…'Meyer' made the mold…but we are all here to break it…lol…
Chapter 24
I AM on a plane.
I am on a plane to New York City.
I am on a plane, sitting first class, on my way to NYC to prepare for the biggest showing of my life so far…and…I am staying for ten nights with Edward Cullen in his bed.
She took a deep breath.
She looked out the window.
Squeeeeeee!
She was almost ashamed to realize she was a little more excited about that last part than she was the first. There was seriously something wrong with her…or very right.
Opening her purse, Bella pulled out her cell for what must have been the tenth time since boarding the plane. She pressed the power button and stared at the digital clock on its face. Only five hours and twenty minutes 'til touchdown. She was suddenly very grateful for Edward's insistence that he would book her flight in first class with no stops in between. She kinda loved him for it.
At that last thought, her face went scarlet and her heart rate spiked.
That's fucked up…like ridiculously so.
The flight attendant stopped by her aisle and gave her a wide welcoming smile. "Hello, Miss Swan. I wanted to let you know that you have both seats to yourself during your flight with our Delta family this afternoon and evening. Please make yourself at home. Would you care for a cocktail or a coffee beverage after take-off?"
Bella just blinked at her, and replied dumbly, "Uh, why is there no one seated next to me? I thought the flight was fully booked."
"The aisle seat was purchased along with your window seat."
"Oh." Edward.
Bella glanced at the attendant's name tag. Senna.
"Thank you, Senna. And I would love an Old Fashioned if you have the makings for one. Heavy on the bitters, please."
Senna beamed back, giving Bella a small wink, "I make a mean one. Dinner service begins at 5:30 p.m. Would you prefer our Wild Mushroom & Manchego Risotto or our Wasabi Glazed Salmon over Chilled Asian Lo Mein? Both are served with a mixed field green salad and croissant. There is an assortment of chocolate dipped cookies and petite fours with champagne, if you like, for dessert. Then coffee or espresso service."
Wow. Bella's mouth began to water.
I should fly first class more often.
"Um, okay…I think I will have the salmon, thank you."
"You are very welcome, Miss Swan. Our in-flight movie is Rain Man, which will begin at 4:45 p.m." And with that, Senna moved past Bella and began welcoming the passengers seated behind her.
Glancing back out the window, she looked down at the airport staff loading the various shaped, sized and colored luggage on to the loading belt. Just then her cell lit up, still in her hand.
It was an incoming text from Tanya's cell number.
She smiled as she opened the text, remembering how grateful she was for Tanya and Jane…but mostly for JJ's Jezebel. Bella had realized early Tuesday that she had absolutely nothing appropriate, as far as clothing and shoes went, to bring along for the trip. Those two women had worked a miracle. A fantastic New York wardrobe miracle.
*…mama this is rosey im on tanyas cell…dont forget to take a pix of lady liberty from your plane…txt me back okay bye i love you…" ~R
Bella grinned at her baby bird's text.
*…i wont forget baby…i love you too and miss you and junebug so much already…have to turn my cell off now…bye bye baby…xxx mama…* ~B
*…WAIT MAMA WAIT…june here now mom…rosey is being so annoying already fyi…and you promised to go to that big candy store…i want chocolate…lots…bye…* ~J
*…not a single 'i love you' in there at all… :( …* ~B
*…mom dont be so needy…but here…I LOVE YOU…lol…* ~J
*…love you too baby…over and out… :x …* ~B
Yup, she was missing them already. And she was glade that Rosey seemed to be over whatever it was that had ailed her. Last night had been exhausting. As soon as her girls arrived home after school from the bus, Rosey had become so needy, reverting into her baby-self and needing constant attention. It was fine at first until Bella began to pack for her trip and her focus was no longer on her youngest daughter. June was no help whatsoever, of course. She taunted her little sister to no end, which got her banished to her room for a few hours. It was not how Bella wanted the evening to go. The week had already been a hectic one.
But once all the packing was done, the girls had been fed and homework was completed, Bella was relaxing on her bed watching TV, when both daughters came in to apologize. They all ended up watching The Devil Wears Prada and sleeping with their mama in her big bed. Crowded but perfect. They needed it, no doubt.
