The ride to the airstrip was tense at best. The sun hadn’t yet started to rise so my energy level was still up. It was like I’d drank a bunch of energy shots or something.
Joseph hadn’t spoken a word since he saw William. He sat behind me in the SUV, and I didn’t have to look at him to feel his eyes burning through my back. William tried to hold my hand, but I acted like I wasn’t paying attention.
When we arrived at the airstrip, the place seemed abandoned with the exception of one guy in a pair of coveralls, and of course, a really sleek looking jet.
“This is your dad’s little “plane” you mentioned?” I threw up air quotes for plane.
William just nodded and grinned slightly. “I never said little anything. This is how we Novak’s roll.” He spread his arms wide, referring to the jet.
“Can we all just get on the damn thing,” Joshua said eyeing William severely. “It’s not safe for Gen to be here.” He spat his words at William.
One by one we entered the jet. When I stepped inside it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. William turned to the left and went inside the cockpit.
I just stood inside the front of the plane taking it all in. “I think I could get used to this,” I mumbled under my breath. There were sixteen seats, eight on each side, facing each other in sets of two. All the way in the back was a couch, a bar, and a couple of tables.
I waited for Joseph to sit somewhere before I took a seat. I was afraid he might sit by me and cause a fight with William.
Before William came out of the cockpit, the intercom made that familiar doorbell noise, and I cringed as soon as I heard William’s voice. I was so afraid he was going to spout off to Luna’s brothers.
“Ladies and gentleman, welcome aboard Novak Air Alaska. I’ve picked some mood music for the trip. Please enjoy your flight and, oh yeah…don’t forget to thank your host for this totally awesome ride home.”
He must have timed it because the exact same time the cockpit door swung open, T.I.’s Whatever You Like, started blaring through the speakers. He pimped down the aisle, then dropped into the seat next to mine, sprawling his long legs in the aisle, and leaning his body toward me.
I didn’t need to look in the mirror to know I was blushing. A felt the burning go from my face down through my body. I sank deeper into my chair and turned my face away from everyone...including William. I couldn’t understand why he was acting like a complete ass. He had won. I was with him, but it just didn’t seem good enough.
Luna and Joseph moved from their seats closer to Joshua and James, and talked quietly among themselves. William glowered at Joseph every time he looked toward us.
As morning started to break, my energy dissipated. I was physically and emotionally drained. Hot tears stung my eyes when I pulled out my mom’s necklace and studied it for a moment. I closed my eyes, twirling the chain between my fingers, thinking about everything that had happened. Something didn’t fit. A journey that was supposed to have been so extremely dangerous, went pretty easily, with the exception of a few dozen coyotes and lycan.
When I woke, everybody else was asleep except for William. His seat was empty. I sat forward, looking up and down the aisle. I was thirsty, so I went to the bar in the back and stooped down to get a soda from the little fridge underneath before taking a seat on one of the stationary bar stools on the other side.
There was a large mirror on the wall behind the bar. I stared at my reflection, realizing it was the first time I’d really gotten to see myself since the cave. I couldn’t believe how long my hair had grown in the last few days. Most people’s hair only grew about one half inch every month. Mine must have grown six or seven inches in just days. I was in awe of the fiery color it had become, and the kinkiness had turned almost perfectly straight, except for the occasional wave, and it flowed down to my waist.
I set my drink on the bar and slowly stepped closer to the mirror, eyeing my full reflection. My arms were cut with large tight muscles. I pulled up my tee-shirt and my stomach was just as muscular, each set of muscles defined perfectly. I look almost like a body builder. I smiled briefly, then let it go when I looked more closely into the mirror. I turned my face a little to the right, then left, my fingers tracing my high cheek bones and defined jaw line. I was staring at this beautiful woman in the mirror, but I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that it was me.
I jerked, and quickly spun around when the bathroom door next to me swung open. “William!” I grabbed my chest. “You scared the hell out of me.” I smiled sheepishly, knowing he had seen me staring into the mirror. My chest rose and fell with each deep breath I took, trying to slow my racing heart. His crooked grin didn’t help the situation one bit.
“I’m glad you’re awake. I was lonely without you,” he said, pulling me in close and gazing into my eyes. “I missed you,” he whispered softly into my ear, squeezing me tightly.
Something felt different about William. Don’t get me wrong, his touch was tantalizing, and he still made my heart skip a beat every time he said my name, but he wasn’t acting like the same guy I had left behind in Alaska. He seemed to have a smugness about himself…and I didn’t like it.
“I want to talk to you,” he said earnestly.
“Yeah? Well, I kinda need to talk to you.” My smile faded when I saw the look of concern on his face.
Interlacing his fingers with mine, he led me to a small couch a few feet from the bar. I sat down and he dropped onto the seat beside me. He started to say something, but I stopped him. I didn’t know how he was going to react, but I had to tell him.