AN: Anyone out there?
Thanks for all the PMs and check-ups on me. What can I say? When it rains, it pours….my life has turned completely upside down and right side up again and I'm still here so….thanks for sticking with me through all this.
BRAVE
CH 8
OPOV
The plane finally came to a halt, jerking me awake in the process. It takes me a minute to understand what's happening, but not long…
I look around and the first thing I notice is my surroundings are different. I remember sitting in a seat near the middle of the plane with Fitz, Harrison, and a few other people in Fitz's entourage. We talked for a while after takeoff, but my body decided to finally give out on me and snitch on how tired I really am. I nodded off and woke up again but this time, I was in Fitz's arms on the comfortable looking couch he and Harrison occupied earlier. I smiled as he kissed my forehead and adjusted my body so that I fit comfortably in his embrace. I remember thinking about how beautiful Italy would be, and now here I am…awake again…
We must be in the bedroom. (yeah, cause ALL planes have spacious bedrooms in them…) I am being spooned and by the low growling snore and bearlike grip, I can tell Fitz is the one holding my body hostage. I feel so relaxed and refreshed after our flight and I can only imagine how we ended up in this bed. I am in my undershirt and a pair of track shorts. My hair is pulled into a bun and I have no socks or shoes on.
Fitz DEFINITELY did this…
I blush as it occurs to me that he got a glimpse of my body while changing me. My thoughts are swimming and making me dizzy until he intrudes my mental state.
"Hey," his deep voice growls at me and I shiver because that's what his voice ALWAYS does to me.
"Hey there. How long was I out?" I ask as I shift to turn around. Fitz plants a quick kiss to my neck as he allows BARELY enough room for me to turn in his embrace.
"Hmmmm, before or after the move to this room?" he asks as he glances at his wrist watch and back into my eyes.
"mmmmmm," I bury my face into his chest and I don't want to move.
"Mr. Grant? We have reached our destination. I will be waiting patiently up here and as soon as you and Miss Pope are ready, your limo awaits outside." A voice sounds over the speaker tucked discretely into the ceiling.
"Thank you, Jordan." I giggle because it's funny how Fitz can go from lovey-dovey teddy bear to commanding business man in the blink of an eye.
"Okay sweet baby…get up and get cleaned up. There are 2 bathrooms back here and one has been stocked with any and everything you should need, including a fresh change of clothes. I will do the same in the other bathroom and meet up with you in, say, thirty minutes?" he says this so smoothly and it's like pure velvet is running from his lips.
"Livvie?" he asks again because I've gone all swooney-school girl on him.
"I hear you. Okay." I say. I move to stand, but Fitz is faster. He hops over my body and to the floor, offering me his hand to stand. We kiss briefly and with that, I retreat into the bathroom.
/
It took me longer than thirty minutes and I feel so guilty. I finally exit the bathroom, hoping to see Fitz's face somewhere NOT grimacing at me for my tardiness. To my surprise, he's nowhere in the room, but I can faintly smell his bodywash. I grin as I take one more look in the mirror. I'm satisfied with my look, and I sure hope he is too.
As gracefully as I can, I move to exit the room. The door to the plane is open and guarded by a dude who looks like he belongs in the CIA. He's about 5'10, stocky build, and his face looks like he hasn't grinned in ages. He has a Mediterranean/urban look to him and I size him up before I reach him.
"Hi, I'm-"
"Liv, right?" he stumbles without looking my direction. His tone is kinda airy and he never even looks at me. I nod, then say yes because, well, once again he DOESN'T look at me. He asks me to follow him and I do, out the door of the plane and into plain view.
Instantly, I can feel his eyes on me. I glance around below me and see 3 black cars, one of them a limo. I continue to look around and my eyes finally land on Fitz and Harrison. There is a woman with them who's around my height and a few other people who are mingling around as if this tarmac is a shopping mall. I look down at my attire then back up at mystery mike, then we both begin to take the stairs.
FPOV
It's been forty five minutes. I honestly can't bring myself to complain because if she needed 15 more HOURS, I'd give them to her; nevermind 15 minutes….