Attention all passengers. This is your Capitan speaking. I would like to welcome you to Flight 628 non-stop from Austin to New York City. Current time is 2:45 p.m. and we are on target for take-off at 3:oo p.m. We would please ask for you to turn off all electronic devices and return all tray tables to their upright positions, and make sure…
Bella turned her cell phone off and put it back inside her purse, then leaned down and stowed it under the seat in front of her. Double checking her seat belt, she relaxed back into her very roomy seat, smiled and waited for take-off. She would need to think of a way to thank Edward for his generosity, however unnecessary it was.
She knew just what she wanted to do, too, and she hoped she could get away with it.
Feeling the cabin pressure change and all the warning lights turn on, she couldn't be more excited.
New York City, here I come.
xxCSxx
EDWARD GLANCED at his watch for the millionth time. Then he checked his phone. No missed calls or texts.
Where the fuck is she?
Bella's plane had already landed over two hours ago. He had sent several texts and had tried to call her a few times, too. But, no luck. She didn't reply or answer. It was almost half past ten o'clock. He was really beginning to worry. It was a big city after all, especially compared to Georgetown, Texas. And Bella was like a baby let loose in the woods here.
He pressed the intercom to the bar downstairs at Brazil, and ran a hand through his hair in frustration, his knee bouncing around under his desk wildly. "Yeah, hey Peter, can you have one of the wait staff bring me a double Crown on the rocks?"
He heard laughter through the speaker. "Dude, man," more laughter, "you are so fucking pussy whipped I am almost embarrassed for you."
Jackson.
He must be checking the liquor numbers.
Shit.
Edward sighed and bowed his head, knowing his friend would rib him for the rest of his life over this. He scowled and cleared his throat, trying to change tactics, "Jackson, how's it looking down there tonight? Still packing them in?"
"Nuh uh, my friend. Not so fast. What? Do you need me to come babysit you or something? And you know it's a fucking full house tonight. It's Friday…"
"Ha, ha, ha…so fucking funny, man." He ran his hand over his face and sat back. "Seriously though, she should have contacted me by now." He really was worried about her. What if she had been mugged? Shit.
He thought about trying to contact Tanya to ask if she had heard from Bella. Then he remembered that he didn't have her number. He would be getting that, stat.
He could call the radio station where she worked!
"Christ, Edward. Look…we already contacted the limo service and they confirmed that they had, in fact, picked your girl up as directed and on time. Give her a break! It's New York for crying out loud. The broad's probably making the driver take her around for a bit, see some sights."
Jackson's gaze drifted across the bar room towards the front hostess stand where he saw Nikki approach to check the waiting list and make a few changes to the seating chart. Damn, she's looking good tonight. He couldn't help but let his eyes trail down her perfect figure. She wore a dark grey tight-in-all-the-right-places skirt with a black satin button down dress shirt, unbuttoned low at her cleavage, with five-inch stilettos.
She's trying to kill me.
Just then he noticed a beautiful petite brunette enter through their front doors. She was wearing flip flops.
Now, that has got to be Bella.
He darted his eyes back to Nikki, noticing that she was licking her lower lip while staring straight at him behind the bar, her smokey lids lowered. He shook his head in amusement, then mouthed 'incoming' and motioned his head toward the front door. She turned to see what he meant and quickly looked back at him with a smile. She mouthed back 'thank god', and then went to greet her, shaking Bella's hand, no doubt introducing herself before they headed his way.
Jackson had an idea, and turned his attention back to Edward on the other end of the line. "Look, just relax, will ya? Splash water on your face or something; stretch your legs. I'll send someone up with your drink, and in no time at all your swan will be here."
Edward snorted at his friend's word, smiling out his response, "My swan? You're right about that, you douche!"
"You bet your ugly mug I'm right," he replied as he watched these two most beautiful women walking toward him. His grin couldn't get much bigger.
Still listening to whatever Nikki was telling her, Bella gave Jackson a shy wave and her face suddenly turned bright red as she pulled her mid-thigh coat down in the front.
She looked a little nervous, or maybe that was guilt. Her eyes shifted. It was like she was hiding something…or maybe she was embarrassed about something.
He watched her pull at her coat again.
He cocked his head.
Hm.
a/n…'hm' is right…*goofy shrug*…pff…what was that all about…i mean jeez…pff…what could possibly happen next…lol…now…please…leave me some love…review review review…please please please…review…
clarification: i noticed that it may be unclear about where edward/jackson/nikki's offices are located…they are above brazil, their 2nd restaurant venture, which allowed for larger separate offices each, upstairs, due to the success from the blue sage, their 1st venture…
xxx jess