Chapter 15

15

Kara

The past week and a half have been an absolute whirlwind. It’s a good thing he works twenty-four-hour shifts, and I watch the girls, or I don’t think we would have ever left his bed. I’ve been dying to know where he’s taking us on this trip he’s planned, but he has been so completely lip-locked that it’s not even funny. Now, I’m packed and ready to go, sitting at my place for him to pick me up. The only thing I knew to wear was comfortable shoes.

He pulls up, and I walk outside to greet him, not wanting to wait one more minute to find out where we’re going.

“Okay, will you tell me now?” I beg.

“Hello to you too,” he jokes.

“Hi.” I give him a quick kiss, then stare at him, urging him to talk.

He laughs out loud. “Is this that much torture?”

“Yes! It’s impossible to pack if I don’t know where we’re going.”

He points to my bag. “You have comfortable shoes, right?”

“Yes. And pants, shorts, workout clothes in case we’re going hiking because I have no other idea why I would need comfortable shoes,” I start to rant, and he pulls me close to him, getting me to stop talking.

“Okay, okay. I’ll tell you, as I can tell this is really bugging you.”

I slump in his arms, thankful I’ll finally find out, and wait patiently for him to tell me.

A small smile grows across his face as he opens his arms up wide and yells, “We’re going to Disneyland,” just like you see on the commercials.

I instantly start cracking up. “You’re serious?”

“I’m dead serious. I had to scalp these wristband things because I guess you can’t just get a normal ticket anymore, but I was able to make it happen.”

I sit there and think about all the possibilities that ran through my head. Not once did Disneyland come to mind, but the more I think about it, the more perfect it is.

We’ve talked about how being an adult comes with responsibilities I didn’t know existed when I was a kid and how I wish we could go back to those carefree days, and here he is, giving me exactly that.

I wrap my arms around him. “That’s pretty cool of you to plan this.”

He hugs me back. “The guys were making fun of me, saying I needed to bring you somewhere more romantic.”

I shake my head. “Nah. This is perfect.”

He kisses my lips. “Good. Let’s get on the road.”

We drive to the airport, make our way through security, then find a place to sit and wait for our flight to board. I’m trying to hide the fact that I’m nervous, but he catches on and reaches for my hand, which is clammy.

“What’s going on inside that head of yours?”

I inhale, then let it out slowly, deciding to tell him the truth. “I’ve never flown before.”

He jumps up to face me more. “Seriously?”

A nervous laugh escapes my lips. “I told you I’ve never been anywhere.”

“But what about when you moved to Tennessee?”

“We drove. I had to move all of my stuff with me.”

Now, it’s his turn to laugh. “Oh, yeah …” He grips both of my hands in his. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

I take another deep breath. “That’s what I keep telling myself.”

“Flight 2403 to California will begin boarding at gate A3,” a woman says over the loudspeaker, and my heart instantly drops.

He stands and lifts me up as well. “I got you. I promise. Don’t be scared. We’ll be just fine.”

I nod my head, trying to convince myself of the same thing.

He grabs my bag and carries it to the gate as I follow him, focusing on my breathing so I don’t give myself a panic attack.

We make our way to our seats, every step making it harder and harder for me to function. I don’t know why I’m so scared, but I can’t seem to talk my way out of it. I’ve never thought about flying since there never was an opportunity to do so, but I had no idea it would affect me this much.

I sit down in the middle seat, and he sits next to me in the aisle. I grip the armrests, breathing in and out, keeping my sight locked forward.

He releases my hold and places his hand in mine. “I had no idea you were this afraid of flying.”

“Me neither,” I am barely able to say.

“Just breathe,” he says in a calming voice.

I nod. “I’m trying.”

His slight laugh doesn’t help, so I eye him, making him laugh more.

“Look at me.”

I turn, still focusing on my breathing.

“Everything is going to be just fine. Look at the flight attendants. They do this every single day.”

I search for one, and she’s preparing stuff in front of us, acting like she doesn’t have a care in the world.

“Yeah, but you run into burning buildings too. What’s the difference?”

The harsh laugh that escapes his lips does calm me slightly.

“Okay, I’ll give you that. This is completely different though. I’m paid to rescue people. They are paid to serve us drinks and make sure the flight goes smoothly.”

I nod and look forward again.

“Just try not to think about it,” he says, continuing to hold my hand and sitting back in his own seat.

Before we know it, we’re pulling away from the gate, and the flight attendant I was keeping my eye on speaks over the intercom, giving us directions as to what would happen if we had to evacuate the airplane.

A new panic arises, and I look at Silas with my eyes wide open in fear.

“They have to tell us just in case something happens.”

“Exactly,” I forcefully whisper, making him laugh.

“It’s okay. I would assume you have a better chance of winning the lottery multiple times over.”

“But there’s still that chance!”

He places his other hand over mine. “Just breathe.”

We drive for a few minutes, making turns and driving more, which is starting to feel like an eternity.

Without warning, the plane accelerates, and I close my eyes, squeezing his hand for dear life.

To my surprise, I feel him place his hand on my cheek as he brings his lips to mine. He doesn’t do anything else but press them to mine, breathing in my fear and holding me tight. I feel my body loosen a bit, so he opens his mouth and swipes his tongue against mine. I follow his lead and kiss him back, feeling each movement opening up my airway and calming the panic racing through me. Once he feels my grip on him loosen, he pulls back slightly, placing his forehead on mine.

“Are you better?”

“Much,” I breathe out.

He kisses my forehead just as a ding sounds over us. “That’s a good sign. That’s how the pilot signals to the flight attendants that takeoff was all good.”

I nod and sit back in my seat, closing my eyes again and taking more steady breaths now that we’re in the air and everything is okay. Silas is still rubbing small circles on my hand, making it easier for me to breathe.

I take one more deep breath and place my head on his shoulder as my silent thank-you for his help in getting me through my panic attack. His kiss to my forehead is the last thing I need to fully realize I’m going to be just fine.