Page 58 of Embrace

Then the pilot announced we were finally ready for takeoff.

“Are you on an airplane already?” Asher asked.

Filled with dread, I closed my eyes and sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to like what I said next. “Greg chartered a flight for us.”

“Us?” His voice boomed so loudly that I had to move the phone away from my ear. “You’re alone with that guy?”

The aircraft was moving, and the flight attendant had set the coffee that I ordered in front of me.

“It’s okay.” I narrowed an eye at my fellow passenger. “Greg and I have an understanding.”

“You think that’s helping, Penina?”

I heaved a sigh. “I love you and only you, Jake. Fuck,” I cursed under my breath. I was volatile, very unstable, and I knew it. “I meant Asher.”

“Madison, Wisconsin?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Give me the address.”

I turned away from Greg, who was smirking. “What?”

“Never mind. My investigator was the one who helped your aunt’s detective.”

I tried to scoot to the edge of my seat, but the seat belt restrained me. “What? Why didn’t you tell me that?”

“Because it was me helping you out. It was no big deal.”

I closed my eyes as I shook my head. “You could’ve said something.”

“We’re next in line for takeoff,” the pilot said as if he were announcing a sunny day in Whoville. “Please turn off your laptops, make sure your device is in airplane mode, and enjoy the ride, Greg Carroll, greatest offensive tackle in the league.”

Greg crossed his arms and barked out a loud laugh. The compliment clearly made him feel special. I could tell by the look on his face that moments like that, for him, were worth the CTE.

“You have to turn it off,” Greg mouthed then winked.

He was relishing the moment. I bet he felt like a winner, and Asher was the loser. I should’ve thought it through, but it was too late now.

“Asher, I have to go.”

“I’ll see you soon,” he said and ended our call.

I smiled at Greg. “Love you too.”

“He’s not mad?” Greg asked as I pulled the phone away from my ear.

“Nope,” I said a little too optimistically.

He grunted thoughtfully. I didn’t think he believed me, but I wasn’t going to give him any indication that Asher was pissed.

“You love him, huh?”

My smile intensified. “Very much.”

His eyes narrowed, then after a moment of studying me, he grunted again.

I rolled my eyes.Whatever.