Chapter 38

CHAPTER 38

SIMON

R ylee and I headed for the airport. There was a feeling of disappointment coming from both of us. We boarded the private plane and settled in. There was a feeling of sadness. The trip had been incredible, and as much as I didn't want it to end, I was looking forward to seeing how our relationship would evolve back home.

"Ready for this?" I asked her.

She sighed. "Yes and no. I am excited I'm not going to be cramped in a seat with no legroom. It was fun, but now it's time to get back to the real world. There's a real chance I might turn into a pumpkin."

I chuckled at her Cinderella reference, knowing she had a flair for drama. As the plane prepared for takeoff, I reached for her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. "Don't worry, pumpkin," I teased. "You're stuck with me whether you like it or not." She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips.

The engines roared to life and soon we were taxiing down the runway. I watched as Scotland disappeared beneath us, replaced by fluffy clouds and endless sky. There was a sense of bittersweet nostalgia settling over me, mingling with anticipation for the future.

I unhooked my seatbelt and moved to the couch. I patted the seat next to me. Without a word, I reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, tracing the curve of her jaw with my thumb. She leaned into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the hum of the engines.

I didn't need to ask what she was thanking me for. We both knew that this trip had changed something between us, something palpable.

"So, was the trip everything you thought it would be?" I asked her.

"It was." She nodded. "It isn't just the sites that I got to see. It was the experience. It was doing something I've been dreaming about for a long time. It feels good to know I can do something I said I was going to do."

"You should feel very proud," I told her. "It's a huge accomplishment."

"I guess I'm kind of cheating with the whole private jet thing," she joked.

"Nah, it's a bonus," I assured her. "It's part of the adventure. And you deserve it. It's a long flight. May as well be comfortable doing it."

I put on a movie, and we settled in. A few hours later, we were served our meal. It all felt very normal. Like we had been flying and traveling together for years. She had taken off her shoes and was stretched out on the couch with her legs across my lap. I had covered her with a blanket earlier. At some point, she had dozed off.

I watched her sleep, the gentle rise and fall of her chest was a comforting sight. The soft hum of the plane surrounded us. I couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness towards her, a feeling that had been growing steadily throughout our journey together.

As the movie played quietly in the background, I let my mind wander, reflecting on everything that had led us to this point. I brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, marveling at the peaceful expression she wore in her sleep. It was moments like these that made me realize just how deeply I cared for her, how much she had come to mean to me in such a short span of time.

The pilot's voice crackled over the intercom, announcing our descent into home territory. Rylee stirred awake, blinking her eyes sleepily. She sat up and stretched, rubbing her eyes as she tried to shake off the remnants of sleep.

"Are we there already?" she mumbled, her voice thick with drowsiness.

I nodded, a soft smile playing on my lips. "Almost home," I replied.

She glanced out the window. The familiar landscape of Dallas came into view as the plane descended lower, buildings and streets becoming clearer by the minute. As we landed and the plane taxied to a stop, I couldn't help but feel a pang of reluctance at the thought of parting ways with Rylee. The trip had been nothing short of extraordinary. I wasn't quite ready to let go of that just yet.

We gathered our belongings and made our way off the plane. "I'll drive you home," I told her.

"Thank you."

She didn't have to thank me. I wanted to spend as much time with her as I could. Now that we were back in Texas, it was back to the real world. I didn't know what that meant for us. It wasn't like I could ask her to go steady. I wasn't sure she was going to want me around. In Europe, things were different. It was casual and fun. Back home, it was a different game.

As we pulled up to her house, she let out a little squeal of delight. "What's going on?" I asked.

There were several cars parked in front of her house. "Everyone is here!" She grinned and clapped her hands. "I've missed them all so much. I can't wait to tell them about the trip."

I nodded. "They are going to want every detail."

She turned to me with a beaming smile. "Come inside and meet everyone properly," she said, her eyes sparkling with joy. "I know we all had a rocky start, but I want them to see you the way I see you."

"And how do you see me?" I asked with a cheeky smile, helping her with her bags.

She gave me a confident little smirk. "As dating material."

"Oh?" I hadn't seen that one coming. "Are you asking me to be exclusive?"

"No," she said, shaking her head slightly. "I'm letting you know that when you're ready to ask me to be exclusive, I'll say yes."

I laughed, feeling like I had just been given the world. "Well, in that case, I think you should spend your night with your friends."

Her face fell a bit, looking crestfallen. "Oh."

"Don't worry, baby girl," I teased, pulling her close for a steamy kiss and giving her ass a playful squeeze. "I'm not about to let you slip through my fingers again. But the best things are worth waiting for. I'll call you tomorrow. Enjoy your friends."

"I can be patient." She smiled. "Especially when I know what I'm waiting for."

