The Jacket Snatcher

Chapter 39- Coming Home

A/N

Dedicated to katey_55 because she continues to give this story shoutouts on Twitter like every other day! <3 so much love for that! xxxxx

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Luke, Ashton, and I spend the last few hours in meaningless conversation and another round of Snog, Marry, or Avoid. By the time the pilot comes over the P.A. to tell us that we've started our decent into Las Angeles, I know more than I ever cared to about their romantic preferences...mostly because they felt to need to comment after every single answer I gave and explain why my choices were wrong and why I obviously should've chosen Taylor Lautner over Robert Pattinson.

When we land, it doesn't take long before the plane pulls up alongside the gate. Like before, the boys hang back and let all of the other passengers leave first. But unlike before, I stick around with them. Once the cabin is emptied, we step into the aisles and grab our stuff.

Slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I follow Luke down the walkway. When we come out at the gate, Jerry leads us to baggage claim where we stand and wait with the rest of our flight. As the luggage rounds the carousel, I grab for the big blue suitcase.

"Sure that one's yours?" Luke asks, standing directly behind me.

I yank the case off of the track and look at the handle. With a proud smile, I show him the green ribbon I tied there. "So we could tell them apart."

"Smart."

After everyone has their bags, Jerry gathers us all together. There are a few more security guards already stationed around our flight's baggage claim, keeping back the crowd of fans that have started to gather.  The boys have to wait for their cars to pull around, but I am waiting for a different ride.

I scan the crowd, looking for my brother. Since this is my home, I will obviously be going there and not to the hotel with the boys. After glancing back and forth several times, I finally spot him. He's standing behind a line of girls, pushing his way through the crowd. Thankfully, the security doesn't stop him.

He makes eye contact with me as soon as he steps into the open, and a huge smile spreads across his face. I hurriedly walk towards him, and he meets me halfway. I dive into his arms, letting out a few sobs as I'm enveloped in his familiar scent.

"Crap, I missed you," he says, swaying us back and forth as we hug.

All I can do is laugh through my tears.

When we pull away, he reaches over and wipes the tears from under my eyes, holding his hands on either side of my face. He studies me for a moment, as if searching my features for any signs of pain or injury. After a few moments, I must pass inspection because he smiles.

"Alright, let's go scare the tight pants off your boyfriend."

Leaving an arm draped over my shoulder, he lets me lead him back to where the boys are standing. They've moved off into a more secluded side hallway while they wait for their ride to the hotel. We approach them, and I smile.

"Guys, this is Brett," I say, still hugging his side. "Brett, these are the guys."

"Nice to meet you," Ashton says first, offering his hand.

Brett lets go of me and shakes it, and from the way Ashton winces, it's a firm grip. "So would that make you the boyfriend?" he asks.

"Nope," Ashton breathes out, pulling his hand back and mumbling, "Thank God," before adding a little louder, "That would be Luke over there."

My brother turns his hard gaze to Luke and smirks. "Right, Luke. How could I forget the lip ring?" He shakes Luke's hand, too, and I can tell Luke is biting back a whimper at Brett's testosterone-laced grip.