“Besides get the fuck off this airplane?” James shot another evil look at the man as he got bumped yet again. “I'm still working on that part. Obviously, we can't tell anyone.”
“I know.” I rubbed my stomach, thinking of how it was going to start growing. We had a few months before people started asking questions at least. “What about Dad and Nancy?”
“Especially not Frank and Mom.” James said, paling slightly. “I like your dad, remember? I'd rather not have him shoot me for knocking up his daughter. His daughter that I'm supposed to look out for like an older brother. No one can know.”
“Okay,” I said with a nod. “So, no one will know.”
“They can't,” James insisted. “Seriously, nobody can know. I am my business. News like this would shake people's confidence in my company. A company that employs hundreds.”
“When people start asking, I'll say it was some guy at school,” I told him. “No one will ask questions. You can stay separate from this.”
“I'm sorry, Allie, but that's how it has to be,” James said with another sigh. “I wish it could be different, but people's livelihoods are at stake here. If my business goes under, a lot of families go hungry. I can't risk them.”
“I know. I understand.” I hated the way my eyes teared up. I wanted James to be a father, not an uncle. “It'll just look like you're a doting uncle to your unwise, unwed sister.”
“Allie, I'll take care of you.” James took my hand in his. “I just can't claim the child as mine. Even though I want to.”
“You do?” I sniffled and wiped at my cheek. I didn't mean to cry, but I couldn't help it. Damn hormones.
“Yes.” James reached out and carefully brushed a tear from my cheek. His fingers were calloused from playing guitar, but his touch was soft and gentle. “Of course I do. I love you, Allie.”
My pulse fluttered and if I hadn't been sitting down, I would have collapsed.
“You do?”
He smiled at me, his green eyes the only thing I could see with my blurry tear-filled ones.
“Yes.” He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “I thought it was pretty obvious by now.”
I burst into full out sobs. Whether it was stress, hormones, lack of sleep, or the sheer emotion of being loved by James, I couldn't control myself. He leaned over and wrapped his strong arms around me. He smelled so good and felt so strong. I was safe when I was with him.
He ran his hand over my hair, making small soothing noises as he comforted me. I wasn't alone. I had James. Even if he couldn't acknowledge that the baby was his in public, we wouldn't be alone. But most importantly, he loved me.
The flight attendant from earlier stopped at our row, but James just held me tighter and waved her on.
“You know, it's customary to say something back when someone tells you they love you,” James teased once my sobs quieted.
I giggled through my tears. Leave it to James to make this about him. I sniffled, and looked up at him.
“I love you, too.” I grinned. “I thought it was pretty obvious by now.”
James laughed and pulled me back into him. I loved the way he felt wrapped around me. I tucked my head on his shoulder. For right now, I felt like I could do this. James would be with me every step of the way with the pregnancy and then he'd be as much of a father as he could be without jeopardizing his company.
It wasn't the fairy-tale ending that I imagined, but it was a good future. A real future. It was better than anything I could hope for.
“Close your eyes, Allie,” James said, smoothing my hair. “You should rest.”
“You don't get to tell me what to do,” I murmured, sleep already claiming me. It had been a long day and now that I had cried, I was worn out. I struggled to keep my eyes open but it was futile. With a sigh, I relaxed, letting James lull me to sleep with his gentle caresses and the hum of the plane engine.
Chapter 43
“Wake up, Allie. We're landing,” James said, his voice cutting through my dreams. For a moment, I hoped it had all been a dream. I hoped I would wake up in James' comfy bed without a care in the world.
But the soreness in my neck said otherwise.
I slowly blinked as the plane landed with a thud and looked around the airplane. James was half in my seat as the man sitting next to him had taken over most of James' space. I didn't mind, though, since that meant I could be closer to James.
I yawned and my stomach rumbled. I hadn't eaten anything since those few bites of artichoke dip. That felt like months ago. I sat up and rolled my shoulders, wishing I didn't feel so damn tired. It was probably just the stress of everything, but all I wanted to do was go back to sleep on James' shoulder for at least another week.