Page 19 of Love Off Course

Sheridan

I look like Sheridan Reid.

Hair straightened to perfection. Makeup applied flawlessly. My navy-blue Black Halo Jackie sheath dress fits like a glove. I notice a piece of lint on my Gianvito Rossi suede nude slingback pumps and frown, wondering how it got there.

I wore my ruined tennis shoes to the small airport and threw them into the trash can before fishing my pumps out of my bag. I was just certain I’d made sure they were clean.

Anxiety begins to creep in.

Everything feels unsettled and unsure. It’s not a feeling I’m familiar with.

As a result, a tiny piece of lint is going to be the death of me.

With a frustrated huff, I swat it off my shoe.

Damian laughs loudly—literally snorts and cackles—as Doris says something to him.

They’re sitting side by side chatting about God only knows what.

Estefania is cozied up with Kyle, the both of them whispering sweet nothings to each other.

A spike of jealousy shoots through me. I wish I were saying a proper goodbye to Camilo.

We had our goodbye when the sun came up and that was that.

Alejandro took them out to the airstrip so they could start getting the plane ready and then he came back to fetch us. I haven’t seen Camilo since he kissed me. They were already in the cockpit when we boarded the plane.

I hate it.

I hate that my reality is crashing so hard down on me.

“Need a drink?” Lawton asks, donning his professional skywear suit rather than the strange outfits he borrowed from Damian while at Hotel Zaragoza.

“Please,” I mutter.

“Tequila?”

I thought I was a Hennessy girl. Turns out, I’m turning into a tequila girl.

“That would be fantastic.”

Lawton smiles and scurries off. I should put my AirPods in and sleep since I didn’t get any last night, but I can’t. I’m trying to live in these last few moments because once we land, everything changes.

Or, worse yet, everything remains the same.

I thought I loved every aspect of my life.

After the past few days, I’m left rethinking everything.

The biggest one is David. I try to think about him. Force his features into my mind. Attempt to remember his smile and the cologne he wears. Nothing comes to mind. It’s as if he’s a distant memory, which is silly because I saw him before he left for Costa Rica.

I’m frowning hard when Damian plops down. In my lap! And I can’t even be mad because it’s Damian. Damian in tight pink leather pants. He smells like peaches and cream oatmeal. My heart does a squeeze inside my chest.

“Go bother someone else,” I grumble.

He pets my hair, grinning at me. “But it’s more fun bothering you.” Then, his brows furl. “Are you okay, babykins?”

I force a smile. “Perfect. You? Ready to get to your project?”

“Nice try. You can’t avoid the question. But for now, we’ll evade.” He sighs dramatically. “I’m shooting for the show, and while I am dying to spruce up this old yacht, I’m feeling worn out. It’s hard being famous.”

I laugh. This time it’s genuine. “Aww, poor you.”

“Yes, poor me,” he whines. “They make me work so hard. All I want to do is pretend to be Doris’s son and drink margaritas all day with my bestie. Is that too much to ask?”

“You’re rich. You could do it.”

“But what about all those poor boats?” he hisses, holding his palm to his chest. “They need me.”

“I brought you a double since you have to deal with him,” Lawton says, putting my drink in the cupholder. “Should I call security?” He smirks at me.

My heart does a flutter.

Camilo is security at Hotel Zaragoza.

Would he be security way up above the clouds?

“She’s thinking about him,” Damian tattles. “You can always tell because she gets this girly, dreamy look and her cheeks turn pink.”

“Go away,” I groan. “Get off my lap.”

He picks up my drink and sips it. “Gross, Lawton. What is this?” He sniffs it.

“Tequila straight? Where’s like the yummy margarita part?

” Damian kisses me right on the mouth, making me laugh, before he stands up.

“Stay here, sexy mama. I’m going to get something to add to that drink to make it taste better. ”

Lawton trails after him and they argue at the drink station, swatting at each other like siblings. Doris tells her son to behave. Damian actually listens, which makes me grin.

God, I’m going to miss these people.

As my mind drifts to Camilo, the door to the cabin opens. Now that we’re in the air, they can do their autopilot thing and terrorize us. Me, specifically.

Carson flashes me a wicked smile as he strolls out of the cockpit. Camilo peeks out behind him, making my heart stop in my chest.

“This is your captain speaking,” Carson says. “The weather looks great. We’ll arrive in La Fortuna Airport before supper. Before we let you settle in for your flight, I just wanted to tell you all I enjoyed myself immensely on my forced vacation with the Funky Flyers.”

Damian takes a bow, making sure to bend his ass right in front of Carson. Carson simply laughs.

“This song’s for you guys,” Carson tells us as he fiddles with his phone. It’s connected through the Bluetooth speakers and then the familiar beat of “Goodbye Stranger” by Supertramp starts playing.

Damian dances in a silly way that makes everyone laugh, including me.

When I feel a heated gaze on me, I can’t help but draw my attention to the cockpit.

Camilo looks handsome as ever in his cocky pilot outfit and his usual smirk.

He looked at me the same way before he pounced on me and made love to me.

Every part of me is bruised and sore from our sex-filled night.

