One Seductive Night: Seductions Series, #2

1.  FINN

Y ou know, I say, as we walk onto the plane. This is the first time I’ve met up with Sawyer when he's on a job.

"No, it’s not, Finn! It’s not even the first time we’ve flown out together to see Sawyer when he's been on the job, you idiot!"

The attendant snorts, but manages to keep his face void of any amusement. Which is quite a mean feat if I'm being honest, and a nod to his professionalism.

That is until I catch him looking at Cheri’s ass as she walks by.

I cough, and his head snaps around to meet my eyes, I raise an eyebrow at him.

Sir. He nods at me, then says, My apologies. If I can do anything to make you, and your wife’s flight more comfortable, please let me know.

I open my mouth to reply, but Cheri cracks up.

"Oh sweetie, I am not his wife, and I’m never likely to be," she says between gasps for air.

She's my cousin. I confirm. But, that doesn’t give you the right to drag your eyes over her body like that, dude. You're working, and she's a passenger!

Don’t mind him, he's a bit of a bear when we fly. Plus, his brother is dating a guy that he doesn’t quite approve of, so that’s adding to his current grumpiness. Cheri pats my chest as if to placate me, and I growl at her, only proving her point I guess that I'm a grumpy bastard. See, I told you. She giggles at the guy.

Keep it moving! A guy from the line of people behind us yells out. This isn’t a fucking speed dating get together, some of us have places to be.

We’re moving dude, it’s just that some of us have more moves than others. Cheri yells back, sending rumbles of laughter down the line. Enjoy your flight everyone, except you, you're a douchebag.

Why, because I want to get moving? The guy yells back.

No, because you need to find some joy in life my friend, not in your hand. Cheri yells back at him, causing louder laughter this time.

Get your ass moving woman! I say, giving her a gentle push to get her walking forward.

Don’t push me, Finn, she grumbles at me.

"Don’t you push me, Cheri! Come on, let’s get this done without you starting a fucking riot just this once, OK?"

I don’t start riots, Finn, I finish them. She winks at the two attendants, and the couple behind us, all of them smiling broadly at her, before allowing me to gently prod her along.

One day, Cheri-

One day what, Finnigan? She sounds innocent, but she's not, not even close.

Don’t call me that, I growl, as the attendant we’re following pulls back a curtain, and keeps walking.

Holy shit, Finn! Cheri whispers in awe.

What's wrong now? I ask, finally feeling the build up of frustration of flying, and the anticipation of seeing Sawyer – and Jake fucking Sable, again.

Jake must have upgraded us! she whisper squeals. Cheri rarely whispers anything, so she has my full attention.

Yes, ma’am, sir. You’ve been upgraded to first class. Please, get comfortable, and we’ll be back with you shortly. The attendant smiles, as she shows us our seats, which I have to say are more like adjoining pods, and then leaves us.

Thank you. Cheri calls out, and the attendant smiles back at her, right before she closes the curtain. Oh my gawd, Finn! Can. You. Fucking. Believe it? she asks, bouncing into the seat closest to her.

No, I cannot in fact believe it, Cheri.

Oh, stop it, Finn! You can't continue to hold a grudge against Jake forever. Not when Sawyer is so into him, and he followed through on his promise with these tickets! She squeals again, and claps her hands. Yes, this is Cheri trying to be quiet.

I will never stop protecting my brother, I say, trying to defend myself.

Finn, he's a grown man. A grown man who fell in love all over again with a man he already knows.

"Knew. He knew Jake when they were teenagers, Cheri, and even then, saying that they knew each other is a fucking stretch." I remind her, as I fold myself into my pod, only to discover there’s more than enough room for me, and it’s actually really comfortable.

But, they did, didn't they? I mean, Sawyer’s always had a crush on the man. The difference is, now he’s a rockstar, and can afford to fly us out to them first class! I grunt in response, which makes her laugh. Yeah, you’re not complaining too loudly now that you're getting that tall body of yours comfortable.

It’s not like it’s a long flight, Cheri. We certainly could have survived sitting in cattle class for a couple of hours. I grumble, even as I sigh in my seat. I will concede, and give Jake credit where credit is due. These pod thingies are fucking comfortable, and I will enjoy the perks of his fame for this flight.

And the return flight home, she cackles.

I guess that really depends on how this visit goes, doesn’t it.

Finn, you better behave yourself. Cheri says, as she sighs, and squeals about something else she's discovered in her pod. Sawyer will never forgive you if you ruin this for him, you know.

I know that, I mutter as more people quietly filter into the other pods.

I know that my brother wants, needs, and expects my full support, and he’ll get it, just as soon as I work out whether Jake Sable is being genuine about his feelings for my brother.

Even if I can forget about their past, Jake is now a rockstar. I mean, can he even have a slightly normal life? What kind of life would he be offering my brother?

These are the questions I need to have answered before the end of the weekend.

That, and why the hell he has Kingston fucking Symonds working for him! That’s one thing I may never be able to understand.

