Page 107 of This I Promise You
“No. I mean fly.” Paul grins. “We wouldn’t have time to drive there and back in one week. I’ll have to get the time off work and I’m assuming you’ll still have a job then too.”
“But you know I hate flying,” I remind him.
“No, I know you’ve never been on a plane.”
“Because I hate flying,” I remind him.
“How do you know you hate flying if you’ve never been on an airplane?” He raises his shoulders and gives me a questioning stare.
“I just do. Planes are scary. They crash and everyone dies.” I know technically they’re safer than driving cars, that statistically you’re more likely to get in a car accident than a plane crash, but I don’t care. Planes are huge death contraptions.
“Not often,” Paul chuckles.
I feel sort of stupid. Like, I know it’s one of those fears, those irrational things, but it’d be my luck I’d get on the one plane some mechanic missed a wire shortage on during preflight checks and the engine blows up mid-flight and we end up in pieces in the middle of the desert. Like, I can just feel it.
“Fine, whatever. I’ll fly with you to Kansas.” I huff. That’sifwe make it.
“Missouri,” Paul corrects me.
I always forget about that. Why’d they have to go and split a city with the name of a damn state between two different states?
“I hate you.”
“You love me.” Paul leans over and kisses my nose.
I try to keep my mad face on, but he pecks my nose again and I can’t do it. So I roll my eyes and smile. Who cares if we’re in the middle of the gym, I guess.
“There’s my Belle. Now,” he says, slapping my ass, “let’s focus.” Paul laughs. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me.
“Oh, I’m focusing, just—”
“On this. On your calf raises.” He shakes his head, pointing to my calves, but I can see the lightness in his eyes.
“Okay.” I huff again, and then I remember the concert I heard about this morning. Chris Housman is coming to town, to the area’s only country nightclub, and I want to be there. “So if I’m getting on a plane for you, does that mean you’ll go to a concert with me?”
“Maybe…” He squints.
I can hear the caution in his tone.
“Just say yes.” I smile.
“What type of concert?” Paul asks, a smile returning to his face. I think he’s on to me.
“Country…” I drag it out.
“Oh hell no!” Paul’s grinning but shaking his head furiously. “No way!”
“Come on, Paul!” I pout, lips flared and everything as I start to twist around to face him.
“No, nope.” He grabs my waist and keeps me from turning.
Dammit. He’s too strong to fight against it, so I’m stuck. Guess I’m just going to have to beg.
“Please.” I slump my shoulders. “You don’t want me to go alone, right?”
“Why not?” Paul shrugs.
“What if someone tries to grab my butt?” I bump my ass back against his crotch.