I stole a few more kisses before helping her to the front door with her bags. I took my leave, wanting her to catch up with her friends. We had a wonderful time together, but that was in a different country with no outside influences. I was a bit nervous that they wouldn't warm up to me. If I butted heads with any of them, it might change Rylee's mind about me. It was best we eased into this. Her friends had already made it very clear they did not approve of me. I didn't want drama.

I'd never been called dating material before. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to me. Imagine that. I was used to being called an asshole or a long list of other names. Women thought they wanted to date me, but then they got to know me and that all quickly changed once they had a couple of dates with me. That was when it became clear they wanted to date my wallet—not the guy attached to it.

On my way home, I decided to stop at Marsha's place. We needed to talk. After my trip and talking with Rylee, I felt the need to try and clear the air between us. She was my sister after all. I pulled up to her place, an ultra-modern high-rise downtown with her cat, Bynx—a total dick who hated me about as much as most people did. I buzzed her door, hoping she actually let me in. Her voice over the intercom was filled with annoyance. But finally, she opened her door and walked away. I assumed that meant I was invited in. She didn't ask me to sit down or ask if I wanted anything to drink. She walked back to the balcony and sat down. I followed her, taking the other seat.

"I'd offer to make you tea, but I'm mad at you, so no tea for you," she said. The setting sun cast a warm glow over the city, giving the place a beautiful orange and yellow glow. Bynx jumped up and sat in Marsha's lap, glaring daggers at me while she stroked his back.

"You don't usually stop by," Marsha said, eyeing me suspiciously. "What do you want?"

"I don't want anything," I said, taking a deep breath. "I came to tell you I'm sorry. I should have noticed the way Mom treats you. I guess I didn't want to notice. I don't know. But now I can't unsee it and it sucks, and it must be hard for you. Especially when we were growing up."

My words were stumbling out, stilted and disjointed. I just wanted to get it all out before she kicked me out.

Marsha looked like she had a hairball caught in her throat. "Who are you and what have you done with my brother?"

"I haven't done anything with him. I've just realized that everyone was right about him, and he's an asshole. But he can do better if he's given the chance. I love you, Marsha. Yes, you were my biggest bully growing up, but you also had my back when push came to shove. I remember how you chased down Chance Dailey when he pushed me off the playground and broke my collarbone in fifth grade. And how you pinned him down and punched him in the nose and put the fear of God in him." I smiled thinking back to the many shenanigans we got up to. "You always went to bat for me when nobody else would. I hope you know I would do the same."

Marsha cleared her throat and wiped her eyes. I realized how long she had probably wanted to hear this. "You're an idiot, Simon."

"I love you too," I said.

Bynx hopped down from her lap and, for the first time ever, hopped into mine. He settled down and started to purr.

Marsha and I locked eyes, like we weren't sure if things were about to get dangerous. She started to laugh.

"What is this? A peace offering from the feline overlord?" I joked, scratching Bynx behind the ears. He nuzzled into my hand, purring louder.

"Looks like he's finally warmed up to you," Marsha said, shaking her head in disbelief. "It only took, what, eight years?"

"Better late than never," I said, leaning back in the chair and enjoying the rare moment of peace.

We sat there in silence for a while, watching the sunset. It was a peaceful, almost surreal moment. I felt a sense of closure. I knew things wouldn't change overnight, but it was a start.

"I'm glad you stopped by," Marsha said eventually, her voice softer now. "I've been wanting to talk to you too."

"About what?"

"About everything," she said, looking out over the city. "Our family, Mom, how things have been between us. I've missed you, Simon. Even though you're a pain in the ass, you're still my brother."

I felt a lump in my throat. "I've missed you too, Marsha. And I'm sorry for being such a jerk. I'll try to be better. For you. For us."

She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Good. Because I could use a brother who's not a total ass."

We laughed together, the sound light and freeing. It felt good to reconnect, to start mending the rift that had grown between us over the years.

As the night grew darker, I knew it was time to head home. I stood up, gently moving Bynx to Marsha's lap. "I should get going. But let's do this again soon, okay?"

"Yeah, I'd like that," Marsha said, standing up and giving me a hug. "Take care, Simon."

"You too, Marsha," I said, hugging her back. "I'll call you."

I left her apartment feeling lighter, more hopeful. The drive home was peaceful. I found myself thinking about Rylee and the words she'd said earlier. I knew I had a lot to work on, but I also knew I wanted to be better, not just for Marsha, but for Rylee too.

When I got home, I poured myself a glass of whiskey and sat down on the couch, reflecting on everything that had happened. Life had a funny way of throwing curveballs, but for the first time in a long while, I felt ready to catch them. I was looking forward to the future, and I couldn't wait to see what it had in store for me and Rylee.

I raised my glass in a silent toast to new beginnings, to second chances, and to the incredible people who made life worth living. I took a sip, savoring the warmth as it spread through me, and settled back, ready for whatever came next.