Page 62 of Fly Boy
But come Saturday night after her coaching, when I open my front door, I’m met with those lust-filled eyes and her kissable lips, I’m too greedy to question it, too eager to have my mouth on her body, nipping and sucking and marking her up to take a second to discuss things.
We don’t talk about this new routine. We don’t voice how impetuous this whole situation is. We don’t mention the elephant in the room.
One night only has come and gone, our agreement mutually and silently negated.
She also hasn’t mentioned my frenzied attack on her the night I received that voicemail from my dad. And I haven’t asked why she showed up on my doorstep in the first place. The reason is moot now, anyway. It doesn’t matter anymore. My resolve has been broken. I can no longer resist her. Instead, I’m restless, pacing my floor every Saturday night, telling myself I’m not eyeing the clock while waiting for her to show up.
During our flights, nothing has changed, though. We stay professional as best we can with my co-pilot, but she’s still Pippa. She’s still the girl who likes to push my buttons, flirt to the point of obscenity, tease me until all I want to do is push Liam out of the plane doors. We carry on as normal, acting the same because even though we know what we’re doing is wrong; if either of us were to bring it up, it could end.
Or maybe that’s just me. Maybe I’m the only one who’s gone and done the stupid thing of wanting more than I can have.
“Why are you looking so serious?” Teddy jars me from my thoughts as he enters the living room and joins me at the large window overlooking the front yard. He’s wearing a god-awful Christmas sweater Sadie bought him, the flashing lights on the front dancing in the reflection in the glass as he glares toward his in-law's house before turning his back. The whole family is wearing grotesque sweaters, each one a different color and design, but Teddy’s is by far the worst.
“Nothing,” I reply, itching my arm, the wool uncomfortable against my skin. Teddy gives me a skeptical look but doesn’t push further. It’s not that I don’t want to tell him that I’ve been sleeping with my boss’s daughter… Okay, it’s partly that I don’t want to tell him because Teddy has a big mouth and won’t keep it to himself, but it’s also that I don’t know how to answer the inevitable follow-up questions.
“You excited to become a dad?” I ask, cringing at how stilted I sound. If Teddy notices, he doesn’t say anything. Instead, his entire face lights up like the damn twinkling ones on his sweater.
“Cannot fucking wait,” he beams. “Can you imagine? Another little Teddy or Ana?” He mimics holding a baby in his arms. “I’m going to buy them a mechanics tool set so they can be like me.”
“I might buy them a pilot's hat so they can be like their favorite uncle.”
“Dude, don’t even joke about that. A baby pilot? Too fucking cute,” he says excitedly. “I will say, though, I’ll miss Ana being pregnant…” Looking toward the living room door, he checks to see if his wife is there, then he leans toward me, lowering his voice. “Pregnant Ana is horny as hell, and I cannot get enough of it.”
I snort, shaking my head, incredulously. “You are such a dog.”
“Like you’re not,” he says, acting offended. “My big brother is the biggest playboy I’ve ever met.” He holds his hands wide like he’s reading off a sign. “Romancer of the young and beautiful, leaving a string of broken hearts in his jet stream.”
His use ofyounghas me wincing, and I lift my beer from the side table and bring it to my lips. “I haven’t been that guy for a while now.”
“You haven’t been what guy for a while now?” Bowie asks, joining in our conversation.
“Apparently, he’s not being a massive slut anymore.”
“I don’t know where you got the idea that I’m a lady's man in the first place,” I say as Teddy scoffs aloud.
“Lady’s man is putting it nicely.”
I flip him the bird. “Just because I have—had—a healthy sex life doesn’t make me a playboy. I’ve never been disrespectful to women. I’ve never used them or led them on. They’ve always known the score.”
I sound testy even to my own ears.
Bowie raises his eyebrows questioningly, but keeps his opinions to himself. Christmas miracle, I guess. Or at least that’s what I think until he says, “How’s the hiatus going?”
I swear to god, it’s like he knows I’ve crossed the line with Pippa and is fishing for the truth.
“Fine,” I say, earning a silent exchange from my brothers. I step away from them, thumbing toward the kitchen. “Does Sadie need any help?”
Bowie shakes his head. “Nah, it’s about ready. She actually sent me to get you two.”
We walk through to the kitchen, and Teddy rushes forward, pulling a chair out and helping his pregnant wife as she sits down. He kisses the top of her head, and she looks up at him. Love and devotion pass between them as she reaches up, her fingers trailing over his forearm.
“Can I get you anything, baby?” he asks softly, leaning down to run his hand across her swollen belly.
My stomach twists as I watch them, a feeling I’ve never had before making itself known. It’s not that I want a child—far from it—but the affection, the openness of Ana and my brother’s love, the pair of them sitting here now with my family… I…want that.
Smiling, she shakes her head. “I’m okay, come sit down. Your mom’s been working her butt off making dinner.”
Teddy sits beside his wife as Bowie and my dad carry dishes full of potatoes, roasted vegetables, and a giant turkey to the table. It’s the usual chatter as we tuck into the spread Sadie made, my tastebuds having a party with the flavors. The whole time, she sits with a warm smile on her lips, contently watching as we enjoy each other's company.