Stop thinking, Finn. You're causing yourself more stress than necessary. I open my mouth to speak, but Cheri cuts me off. "And before you ask me how the hell I know you’re thinking, Finn, I know you. You overthink, and over analyse everything, especially when it involves the people that you love. Even more so, when you think you have no control over the outcomes. So, how about, you sit back, relax in your comfy pod, and just be thankful that you get to visit your brother on what is effectively an all-expenses paid long weekend. And yes, I know you could afford it all, I have no doubt that is true, but you wouldn’t have, so relax. Take a chill pill, and enjoy the flight."

I don’t respond to her. The truth is, I have no clue what to say to her little speech. She's not wrong, but I’ll never admit that to her, or anyone else. I absolutely could have afforded to pay for both of us to fly first class, I chose not, because I don’t have money to throw around quite like a rockstar does. Well, how I imagine a rockstar does any way.

Did you need one? Cheri’s head pops up over the divider between our pods, making me jump a little in my seat.

Do I need what? I ask, completely confused.

An actual chill pill? Because you know, I have some if you need them.

Sit your ass back down, Cheri.

Just letting you know that I have medication that can aid in your, shall we say, uptight state, she offers, holding her hands up in surrender. Of what, I'm not quite sure.

Ma’am, please take your seat, and buckle up. The captain is about to turn on the seatbelt sign. The attendant smiles warmly, then makes her way quietly through the rest of the pods giving them the same information as she just did to us. I assume so anyway.

I don’t think it was me that was the asshole that time, Cheri, I say with a smile.

Shut up cranky pants, and have a nap. You know, so you’re not so cranky when we meet up with Sawyer, and Jake.

Yes ma’am! I say with a salute, even though she can't see me.

Sleep well, Finnigan.

Before I can retort, the captain’s voice comes over the intercom to explain the flight details. He tells us we’re running on time, and should make good time to our destination.

Everything else is a blur, I have to admit, and I start to wonder if Cheri put something in my drink, but there's no way she could have managed that!

Could she?

I don’t get long to contemplate my own question, as the plane takes off, and then levels out, because I fall asleep.

2.  SOFIE

Ididn't think babysitting was in my job description, but apparently, I was mistaken.

Sofie?

Hmmmm?

You know, I don’t need you to babysit me while Jake’s busy with the band, and the tour. Sawyer says, breaking through my fog.

I'm not babysitting you, Sawyer.

Yeah, you are. He laughs, drawing my attention to him completely.

I study him closely for a few seconds, trying to determine whether to tell him the truth or not. I don’t want to offend him, but honestly, he already knows the truth.

You're right, he laughs again. Before he can speak again, I continue. But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy your company. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Plus, I'm really happy you're here, because you make Jake happy too, and a happy boss makes for a happy life!

Well, I can't guarantee we’ll always be completely happy, but I can promise to try my best.

That I can accept. I return his smile, and hand him a coffee. So, what time do your brother, and sister arrive?

Brother, and cousin. He corrects me.

Oh, sorry.

That’s OK. To be fair, Cheri is more like a sister than a cousin. Even Finn, my brother, will admit to that.

What do they do for a living? He raises an eyebrow at me in question, and I shrug. I'm just interested, because they seem to have been able to drop everything to come away to join this circus for a few days reasonably easy.

The three of us make time for one another. His answer is simple, and yet, I feel like there's more to it than he's making out.

That’s nice, I say, simply because I can’t think of anything else to say.

I don’t have siblings, I'm not close to any of my cousins. My parents are great people, but there are certain expectations that I'm supposed to live up to, and working for a ‘rock band’ certainly doesn’t fit within them.

We’ve known each other for as far back as my memory goes, and she's always had my back, and I’ll always have hers.

Have you got any siblings, Sofie? Sawyer’s question draws me out of my thoughts, and back to the present.

No, I don’t, but I do have a Brigit, and she's pretty much the same thing.

I’m looking forward to meeting her. Jake’s told me a lot about her, so has King.

I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing or not to be honest, I say with a wince. "She can be a handful at the best of times, and if she thinks that someone has overstepped in any way with me, they’ll know about it."

So I’ve heard. Sawyer laughs, and it feels like he's amused. Don’t be embarrassed to have someone who has your back no matter what. We all need that one person in our lives. Trust me, Finn, and Cheri have always been that for me, and I hope I've been that for them.

Now you have Jake, I say with a smile. And I hope you can include me, as well.

And now I have Jake, and you. He drapes an arm around my shoulders. I might even add King to that list one day, he says with a conspiratorial whisper.

I won't tell a soul, I promise him with a wink, as he drops his arm back to his side.

I'm serious though, Sofie. You don’t need to babysit me while Jake is busy, I can look after myself, and I have plenty of my own work to do before Finn, and Cheri get here. Trust me, once they're here, I won't get the chance to get any work done. He rolls his eyes like he's annoyed, but he's got a huge grin on his face.

Just to let you know, I upgraded both of their tickets, and I received a notification letting me know that the flight is on time, and should arrive as expected.