I even noticed a few hickeys this morning after my shower.

Eventually they’ll fade.

Will the memories fade too?

My blood seems to chill and I shiver. Grabbing the complimentary blanket, I pull it up over me and drag my gaze away from the hot pilot to the clouds.

For once in my life, I want something I can’t have. I’m used to going after things I’ll eventually have. With Camilo, it’s impossible. We’re worlds apart when it comes to our lives.

On that note, I close my eyes and dream that we aren’t.

“Sherrie-dan,” Estefania says, shaking me awake. “Time to wake up.”

I yawn and look around. Everyone is gathering their things to go. We’ve landed. I’ll see Daddy soon. And David. I’m met with a mixture of confusing emotions.

“I would offer you my security detail, but you would be safer just hanging back until we make our way through the crowd.” She frowns. “Can I call you later?”

Tears prickle at my eyes. “Of course.”

She grins at me. So beautiful. So sweet. She pulls me to my feet and hugs me, her perky tits smashing into my face. I inhale my friend’s lovely scent and sigh. I’m going to miss her something terrible.

“Va-jay-jay sammich!”

We squeal when Damian bear hugs us both. It’s all giggles until he starts to cry. He’s dramatic as always, but it sets Estefania and me off. Who knew leaving these people would be so hard?

I’m the first to pull away.

I need to be strong for everyone. That’s what I’m good at. I swipe away my tears and shoo off Estefania.

“Be careful and call me later.” I wave to her and then turn to Damian. “Be good, mister.”

“As if,” he says, just like the girl from Clueless .

He hugs me one more time before bounding off the plane.

Everyone has exited except me. Lawton gives me a knowing smirk before busying himself with something in one of the cabinets.

Camilo steps out of the cockpit, his nearly black eyes zeroed in on me.

He watches me like a hawk as I gather my bags.

I lift my chin and roll my suitcase toward him.

“It was nice meeting you,” I tell him with a polite smile.

His dark eyebrow arches up. “Nice. That it?”

“Yep.”

He steps closer until his chest brushes mine. “I thought it was far better than nice. Fucking amazing. Especially all the parts I spent alone with you.”

My skin heats at his words. “Yeah, it was fucking amazing.”

“Sher…” He trails off, his lips lowering to mine. “I hope you find happiness.”

“Me too,” I whisper.

His lips press to mine in the softest, sweetest farewell kiss. He strokes his fingers through my hair and then lets out a resigned sigh.

“Goodbye, stranger.”

I smile, thinking about the song and all the Funky Flyers singing it. “Goodbye, bird boy.”

As soon as we part ways, the tears threaten.

Everything blurs. My heart is in my throat.

I crave to run back to him and beg him to help me figure out a way for us to spend more time together.

Instead, I keep walking. With every step, I try like hell to lift my chin and remember I’m a badass female who can handle anything.

Even walking away from the man who’s made her feel more alive than she ever has in her life.

I’m so lost in Camilo thoughts that I almost slam into a guy with a camera. Lots of them in fact. Holy shit. Why are there so many people here? They’re screaming. Actually screaming. I’d panic thinking we were under attack, except they’re all screaming the same thing.

Estefania.

Estefania.

Estefania.

A huge guy dressed all in black sidles up next to me.

“Miss Villegas asked for me to escort you through the crowd.” I barely get out a confirmation before he’s all but dragging me through the crazies.

They’re all screaming and crying. Crying!

Several are throwing roses and stuffed animals toward the area I must assume Estefania went.

Holy shit. I didn’t realize how famous she was in Costa Rica.

The man in black manages to get us to another area where several more security guys crowd around my friend. Her normally carefree smile is gone as she frowns. She seems so overwhelmed and sad. It breaks my heart for her.

I shove past the guys and thankfully they let me. When I reach her, I hug her tight. She squeezes me like I’m her best friend—her only friend. I know that feeling. All too soon, we’re being broken apart.

I didn’t tell her goodbye.

I didn’t tell her she’s the best chick I know.

I’m trembling as I get escorted down a hallway away from the crying people.

I realize I have no idea where my bags are.

A security guy is carrying them behind me as another guy guides me away.

They push through a set of double doors and I’m blinded by the afternoon sun.

There’s a limo waiting. As soon as the door opens and I sit down inside, I nearly start sobbing.

“Daddy!”

He pulls me to him, stroking my hair. “There’s my girl. Missed you, Sher Bear.”

I can’t stop crying. I’m relieved to see him. Sad my week with my friends and lover is over. Devastated he had to postpone his wedding for me. Exhausted. I just need my dad to hug me and make it all better again.

And he does.

The entire drive to the five-star hotel near Arenal Volcano is spent crying into my dad’s chest.

“I missed you too,” a deep voice says from the limo.

I freeze and pull away from Daddy. David sits across from us looking like a man of leisure in his blue polo shirt, khaki shorts, and loafers. And his face…oh my God.

“Why do you have a black eye?” I ask in way of greeting.

He shrugs, a sheepish grin on his face. “Boys will be boys, you know?”

Daddy grunts at that but doesn’t say much more on the matter.

Well, then.

I’m going to get to the bottom of this.