Page 59 of Losing Forever
Braylee
The plane levels above the clouds. Sun streams through the window next to my seat, blinding me.
I squint and tug down the shade. I’m sitting in first class on a plane to Seattle with Grayson.
How is this my life? Is there a limit to how many times I can think that?
Shaking my head, I recline into the soft leather seat. “I can't believe Noah is okay with this. I can't believe you convinced him it was better if you came with me instead of him.”
“I don't know the business as well as he does, and I'm just the Realtor.”
“You're notjustanything. You're brilliant and incredibly persuasive. If real estate ends up boring you, you could easily have a career in politics.”
His eyes fill with pride, and he smiles at me with so much affection. “Yes, the life of a dirty politician has its appeal. And I do bore easily.”
“That's because you're great at everything. When you're a natural, you don't have to work as hard as the rest of us. My dad was a natural. He had a perfect ear and could spot the next big thing a mile away. Whether it was a band, a solo act, or sometimes just a guy with his guitar, my dad could sniff out talent like a hound dog. He loved his job and people loved him.” Sadness weighs on me. I take a breath and push the emotion aside. “It's easier remembering the good things about my family. For so long, all I thought about was the accident and what happened right before. I'd almost forgotten about all the happy times. And there were so many.”
He threads his fingers with mine and kisses my hand. “I like when you talk about the good. Your entire face lights up, and you look peaceful.”
“I do?”
“Yeah.”
“What do I look like the rest of the time? Sad?”
“Sometimes. And conflicted. I know that one well. I feel it every day.”
“You hide it better than I do.”
“Not from you.”
“Only when you kiss me,” I tease.
“I need more practice. With these perfect beauties.” He runs his thumb across my bottom lip.
I hold in a sigh.
“You have to know how gorgeous you are. Stunning. I thought so the first time I saw you.”
“When I came out of the bathroom at the house?” I hadn’t expected to open the door and almost run intohim,of all people. “I was scowling. How could I have looked stunning?”
He laughs. “Not then. I first saw you in the pool at Noah's."
"Why would I think you were referring to that time? I was young, and you made fun of my chest size."
"Youwereyoung. You were wearing a bikini and you hadn't developed these yet.” He brushes my boob.
My cheeks heat. I glance around to make sure no one is watching.
"You were also stunning." He sits back, his lips curling with a wistful grin. “The moment I saw your face and eyes, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.”
“Shut up.” I shove his arm. “You’re lying. You were a dick to me.”
“Of course I was. I couldn't let on how you were affecting me. I had a reputation to uphold. Then you tried to join the game, and I had to do something to stop that from happening.”
“Why?”
“If one of the other guys touched you the way I did, I would have gone apeshit on them. I've always been scrappy, and I’m not much of a sharer. The only way I could keep them from you was to chase you from the pool, and for that, I had to be a dick.”
