The Proposal (The Proposition #2)(76)

“I love you, Em.”

“I love you, too.”

With fear and trepidation rocketing through him, Aidan raised a shaky hand to flag down a cab. Screw his bags back at the hotel. Noah was on the way, and he desperately needed to get to Emma. He had just slid across the cab’s leather seat when his cell phone rang again. Even though it was an unknown number, he had an idea who it was.

“Hello, this is Pesh Nadeen,” the familiar voice echoed on the other line.

“Um, hey.”

“Listen. When you get to the airport, have them bring you to the small planes hanger, rather than the main gates. I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Okay. And uh, thanks again for doing this for Emma…I mean, for me. For us.”

“No problem. It’s my pleasure.”

Aidan rolled his eyes as he hung up the phone. Of course, it was his pleasure. Pesh was just the kind of standup guy that even when nothing could be gained romantically with Emma, he would still do the right thing. Pesh’s kindness shouldn’t have irritated Aidan so much, but for some reason, he just couldn’t let go of what had almost happened between Emma and Pesh.

Aidan wrung his hands the entire trip to the airport. When he got out, he glanced around the hanger. His eyes widened and a shudder ran over him at the sight of what he imagined was Pesh’s plane already on the small runway.

He stuck his head in the door, eyeing all the other death traps contained within. “Um, hello?”

Pesh came out of a side door with a clipboard. “Hey, Aidan. I was just logging our flight plan with the tower. But we’re good to go now.”

“Oh, okay.”

As they started out of the hanger and onto the tarmac, Aidan skidded to a stop. When Pesh realized he was no longer walking beside him, he turned around. “What’s wrong?”

“Emma didn’t mention what I thought about small planes?”

“No, but she seemed to be a little preoccupied with getting you to Atlanta when I talked to her.”

Aidan winced. “It’s just I sorta have this aversion…or fear about anything smaller than a 747.”

Pesh’s dark brows furrowed. “But this is a Cessna 270—one of the safest small planes around.”

Gesturing at the aircraft, Aidan asked, “That isn’t the kind that JFK Jr. crashed, is it?”

Pesh shook his head. “That was a Piper Saratoga.” He opened the side door for Aidan. “Go on, hop in. We need to get on our way.” At Aidan’s continued hesitation, the corners of Pesh’s lips quirked up. “You’re really afraid, aren’t you?”

Aidan narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, I am. Call me a pu**y or whatever you want to, but these things are death traps!”

Without another word, Pesh dug into the bag at his side. He took out a bottle of pills and tossed it at Aidan. “What the hell is this?” Aidan demanded.

“Valium. It’ll help you relax during the flight.”

Aidan smirked at Pesh. “Isn’t that kinda illegal for doctors to just have drugs lying around to push off on people?”

“I’m not a pill pusher,” Pesh snapped. Pain washed over his face. “The pills belonged to my late wife. She always got nervous flying commercially or in my plane. They’re expired, so they won’t be as potent, but it should be enough to calm you down.”

Aidan opened his mouth, but Pesh started around the plane. “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. He had just been a major dick to a guy who was just trying to help him get back home to see his child be born. Popping open the bottle, he threw back two of the pills since they were expired. He swallowed them down and then shuddered at the remaining taste in his mouth.

Putting one foot in front of the other, he walked over to the plane and climbed inside. Pesh already had a head-set on and was flipping switches. “Hey,” Aidan said. When Pesh didn’t reply, Aidan reached over and touched his arm. “I’m sorry. That was a real ass**le thing for me to say to you. I mean, you were only trying to help me—in more ways than one.”

Pesh shrugged. “It’s all right. You’re just stressed.”

“That’s no excuse for me to act like such a dick, especially about your late wife.” Aidan drew in a ragged breath. “Emma never told me you were a widower. I’m very sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you,” Pesh replied. He gave Aidan a genuine smile before turning back to the cockpit and controls. When they lurched forward to start their descent down the runaway, Aidan gripped the side of his seat.

Pesh handed him a set of headphones. “Here, this will help with the cabin noise.”

Aidan reluctantly put them on. He heard a voice ringing in his ear. “Flight 33, you are now ready for take-off.”

“Roger that,” Pesh replied.

Aidan closed his eyes tight, hoping the expired Valium would start taking effect. He focused his thoughts on Emma, wondering how she was doing. He hoped and prayed that Noah would wait to come until he could be there. Aidan wanted nothing more than to see his first born take his first breath.

The next time he opened his eyes they were climbing altitude. Darkness enveloped the plane as they careened through the wispy strands of clouds. Once they had leveled off, Pesh reached for his phone.

“Dude, what the hell are you doing?”