Playboy Pilot

WE WERE BOTH PRETTY DRUNK when we stumbled into our room at Maria Rosa’s that night. Carter was lying in the bed with his hands folded behind his head when I came out of the bathroom after getting changed.

“I’ll sleep on the floor tonight,” I said.

“I was thinking we could share the bed tonight. I’ll be on my best behavior. I promise. But I want to hold you in my arms while we sleep. I don’t even care that I sound like a pussy saying that. Because it’s the truth.”

I didn’t even have to think about it. “I’d love that.”

Carter held open his arms for me, and I climbed into bed and rested my head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around me so tight, and I clung to him. It felt so good to be held by him. But my feelings were conflicted. The thought of leaving tomorrow morning caused a physical ache in my chest. I had to choke back tears while I reveled in how good his touch felt. Neither of us said another word after that, and it felt right to lie in silence on our final night together. His heartbeat eventually lulled me to sleep.

The next morning, we both overslept. Racing around and bumping into each other, we took quick showers and packed our bags. Carter had to be at the airport by nine, and it was already eight, and we had an hour drive ahead of us. Rather than risk waiting for a taxi, Maria Rosa drove us to the airport.

When we arrived at the outbound terminal, I was barely able to keep my tears at bay. This was really it. The thought of never seeing Carter again was sickening. I’d only spent two days with him, yet I felt like he knew me better than most people. I got out when he did so I could say goodbye. He rattled off something in Portuguese to Maria and then handed her cash.

After he unloaded his luggage, the two of us stood facing each other at the back of the Jeep. “Maria is going to take you to the Westin. She knows where it is. While you were in the shower, I took your phone and programmed in her number. If you need anything, call her. She’s a little loco, but she’s good people.”

“Okay.”

He cupped both my cheeks into his hands. “Don’t go braless and talk to strange Brazilian men in bars. Got it?”

I nodded.

“Now give me a damn kiss already. I’ve been good for two days. No way in hell I’m letting you walk out of my life without a little taste.”

Before I could say a word, which obviously would have been yes, please, Carter’s mouth crashed down on mine. My knees went totally limp. My pulse was racing as he pulled me tightly against his body. He groaned when I wrapped my arms around him just as hard as he was holding me. Our tongues frantically collided, neither of us willing to waste another second before it was too late. We needed to taste each other, feel each other, say it all with that one kiss. When he started to release my mouth, I moaned and the kiss ramped up again. Even hungrier this time. I had no idea how long it lasted, I just knew when it ended, I was going to be devastated.

Carter leaned his forehead against mine. “Thank you for everything, Perky.”

“You took care of me for two days. I should be the one thanking you.”

“Nothing to thank me for. It was my pleasure. I’d stay right here with you if I could. Fucking hate leaving you. Especially after that kiss.”

A tear fell down my face, and Carter caught it with his thumb. “Whatever decision you make, it’s the right one. Don’t let anyone tell you any different. Promise me that.”

“I promise.”

We kissed a few more times. “Gotta fly, beautiful. You take care of yourself.”

“You too.”

I watched as he walked to the door. He turned and waved one last time before disappearing inside. Then I cried like a baby.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER walking through those automatic doors, it just felt wrong—unnatural—to have said goodbye to her.

You fucking idiot.

I spotted a

few members of my crew approaching; their rolling suitcases sounded like fingernails against a chalkboard. Two of the flight attendants were chatting in another corner. One of them winked at me, and I offered her a slight nod.

I looked around at the lines of people. A feeling of emptiness consumed me. For the first time in years, I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t want to fly. I didn’t want to escape to the next destination. All I wanted was to return to that car, head back to Maria Rosa’s and hold Kendall again. Even after that whacked out inheritance shit she’d confessed to, she was all I wanted right now.

I missed her already, and it hadn’t even been a full five minutes. I’d programmed her number into my phone earlier, so I impulsively dialed it. There was no answer.

So, with my heart pounding, I sent her a text.

Remind me why we just said goodbye?

I sent another.