Page 83 of Rule 4: Never Get Stranded with a Sports Reporter

“I’d like to upgrade the ticket for Callum Prescott to business class.” He slides his card across the counter.

“Jason, no.” I step forward quickly. “You don’t need to—”

“You were sick this morning. You should be comfortable.”

“That’s not your responsibility.”

He blinks and averts his gaze, as if I’ve insulted him. “Take it, Cal.”

The ticket agent is already processing the upgrade, and Rex and Jeremy are distracted by their own check-in.

“I can’t let you pay.”

“It’s done.” His expression softens. “Take care of yourself, Cal.”

Then he’s walking toward security, and I’m standing holding a business class boarding pass that costs more than my monthly rent.

JASON

I’m on an airplane headed back to the US, crammed into a middle seat between a businessman who keeps elbowing me and a woman traveling with a crying baby. A few hours ago, I wasn’t sure I would ever return, and now here I am.

I could have easily afforded business class for both of us, but there was only one seat available. Of course, it had to go to Cal. Only this morning, he could barely keep water down.

He deserves a lot more than being stuck on an island with me, eating coconuts and sleeping on sand.

I’m so exhausted that despite the cramped conditions and unideal noise environment, I’m soon sleeping.

When I wake up, the flight attendant is asking me if I want cream and sugar in my coffee as she hands me what appears to be a breakfast wrap.

I wish Cal was beside me. I already miss him so much.

We’ll be back in Boston soon. Not that I’ll see him when we return.

Because the truth is, I’ve never felt for anyone the same way I feel for Cal.

I travel for work constantly. If I’d wanted to, if I’d really wanted to, I could have hooked up with a guy. I could have.

None of the women I’ve been with have really known me. Maybe it was my fault for not sharing everything with them. For keeping parts of myself hidden and telling myself they didn’t matter, since I wasn’t going to act on those impulses.

It was probably my fault.

But was I ever truly sad when those relationships ended? When they informed me that I no longer had to accompany them for Thanksgiving or summer weddings or whatever else they’d had planned for me?

Did I feel anything besides an odd twinge of relief?

The flight attendants swoop down the aisles, and I hand over my now-empty breakfast containers.

I can see Cal in Boston. It will be just like the island.

My jaw steadies, my worry dissipates.

Then I remember all the reasons that won’t work. Because I saw how he hurried away from me at the airport. Because Jeremy was right there, protecting him. Because Rex was watching everything with those sharp journalist eyes.

Cal has a career to think about, and being involved with me could ruin everything he’s worked for.

Cal is the best man I’ve ever met. I saw how he hurried away from me, how shocked he was when I wanted to upgrade his seat, as if we were two strangers.

I won’t make anything difficult for him.