His eyes light up at knowing that his family will be here soon.

Thanks for Sofie, you really didn't have to do that. He gives me a tight hug, and just as I wonder if he's going to break a rib, he lets me go.

No I didn't, but I wanted Jake to make a good first impression. This makes Sawyer frown. Not that this is the first time they’re meeting I guess. Shit, I shouldn’t have done it, should I? Now, it looks like he’s showing off.

Don’t stress. Cheri will love it, and she’ll make Finn accept it, and he will, begrudgingly, if only for her sake, and mine. he looks away for a second, then looks back at me. I'm making my brother sound like an asshole, when he's really not.

No, he's protecting you, and that’s not the move of an asshole, Sawyer.

I'm going to find a quiet corner to get some work done. Thanks again Sofie.

For what?

Not babysitting me, and looking after my family.

I'm about to respond, when my phone vibrates in my pocket, and because I'm not one hundred percent sure where Jake or Kingston are right now, I pull it out of my pocket to look at the screen without thinking.

When I see my mother’s name on the screen I groan, and even though I know she can't hear or see me, I still apologise for my reaction – to the picture on the screen of my phone!

Mum: You know, I hate texting. I can’t understand why you can’t just answer your phone. Anyway, I just wanted to check in to see how you are. Also, where are you? Will you still be available for the charity event soon, or will you be on the road still?

Mum: Never mind, your father tells me you’ll be on the road still. I really wish you would tell me as well! This is why I would rather talk to you on the phone than send these silly messages that I don’t even know that you read.

Me: I read your messages Mum. Phone calls are difficult, there is usually too much noise going on around me, and it makes it hard to hear you. Messaging makes communicating much easier.

Mum: Is this how you communicate with your rockstar boss? Is this how you communicate with Jim? I just can’t see how this kind of thing would make for a fulfilling relationship, Sofie!

I roll my eyes, while at the same time looking up at the sky, and apologising for my behaviour.

Someday soon, someday very soon I'm either going to have to admit to my parents that Jim isn’t real, or I'm going to have tell them about our imaginary break. Either way, I need to do something about this guy that doesn’t exist, because he can't keep having work meetings that he can't get out of, that keep stopping him from meeting Amanda and Harold Jenkins.

There is only so long they’re going to put up with that excuse, and I feel like I'm hitting on the very last excuse for them, which means Jim has to go!

Me: We’re both busy people, Mum.

Mum: Too busy to talk to one another? I don’t understand how he can be happy to have you spend so much time with the Sable’s, and so little time with him.

I don’t even correct her about the band’s name, or the fact that I spend my time with more than just Sable’s Seduction. I've spent the last few years reminding her of these things every time we talk, she chooses not to remember, and that’s OK. So, today, instead of violence, I choose to ignore her needling, and try to move this conversation forward.

Me: Was there something else you needed, or can it wait until I can find a quiet time to call you?

Mum: I just wanted to see if you, and Jim would still make it to the gala, that’s all.

We have plenty of time before she needs to know that, but I know she's just fishing to see if this is the event they’re going to meet my boyfriend. I have just over six weeks to work out how to let them down easy, and let them know that he's not coming. That he won't be coming to anything in the future either.

Gawd only knows how the hell I'm going to get that done, but I'm sure I can find a way.

Maybe.

Definitely.

I'm going to need Brigit’s help with this one.

I wonder if I can get her to join us for a few days?

I make a quick note in my calendar to check in with her to see if she has a few days up her sleeve where she can get away.

I put my mum, Brigit, and Jim out of my head, as Kingston comes barrelling towards me. Now is the time for work, not family, fake boyfriends, or personal issues.

Later, at the end of the day when I'm lying in my bed, I fire off a message to my best friend. The sister who made not sure my DNA, but is family in every other way that counts.

Me: Do you have any spare time over the next week or two?

Brigit: ohhh what do you have planned?

Her reply is immediate, and I'm surprised, because I honestly expected her to be asleep already. Not everyone keeps the hours of rock bands after all.

Me; missing you, and could really do with seeing your face.

Brigit: aww miss your face too babycakes, and as it just so happens, I can fly to wherever you are this weekend.

Me: really?

Brigit: abso-fucking-lutely my friend

Me: let me organise your flight details, then I’ll send them to you

Brigit: how many times do I have to tell you to fuck right off, huh? I get that Jake is Mr money bags, and you make an amazing wage, that is well deserved, but I also make a very good wage, and I can get my own fine ass there without any help from you two, thank you very fucking much!

I'm about to respond, when another message from her comes through, which makes me laugh.

Brigit: unless he wants to send the private jet for me, then we can have a conversation!

Me: no, no jet this time, sorry

Brigit: well then, I’ll let you know when I see your gorgeous face. Now, get some damned sleep woman, I don’t know why you stay up this late!

Once again, I laugh at my screen, knowing there's no point in responding to her, because she won't respond to me again tonight. She’ll either ignore me, or she's muted her phone for the