Chapter 79: TURBULENCE IS ME+YOU

LAURA

I spent the next 24-40 hours nervous to my bones.

There was so much in my head. So much to do and so much to remember. So much to prepare.

And yet...I wouldn’t stop thinking about Tristan.

Not that I wouldn’t... I was willing to. But he won’t just disappear from my head. I kept thinking about our last encounter and how guilt had eaten deep into my bones ever since. He’d had such a broken look in his eyes. It broke me as well.

But this was for the better.

I knew deep in my bones that telling Tristan the truth would yield no good result. I mean...he was engaged to another woman, and they would no doubt...get married soon.

Would I really want to get tangled in that mess? Most importantly, did I want my son tangled up in that mess? He won’t be five forever. He would become an adult one day and he would need to hold his head and shoulders proud and high. By that time, he’d be old enough to understand why I did what I did.

But every time I assured myself of that, a cynical voice whispered in my head; ’would Eli understand, though?’

"Ms. Hayes?" A soft voice cut into my thoughts. "Are you listening?"

I cleared my throat and pulled the rest of my mind back to the present. I was on a briefing call with Layla, the night before the trip.

"I’m sorry, Layla. What did you say?"

"I said, we got a message from Pierce Holdings. The flight is scheduled for 9am, and we’re expected at the Pierce private hangar by 8, at least."

"Okay." I shoved my fingers through my hair and paced about my room. "Um, what about you? Ready? Have you packed your bags?"

"Yes ma’am," she said with an air of excitement. "I’m ready to go."

Well, good for you.

I wasn’t sure I was ready.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Tristan and all the things that could happen on the trip...things that could go wrong.

I thought about canceling so many times, but each time, I was reminded reluctantly that I agreed to a deal and it would be unethical to break it at a time like this.

So...I had no option but to go.

I mean, I’d packed a few things earlier because I was eager to go, right? I might lie to myself so many times, but it was fruitless because the truth was rooted deep inside me.

I still wanted Tristan as badly as I did the first day I laid eyes on him.

"So, do I meet you at your house or..."

"Come to the house. We’ll leave from here."

As we got off the call, I thought about giving Mara a call and letting her know what’s up with the Milan shoot.

But for some reason...I decided to wait till morning, when I’m on my way.

The last thing I wanted was another voice of discouragement in my head, telling me what to do and what to run very far away from.

°°°

Ivy came early the next morning, and I deeply expressed my gratitude to her. Then I left her one of my black, limitless credit cards and gave Eli a long hug. "Mommy’s going away for work for a while. Will you remember to call Mommy every night, even on her most tired nights?"

He nodded and kissed my cheek, and my morning was made.

Layla and I left for Pierce’s private hangar, and the nervousness returned. I kept staring out the window, at the greenery that sped past us.

Layla seemed to notice and cleared her throat. "I think he’s going to be okay, Ms. Hayes."

I turned and stared at her.

She chuckled nervously. "I mean, Eli. He seems like such a smart kid, empathetic too." A smile of admiration crossed her pretty features. "It makes me wonder...how old is he?"

I smiled. "Five."

"Wow." She shook her head, as if in disbelief. "Incredible."

"I know right?" Jose called from the driver’s seat. "The little dude is amazing, really." His eyes met mine briefly in the rearview mirror. "You’re doing an amazing job, ma’am."

My cheeks warmed, as well as my heart. It felt so good, really good, to hear those words. "Thank you, guys."

We arrived at the hangar at about 8.15, and Tristan was just arriving as well.

Because he was there just as I got out of my BMW and slammed the door shut.

"Morning, Ms. Hayes." Blue eyes moved down my body in appreciation, and I instantly felt good about my choice of attire. A teal knitted cardigan over tight jeans. Simple sandals. Hair braided in two. Comfortable.

His eyes lingered on the curves of my hips, and I cleared my throat nervously.

"Good morning. I guess I’m early enough."

Blue eyes flicked back to mine. "I guess so." Then he cocked his head towards the waiting jet. "Shall we?"

"Give me a moment." I turned to José. "Thank you, José." I stepped closer to him and dropped my voice to a whisper. "Please keep an eye on things at home. I’m counting on you."

"Of course, ma’am. Have a safe flight." Then he turned around and cut Layla a wink that made her blush. And he was gone.

Smiling, I beckoned Layla to follow and we got on the jet.

"Make yourselves comfortable," Tristan said, gesturing to the plush seats on the left and right. I kept my wary eyes on him the whole time, trying to see where he would sit so I could avoid that area like a plague.

No matter how I felt—the whole butterflies thing inside my chest and stomach—I had to remember that this was a work trip. So I had to behave accordingly.

There were only four of us in this cabin. Tristan and Peter, myself and Layla. The rest of the crew—fashion, photography—were in the cabins after us.

Thankfully, Madison was nowhere in sight. I couldn’t handle her bitter ass, and I couldn’t handle seeing her fawn all over Tristan.

The pilot’s voice soon rang in the overhead speakers. "Please strap in your seatbelts, thank you."

In a short while, the flight commenced, and I jammed headphones over my ears. A sense of peace washed over me because from where I sat, I couldn’t see Tristan, and he could not see me. So I didn’t have to worry about nerves and racing heart.

Just ten minutes into the flight, my bladder threatened to burst from all the water I’d chugged this morning in nervousness.

I glanced at Layla. "Fuck. I have to use the restroom."

Her brows pinched together in a frown. "You want to come?"

"What? No!" I laughed, unaware I was shouting. "Just scoot over."

She did, laughing, and I slid out and down the cabin to the lavatory.

Moving my head to the music blasting in my ears and not sparing Tristan a glance.

I’d just pushed the door open and stepped inside the lavatory, when the plane literally shook beneath my feet. I froze, trying to be sure that I didn’t just imagine it, or it was just the music in my head.

But the plane moved again, violently this time, throwing me against the mirror which was right above the toilet.

What the fuck? I grabbed the door to steady myself, tearing the headphones off. And just then, the door pushed open and Tristan poked his head in.

His eyes were ablaze with immense concern.

Or maybe I was imagining it.

"Are you okay?"

Before I could respond, something rocked the plane again, knocking us both to the ground.