"Earth to Fitz?" Harry asks as he waves his hand in my face. I am in a bit of a daze…nothing has happened, but that's the effect this woman has on me. When I finished getting ready, I stood outside her bathroom door and listened (not in a weird way) to her singing in the shower. I figured she would need more time because I was already totally done and her shower was still going. I had to stop myself from having improper impulses of pushing open the door and taking the woman I now LOVE against the first hard surface.
I changed her when she fell asleep. I kept it as pg-13 as I could, but who am I kidding? This woman is gorgeous! Sliding her clothes off of her body was like heaven for me. I stood over her thankful she was asleep because she likely would have been creeped out by my gaze. My eyes flowed from her breasts to her stomach, then down to her powder pink panties that matched her bra. The curve of her hips, the crevice of her breasts, the even pattern of her breath…
"Fitz…. Dude, seriously?" Harry was STILL trying to get my attention. I finally smiled and continued our conversation. We spoke for about 5 more minutes until the air around me changed.
She was near.
I looked over at Quinn, who was busily typing on her phone. She was Harrison's assistant and a lifesaver today if I do say so myself. I think she and Huck have some kind of weird relationship going on, but I can't really tell…
I look up toward the plane door and there she is. Huck is escorting her down the stairs and I think I quit breathing. She's wearing an off-white floor length maxi dress and simple, but elegant, sandals. Her make up is so light, I can barely tell she has any on…and her hair is swept to the side in a fish braid. She's wearing the white hat I put in the bathroom as an added accessory after I researched Italy's weather. She is minus any jewelry except her engagement ring…
Most importantly, she's wearing a beautiful smile and I'd give anything in the world to keep it on her stunning face.
"What's your name?" I hear her ask Huck. I smirk, pulling my shades down my eyes a bit because I know she won't get an answer. Nobody ever does!
"Huck." He simply states. I'm a bit shocked, but not surprised. Livvy has a way with people.
"Well, thank you for the escort, Huck." She states as they reach the bottom steps. She extends her hand, but Huck doesn't shake it. Instead, he presses his hand slightly to her lower back and angles her toward me so she can walk toward me.
OPOV
Okay, so Huck is kinda weird, but okay….i'm finally down to the ground and seeing my fiancé. I now understand why the white hat was in the bathroom and I'm glad I was able to make it work with this outfit. Seeing Fitz in his rayband's, I decide to put my own pair on my face to match him as I stroll up to him. The pretty lady and Harrison finally quit talking and notice me walking up as well.
"Livvie." Fitz says, taking a deep breath as if he didn't expect me to show up. The lady is introduced as Quinn, and we exchange pleasantries as we enter the vehicles.
"Quinn will be your personal assistant this entire trip. Anything you need or that needs to be done will be handled through her. Harry here has agreed to be my right hand man…."
I can swear I heard Harry mumble 'what's new' under his breath….
"Ready?" Fitz asks as we get comfy in our seats. He's next to me. Harry and Quinn are across from us and Huck-well I guess he disappeared into one of the other vehicles. He's pretty….strange?
FPOV
My phone chimes and it's someone letting me know that Liv's best friend and her parents are here. I can't help but be a bit nervous. After all, this whole situation is a bit…unorthodox. I can feel my nerves starting to get the best of me as we ride. Just as I feel my hands about to sweat, Liv nestles her head against my chest, looking out the window over my body.
And with that little bit of touch, I'm instantly calm.
/
"LIV?! IS THAT YOU?!" I hear the fiery redhead before I see her. We arrive at our destination and I'm helping Liv out of the car.
"Abby!" Liv's face lights up and I again, am frozen. She's beyond beautiful….
Have I said that lately?
Liv reluctantly lets go on my hand and sprints to her BFF. The ladies embrace for a good solid 10 seconds and when they are done, the redhead's parents are flanking her. Liv hugs them all separately and I stand by the door, waiting to be introduced. I don't mind at all…she hasn't seen them in a minute and it's not like she's gonna forget about me.
