Resist Me Not

12

Our flight was scheduled the next morning for 10:11 a.m. The drive to the airport was going to take at least an hour and a half to get there. We left Mr. and Mrs. Upton before the sun was even up. I was sad to be leaving the beautiful Napa Valley area, but also ready to get back home.

Barbara had scheduled a limo to take us to Oakland International Airport. It was luxurious, with plenty of space. I sat on the side seat, while the brothers sat on the main cushion by the doors. They both were obviously not much for early mornings, as they weren't very talkative. Not that I minded. I didn't have anything I wanted to say to Ryan anymore. Though Adam and I spoke briefly about how we enjoyed visiting the Upton's home, after that, the conversations trailed off, and Adam decided to sleep for a bit, while he had the chance.

I used the riding time to relax and mentally prepare myself for our flights. We were going to have to stop through Salt Lake City, since Oakland didn't have a direct connection to J.F.K. Airport.

When we arrived at the terminal, we still had just over an hour before our scheduled departure. We checked in at the counter, handing over our suitcases, including my new one filled with all the new clothes I had gotten from going on this trip. Then we proceeded through security. The lines were filled with men, women, and some children heading to various parts of the world.

When we got to our gate, Adam and I enjoyed ourselves while we waited to board the plane. We drank hot coffee and sat looking out at the passerby's and guessed if they were tourists, pleasure travelers, or on a business trip. Most of them, we figured, were on business, which we assessed based on their attire. Plus, it was a Monday morning in the middle of January, so tourists and pleasure travelers were not a common sight then.

Ryan was keeping to himself most of the time, and only adding a little snide comment here and there. He was acting extra 'Ryan-Like' towards Adam, which he had been ever since he found out I was offered to be his apprentice. Though Ryan's behavior didn't seem to phase his brother, which amused me. I could definitely tell who the older and more mature one was.

When we boarded our plane, I was assigned to the seat next to Ryan again. Adam offered to switch places with me. I assured him that it was alright and took my seat. At least I was next to the window this time, which I preferred, as I knew that looking outside during takeoff would help with my anxiety.

The plane went through the same routine as the flight over had. We listened to the flight attendant go through their usual spiel, then watched the plane soar from the ground to the clouds in the heavens. Once we reached a high enough altitude, I looked down at the clouds below us and the pure blue sky above. That was the only part I really enjoyed about flying.

"Would you like any?" Ryan asked me out of nowhere, slightly startling me. I turned to see him rattling his bottle of sleepy gummies in my direction.

"No, thanks. We're only on this flight for a few hours. Plus, I don't want it to throw off my sleep cycle since we'll be getting home right around my usual bedtime."

"Okay." He tossed them back in his bag and exchanged it for his laptop. He lifted out his tray-table from the arm of his chair, placed his computer on it, and proceeded to work on responding to emails and reproofing the construction plans.

"I'm..." he started, then stopped and looked over at Adam, who was currently watching an in-flight movie. "I'm sorry I'm going to lose you... As my assistant, I mean."

What? The nerve he had! Trying to sound like he cared. He toys with my mind, emotions, then sleeps with me, then has the nerve to say that sleeping with me was an act of revenge on Eric and me, and now he's sad to lose me as his assistant! He was all over the place.