One Long Flight 💙

Damages

"Guys! Thanks for meeting me for lunch," Aisling greeted Tara and Scott as they sat down at a local restaurant. It had been a month since Chris had returned to filming.

Aisling continued, "I'm supposed to be meeting the party planner. I assume you know her? Sam?" Observing the exchanged looks between Tara and Scott, Aisling's curiosity grew. Scott reached out and held her hand.

"Blonde? Big blue eyes?"

With a confirming nod from Aisling, Scott seemed on the verge of saying something when Sam approached from behind. Aisling stood up to greet her, introducing her to Tara and Scott.

Tara's expression was a mix of surprise and politeness. "Wow, Sam. It's been a long time. I didn't know you were still in contact with Chris."

Sam simply shrugged, taking her seat. "We weren't really. But he called me a few weeks ago saying he was getting married." She smiled and motioned towards Aisling.

Aisling nodded, taking the opportunity to discuss her wedding plans. "So, since I have you guys here, Chris and I are still discussing it, but would you completely be against traveling to London for the wedding?"

Scott and Tara exchanged a glance before shrugging, indicating their willingness to support Aisling's decision. Tara reassured her, "It's your wedding, Aisling. Whatever you want is fine with us. We just want you guys to be happy."

Appreciating their understanding, Aisling nodded in gratitude. "Good. Thank you. I appreciate that, guys. He seems to assume we'll get married here, but I want to get married in England."

Scott added his perspective, "I think it is a fine compromise. You're living here, after all."

"Thank you! I basically said the same thing." Aisling turned her attention to Sam. "So, can you help find vendors in London?"

Sam nodded, "I can see what I can do."

After their lunch meeting, Sam left the table, and Tara pulled Aisling aside for a private conversation.

"You're going to let Sam be your wedding planner?" Tara inquired with a concerned tone.

Curious about their hesitation, Aisling looked between Tara and Scott. "Why shouldn't I?"

Scott sighed, "Chris didn't tell you about Sam?"

Aisling groaned, "No, come on. Spit it out, guys."

Tara reluctantly continued, "Sam was Chris's first."

Confusion crossed Aisling's face. "First? First what?"

Scott and Tara exchanged a look, and Scott reached out to hold Tara's hand. "Sam took his virginity, Aisling."

Reacting strongly, Aisling pulled her hand away. "Seriously? I'm gonna kill him."

✈️

Once she got back home, Aisling immediately called Chris.

'Hey love! I don't have much time. What's up?'

"Don't you hey love me!" Aisling's frustration came through as she heard him groan on the other end of the line.

'What is it?'

"Oh, I don't know! You and your Sami. You didn't tell me she was the first woman you ever had sex with!"

'I didn't think it would matter! That was a long time ago, Aisling.'

As her agitation grew, Aisling began to pace in the kitchen. "Yet you didn't tell me. Yet you still call her Sami as if you're still close. Yet you thought it would be okay for her to plan our wedding!"

Chris let out a sigh on the other end. 'Don't you think you're being a little dramatic? I'm not allowed to have women friends?'

"Come on. You know I don't care about that, Chris! I care that you kept it from me! It's not ridiculous of me to not want our wedding to be planned by one of your ex-girlfriends!"

'Do what you want. I have to go.'

"Chris!" Aisling tried to protest, but before she could get any further, he abruptly hung up the phone. "Fuck!" Aisling let out her frustration in a heated exclamation.

✈️

He groaned, placing the phone on the table.

"Who was that?"

He sighed, "my fiancée."

The woman placed her hand on Chris's, "she didn't sound happy."

He shook his head, "she wasn't. She's upset because I suggested an ex-girlfriend help plan our wedding."

The woman chuckled, "yeah, that was a bad decision on your part."

He groaned, "I guess so. I'll call her tomorrow. Let's eat." He watched her smile, "how have you been?"

She shrugged, "good. I guess I can't say I miss you. I didn't know you were engaged. Is it that girl you took to your premiere last year?"

"Yeah. Aisling. She's really great." He hesitated before placing his hand on hers, "and I've missed you too. It was always easy with us. I don't remember why we broke up."

She laughed, "I don't know. It was too easy?" She pulled her hand back, "come on, Chris, you get bored if it's too easy."

He chuckled, "that's probably true."

She sighed, "and you were never in love with me."

He nodded, "I'm sorry."

She shrugged again, "could I have done anything differently? To make you love me?"

He groaned, resting his hand on her cheek, "no. I'm sorry. It just wasn't there for me." He hadn't realized there was still something there for her until she sat down here in front of him.

"And it is with her?"

He chuckled, dropping his hand, "there's no shortage of fire there, no."

After dinner, he walked her out of the restaurant, feeling her linger as she grabbed his hand.

"Chris." She leaned up, feeling him close the distance as she pressed her lips firmly to his.

He moaned softly, resting his hand on her cheek before groaning, pushing her away, "I can't. I'm madly in love already. Nothing is ever going to change that or come between us."

She sighed, "well, I had to try."

He nodded, taking a step away from her, "do you want me to walk you to your hotel?"

She shook her head, "I think it's best we say our goodbyes here."

✈️

Aisling was sipping her coffee in the kitchen the following morning when alerts started buzzing on her phone, all related to Chris. Opening them up, she saw pictures of him standing in front of a restaurant, engaged in a passionate kiss with a girl with long dark hair. The headlines speculated whether he was rekindling an old flame. "What the fuck?!" Frustration boiled within her as her phone began ringing with incoming calls from Chris and Scott. She sent them all to voicemail, not in the mood.

Unexpectedly, a call from Sebastian came through.

"Seb?"

'Aisling. I wanted to check on you. I saw the pictures. Are you okay?'

She groaned, "I don't know. Do you know who she is?"

Sebastian hesitated before letting out a sigh, 'an ex-girlfriend of his.'

"You have to be kidding me."

'Do you want to talk about it? I know he loves you, Aisling. I'm sure it didn't mean anything.'

She scoffed, "as if that makes it any better. To ruin something over someone that doesn't mean anything is worse."

He groaned, 'I'm sorry. I'm here if you want to talk.'

She sighed, "thanks. Please don't tell him you talked to me. I don't want to talk to him right now."

'Sure. Whatever you want.'