"Babe…" I hear her voice. I lift my shades and turn on the charm. I can swear the red head's mom just fanned herself and her father just looks at me and smiles.
"Abby, Susan, Mark, this is Fitzgerald Thomas Grant, the third." Her introduction is as grand as the thousand watt smile on her face and I feel my heart thumping in my chest because she takes so much pride in introducing me. She has her hands on my arm and back as she talks.
"Abigail Whelan…AKA Abby….nice to meet you." Abby extends her hand as she sizes me up. I would've thought Mike or Susan would be doing this but clearly, Abby is the feisty one.
As soon as I'm done greeting the Whelan's, Harry appears from the side of the vehicle with Quinn not too far. He stepped away to finish his phone call and I almost forgot they were even there.
"Oh, and this is Harri-"
"Yeah, I remember smooth criminal. Nice to see you again." Abby extends her hand as she cuts off Liv's introduction. She and Harry lock eyes and hands and stay that way for about 3 seconds too long…
"You too, Miss Whelan. How are the plans for that hit going?"
My eyes must look like golf balls as Abby blushes. I look at Liv and she just laughs; later on, Liv would explain that Abby had told Harry if something happened to her that she wouldn't hesitate to put a hit out on us.
All I could do was stare…I think I believe her.
OPOV
We are a mansion…like, I'm pretty sure this is one of the biggest nicest homes Italy has to offer. After being shown our rooms, Fitz and Harry disappear to handle some 'business'. Mike and Susan go their separate way to rest from the flight and it's me and Abby in Fitz and my bedroom.
Did I mention I'm ECSTATIC to see my bestie again?!
Abby's parents stayed back a few minutes after the guys left to whisper and make sure I hadn't lost my total mind. After a few rounds of convincing them I was totally sane, they gave up and left. Hopefully they believe me….
Now if only Abs is that easy….
"So, you know you are the talk of the town right? I mean, if I'm being honest, I kinda feel like a celebrity, Liv…" Abby stated as she lay on my bed with her feet in the air behind her.
"I figured. What is everyone saying?" I ask as I make myself comfy. I'm laying with my head on her back sideways so our bodies make a 'T' shape.
She went on to tell me how people stop her in the street to get the 411 from her…people we never even talked to in school foreal. Apparently, she can't really go anywhere without someone talking to her about me and my fiancé….
"Gosh Abs, I'm-"
"Oh, no, don't you DARE apologize. I'm actually kind enjoying telling people we don't like and never will to go straight to hell without passing go or collecting $200…" she stated and we laugh hard.
We spend another few minutes going thru the clothes already in the closet and catching up on our gossip. I have really missed her and even though it's only been like a week, so much has happened that it feels like eternity. I fill her in on some of the details she probably didn't get from the media like the proposal, the panic attacks, the romance between Fitz and myself…
It almost feels like old times and I'm starting to think maybe she won't get up in my ass.
I was SOOOO wrong….
"So…." Abby sits up and pushes me off of her. She's sitting Indian-style in the middle of the bed and I know what this means so I sit in front of her. She's looking deep in my eyes and to anyone who walked in, we would look like the most passionate lesbian couple…
"You already know what to do, girl. Don't make this harder than it has to be." She states evenly. I sigh as I reach my pinkie out. We lock pinkies and kiss each other's cheeks. Internally I'm battling because I have NEVER lied to her once a pinkie promise is in effect. On the other hand, this isn't just some kind of game. My and Fitz's agreement is serious business. I am conflicted and I'm sure she can tell because she reaches up and puts her hair in a bun, then proceeds to wait patiently on me.
Fuck My Life….
And with that thought, my internal battle ends and I start to tell Abby the story.
AN: taking a quick poll…should Liv tell Abby the WHOLE story or just the important parts? Remember, they are basically sisters in this story…
BTW, thanks for sticking with me this far. I can't promise to update more because I don't know what my future holds but I will promise to keep making an effort. This chapter took me 2 weeks almost to write because I am TRULY super busy.
Happy Reading!
XOXO
