigns shock. “Seriously?”
“I know we’re not leaving the country, asshole. Just tell me where we’re going.”
