The Pilot's Holiday

The Pilot's Holiday Part 4

Chapter 4

The car was surprisingly cozy. Carol looked over at Marcus and then out the window. "So, do you always hang around bars waiting to pick up women?" Marcus chuckled a little before replying. "No, that's my bar I go to after a long day of taking calls and dealing with....let's say less than fun customers." Carol paused for a moment because she too could relate to that. "That's something I understand. Although I don't have one set bar. Traveling all the time means I find new bars to go to." She chuckled thinking of a story to tell. "Me and my friend Charles were at this little small town bar out in Wisconsin a couple of years back and no lie, we asked for a pair of Jacks and the bartender gave us 2 ACTUAL playing cards." Marcus couldn't hold back his laughter and neither could Carol. "No fucking way! You made that up." Marcus stated as he laughed harder. Carol whipped a tear away as she finally caught her breath from laughing. "No no that is true. Apparently he was the bartender's nephew and was standing in for a few minutes."

The two continued laughing until they approached a gorgeous building almost at the center of Asheville. The name "Cambria" sat up on the side of the building. Carol's eyes grew wide as excitement left her mouth. "This is the Cambria Hotel and Suites. I have been trying to get the airline to set us up here for years." Marcus parked his car, got out and opened the door for Carol. "Oww a gentleman I see." She exited the vehicle and the two made their way in. Inside was somehow even more beautiful than the outside. The lobby area looked like something out of a movie. The view overlooking the city with the mountains in the distance was a sight to behold. Different colors somehow clash and compliment each other.

Once inside Marcus noticed two men checking in. "Oh James, Dylan what's up man?" Marcus hugged both of them. "Carol come over here. This is my brother James and his husband Dylan." Carol extended her hand. A habit from her job that was sometimes hard to break. James shook her hand as well as Dylan. "What are you guys doing here? Another weekend away?" Marcus questioned. James adjusted his 3 piece maroon and black suit. "Well, we're here for a celebration." A devious smile appeared on James' face. Marcus' face turned to shock before speaking. "No way. Dylan! You finally got that promotion?! Congratulations! It's been, what? 4 years now?" Carol, not really a people person, sort of felt out of place but she knew how to put on a smile and be happy for others. Plus she knew a thing or two about working for years to get a promotion that was long overdue.

"Congratulations, Dylan. I'm Carol by the way." Marcus, hit himself on his head as he was so caught up in the excitement he forgot to introduce Carol. "Shit, I am so sorry. James, Dylan, this is Carol. She's a Captain for an airline." James' eyebrow raised. "Oh that is a hell of an accomplishment. Not too many women airline Captains out there. That deserves a toast." James put his hand in the air, singling for two more drinks. Dylan eyes fell upon Carol's hoodie. "Team Squid? That is a coincidence." Dylan rolled his black button up sleeve to his shoulder, revealing a Squid attacking a ship with "Team Squid" in the middle. Carol almost spat out her drink. "Oh shit! You're Team Squid too? Wait! They have a gym here? Oh and that is a cool ass tattoo." Dylan rolled his sleeve down and smiled. "Yes. The gym is not too far from here. They use it every other day. You should check it out."

James finally finished his drink and turned to Marcus. "To cement this amazing moment can you take a picture?" He handed Marcus his phone. He hesitated before taking it. "James, I'm not good at taking pictures." Marcus sighed. "I wish cousin Jade was here." James sighed as well before placing his hand on his younger brother's shoulder. "I know. But ever since she ran off with that bartender's nephew in Atlanta we haven't seen her. So you're the next best thing so cheer up and take the shot." Marcus gave a nod and once both James and Dylan were in the shot with the mountains in the background, he took the shot. "Well, there you go. If it's bad, tough shit." They both laughed. "If it's bad Marcus, you'll just have to take another one. Or find out where Jade is." James and Dylan embraced each other and gave a soft peck on each other's lips. James made his way over to Carol and shook her hand. "It was nice meeting you Carol. Keep him out of trouble. He has a habit of finding it wherever he goes. Me and Dylan have some....celebrating of our own to do so see you later." Dylan hugged Carol and held it for a moment. "It was so nice to meet a fellow member of Team Squid. Please, if you have time, come down to the gym. I'm sure everyone there would love to meet one of their own."

With that the couple of James and Dylan disappeared into the elevator almost ripping each other's clothes off as the doors closed. "I'm sorry Carol, I wasn't expecting to see them here, let alone celebrating." Carol downed the rest of her drink and shrugged it off. "It's ok. I'm glad I got to meet them. But that begs the question, why did you bring me here? I'm not staying in your room." Marcus smirked. " No nothing like that. Every two weeks to a month, I get a room for myself. Just to get away from home. Mom is obsessed with celebrity gossip and if I have to hear one more time about how a man should slap any man who disrespects his wife, I'm going to lose it." They both chuckled. "Plus this is one of the nicest hotels in the city. Now you know where I am." Marcus smiled and gazed upon Carol. Almost forgetting that he was smiling. "Sorry. I got lost in thought. You want a ride back?" Carol smiled and shook her head. "No, I'm ok. I want to see the town and..." she handed Marcus her phone as she unlocked it. "I would like to plan an actual date with you. Maybe a surprise." She gave a wink. Marcus put his number in and made sure Carol made it to her Uber safely. "Let me know when you made it back."

Carol thought about Marcus the whole ride back. Wondering what exactly to make of him. He was a nice guy but his brother James, did say he was trouble. But that could've just been 'Big Brother giving little brother a hard time' type of thing. Still she had a lot to think about and of course planning time to go to the gym and see her fellow Team Squid members. It had been a long time since she came across anyone from the team so it was something exciting for her. Carol texted Marcus soon as she was in the room letting him know she made it and told him goodnight. Carol took a shower and slipped on her silk purple robe and turned on the TV as she dozed off.

*Back at the Cambria*

Marcus made his way up to his room and dropped his bag in the chair in the corner of the room. After a quick shower he flopped on the king size bed and placed his left arm behind his head and right hand slid down his chest with a tattoo over his heart down his grey and black boxer briefs. He closed his eyes and began to envision thoughts of him having sex with someone. The image was not clear to him. Before he could concentrate harder his phone rang. It was a video request. He answered it wondering who was calling him at this hour, let alone video calling him. A female voice with a thick Spanish accent could be heard "I assume you're playing with yourself now Marcus?" The light from the phone illuminating the tattoo revealing it had the name 'Maria' broken in half. "Maria, I'm busy" Marcus said in a stern voice. "Bueno, no dejes que te detenga Marcus". (Well, don't let me stop you.) She lifted her shirt and red lace bra showing her 32 C cup breast and brown areolas and erect nipples. "Now, shall we continue, Marcus?"