Teagan and I had been so busy the last few days that I hadn’t had time to worry about how everyone at the wedding would react to me bringing a date. Until now. At two am in the Emirates check-in line at the Dubai airport.
“You okay?” she asked.
She appeared cool as a cucumber and looked adorable, wearing flip-flops, black sweatpants, and an oversized T-shirt with the words, “Not a hugger” under a picture of a cactus. She’d straightened her hair, which was a much different look for her.
“If you’re worried about what I’m wearing, I brought clothes to change into on the plane.”
“No, no, it’s a long flight. You should be comfortable. I’m fine. Are you okay?” She’d been quiet since I’d picked her up at her apartment. Then again, it was in the middle of the night—the downside of flying out of Dubai were the early morning flights.
“Yes. I’m good.”
“You straightened your hair. Looks longer.” It was nice, but I had to admit I preferred her wilder curls. They seemed to match her personality better.
“I needed the hair to go with the designer clothes.”
I hope she hadn’t thought she had to go to the trouble. I’d wanted her to feel comfortable over the weekend, and able to withstand the judgy crowd, but I had to admit the result was making me uneasy. “Is this crazy? The entire thing?”
She lifted a perfectly arched brow before narrowing her eyes. “Nope. No way. Do not go getting cold feet now, Reid Maxwell. Not after I spent hours trying on clothes, straightening my hair, and I even studied etiquette, so I don’t go getting the damn salad fork mixed up with the dinner fork.”
I was shocked to hear she’d gone to such lengths. “You studied dining etiquette?”
She sighed, appearing uncharacteristically uneasy. “I would say it was more of a crash course to keep me from embarrassing you at one of the fancy dinners. Anyhow, we’re up.”
We were called up to the check-in desk, delaying our conversation. The gate agent checked our passports, took our luggage, and pointed us toward the Emirates business-class lounge. As we headed for the lounge, I found myself sincerely flattered at the effort Teagan had gone to so she’d fit in at the wedding, but at the same time, I didn’t want her to think she had to change on my account.
“I hope you know you’d never embarrass me, Teagan.”
She slid her gaze toward me. “Aw, you’re so full of hope, I think you may actually believe that.”
I couldn’t help chuckling. Her humor was irresistible. “Seriously. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
“Oh, so I shouldn’t feel uncomfortable in a crowd including your ex-fiancée, your brother who cheated with her, your mother you don’t get along with, and a bunch of your country club friends who will probably watch my every move?”
I almost physically cringed. When she put it that way, I felt hard pressed to get on the flight. “Maybe we should head for Mexico instead.”
“Ha, nice try.”
We entered the opulent lounge and found seats at a table near the full-service bar. “Something to drink?”
“Mm. Ginger ale is good.”
Yeah, alcohol at this hour didn’t sound so appealing. So two ginger ales it was.
When I returned with her iced glass, she murmured a “thank you” before blowing out a long breath.
“You okay?”
“Yes. God, I hope we don’t have to keep asking each other if we’re okay this entire trip. Why are you so nervous?”
“Who said I was?”
She lifted that damn brow of hers again. “I recognize your signs. This relationship may be fake, but our friendship isn’t.”
My words thrown back at me. “Fine. I’m once again nervous about putting you in an awkward position. Maybe I should’ve gone solo. With my ex there and possibly my brother, there’s no telling what kind of drama there may be.”
She shrugged. “You may not get to choose what someone says, does, or acts, but you can control your reaction to it.”
“Why do I get the impression you’ve learned that particular lesson the hard way?”
Her husky laugh hit me straight in the solar plexus. “It’s an important lesson. The reaction is everything.”
“Now why are you nervous?”
She hesitated. “I’m kind of an anxious flier.”
“Seriously?” Her candor caught me off guard.
“Don’t make a thing of it.”
My laughter came easily but earned me a huff. “Come on,” I said. “You being afraid of flying is a nice reminder you’re human under all of your armor and sarcasm. Perhaps I need to discover more of your weaknesses.”
“You mean my armor and sarcasm don’t count as flaws?”
“Depends who you ask. Some people might find those attributes delightful.” Like me, for instance. She was fun, smart, and all with an incredible sense of humor.
“Delightful is so not what I’m going for.”
That much was obvious. Instead, it seemed she was hoping for unapproachable and unaffected. But over the last couple weeks, I’d learned those demeanors were her defense. Her mask to safeguard her vulnerable side.
“Where do you think you’ll be in five years?” I found myself genuinely curious.
“Pass. Next question.”
My lips twitched. “Come on. Humor me. We’re killing time before the flight. Pick ten years if you want.”
“I have no clue where I’ll be in one year, let alone five or ten years.”
“Okay, well, you don’t plan on staying in Dubai, right?”
“No, I probably won’t renew my contract again in three months.”
“And you’ll go back to LA, to be near your sister?”
“Most likely.”
There seemed to be a quiet resignation to her response, as if it was something she felt compelled to do instead of something she wanted to do. “What would you do if there were no limits—if you could go anywhere or do anything?”
“Honestly?”
“Yes.”
“I’d love to go live in another exotic city. I’d love to travel the world.”
This didn’t surprise me. Teagan had an energy that wouldn’t want to be tied down or feel content with a place she’d already lived. “Delmont Security has offices all over the world.” Such as in Sydney, where I’d applied. Wouldn’t it be something if she chose to move there too? Was it wrong to hope she would?
“Yeah, but do you know what I really wish I could do?”
I leaned forward, feeling privileged she was about to share a secret. “What is it?”
“My dream job would be to go work in various spas in different amazing vacation spots around the world.”
I could tell by the way she’d pampered me with the facial the other day that she’d enjoyed what she was doing. “What about having kids someday?” I was curious since I absolutely wanted children in my future.
“I love kids, but I see how hard my sister struggles with being a single mom—I just wouldn’t want to go it alone. Which brings me back to relationships. I’m not certain I’m cut out for them.”
“I could say the same given how I was in a long-term relationship that was completely dysfunctional. But I’d like to imagine there’s someone else out there. Someone I’m meant to be with.”
She bit her lip. “Do you ever think you missed your opportunity with Shelly, the girl you once dated while you and your ex had broken up? The one who developed feelings?”
The one I’d hurt by going back to Vanessa. “Nah, last I heard she was married and had a son. She deserved better than someone who was still in love with someone else. I hurt her, and I hate it.”
“You need to stop beating yourself up about it. Sounds as if she moved on.” Teagan was learning my cues.
“I know it.” I did need to move on. But that didn’t mean Shelly wouldn’t serve as a lesson. A lesson to prevent me from ever acting on my attraction to Teagan. Even if she reciprocated the feeling, she deserved better than a man who was still grieving his last relationship. If I couldn’t give my whole heart to someone new, then it was best I stay single for the time being.
