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I raise an eyebrow at her as I blow air out of my nose. "Have you been hiding that you're a pilot from me too?"
The line shifts and Aria doesn't bother responding to me as we step up to the counter and have to show our boarding passes. I adjust the straps of my backpack on my shoulders and follow behind her as we walk down the loading bridge to board the plane. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out, seeing a message from Austin.
He knew about Aria and I, mainly because he wouldn't leave me alone after I went to her house when she was sick. I told him everything and he has been nothing less than supportive. He even eased my worry when I confessed that Ari didn't tell me she loved me back. He assured me she would in time, and I will give this woman as much time as she needs.
Austin
Stop staring at my sister's ass.
My eyebrows pull together and I glance behind me, catching Austin's gaze as he walks about eight people behind us. "What the hell?"
Austin gives me a huge wave. "There's my favorite guy!"
Aria turns around with the same confused expression on her face. I nod back to where Austin is, grinning like a fool. "Looks like your brother is flying to Vancouver too."
Another hand rises beside Austin's head and I move mine to the side to see who it is. "Hi, Ari! Hi, Leo!"
"Brynn?" Aria questions me as a smile lifts the corners of her lips. "What are they doing here?"
The couple behind us looks unhappy and the man grumbles something under his breath as the woman clears her throat. I turn back to look at the line and see that we're holding everyone up right now.
"I'm not sure what they're doing," I tell Ari as I grab her hand and pull her along with me. "Come on, we're holding up the line and I think these people want to get on the plane." I pause and let her walk past me. "Even if I don't want to."
Aria laughs quietly and shakes her head at me. She leads the way and I follow.
We had forgotten to select seats for this flight until last week. It was a miracle that there were two seats available that were right next to one another. The world championship is being held in Vancouver, so it's not a short flight. You would think I would be used to having to travel like this, but it doesn't get any easier. It does bring me a sense of comfort having Aria with me, but at the same time, it only makes me even more nervous.
It's one thing if the plane were to explode or crash with me on it. I can't have anything happening to Aria too. I know they say you're supposed to put your own oxygen mask on first, but that will never happen. Aria will always get hers on before I even consider touching mine.
We walk down the aisle through first class until we find our seats. Aria was hoping they would have beds, but they're just oversized seats with only two in a row. Thankfully we don't have to share the space with anyone else. Neither of us brought a carry-on, so Aria slides in first and sits down before she tucks her bag under the seat. I do the same with my backpack and try to get comfortable.
Suddenly Austin is there, leaning against the back of the seat in front of me. "Hey, bud," he says with a lopsided grin. "Hey, sis," he lifts his chin at Ari.
Brynn slides up next to him. "Hey, guys!"
"What are you guys doing?" Aria asks her brother and her best friend. Excitement dances in her voice and I love the way it sounds. It's enough to momentarily take my mind off the fact that we're about to be tens of thousands of feet in the air in fifteen minutes.
"I ran into Brynn last night and we decided to take an impromptu trip to Vancouver to watch the two of you compete."
"I didn't even know you were in town," I tell Austin. He never said anything to me or Aria.
He shrugs. “I was only supposed to be here for a day but was able to clear my schedule for the next week.”
“You were able to get off work?” Aria asks Brynn. She manages an art gallery, but doesn’t own it. That has always been a dream of hers.
She nods and smiles sheepishly. “I kind of quit.”
Aria’s eyes widen, Austin laughs, and I tilt my head to the side. "What?"
"Yep. I was tired of working for Jean. You know I wasn't happy there and honestly, it was time."
Aria joins in the laughter and shakes her head at her friend before pinning her gaze on her brother. “Did you encourage this? You’re known for your impulsive behavior.”
Austin holds his hands up innocently. “I had nothing to do with this.” He looks at me and winks. “I may have told her I could get her a job in New York,” he tells me in a hushed voice so his sister doesn’t hear.
Oh, hell no. I will not be keeping his secrets from Aria.
"Austin set up an interview for me with someone he knows in New York who owns a gallery." She pauses and smiles sheepishly. “He is also interested in checking out some of my art too.”
