Unwrapped

But as much as I knew Lacey was cute on a theoretical level, like all the case-law examples I drilled for law school, it never sank in for real. I was in love with Juliet, and that was more than enough for me. I had our lives planned out, we both did. Marriage, moving up to be near my folks, a good job with a big law firm … In five years, I knew exactly where I’d be: in a house in the suburbs like the one I grew up in, on the partner track, with Juliet at my side and maybe even a kid on the way. Simple.

Until everything went to hell, and it turned I’d never had Juliet’s heart at all, because she’d already given it to someone else.

“I’m sorry,” Lacey speaks up suddenly, when we’ve hit cruising altitude and everything is calm. “About bringing up the wedding, before. I know it’s probably the last thing you want to think about … And, I’ve done it all over again.” She looks mortified. “I’m shutting up now,” she adds, “I promise, I won’t say another word for the rest of the flight. Unless I need to get up to use the bathroom,” she keeps babbling, as if she can’t stop. “But then, I guess I can just use sign language or something …”

“It’s OK,” I laugh, taking pity on her. “Really, it’s cool. I mean, is it weird that she’s marrying someone else now? Yes. But, I wish them the best. I hope she’s happy.”

Lacey blinks, her blue eyes wide. “Really? Because if I were in your shoes, I’d be at home making voodoo dolls and like, cursing them to an eternity of impotence and explosive diarrhea.”

I laugh. “Remind me to never break your heart,” I joke.

Lacey looks away. “You wouldn’t,” she answers in a small voice. “That’s the point. You’re a good guy.”

“Too good,” I note ruefully.

“What do you mean?” Lacey frowns.

“Oh, nothing,” I sigh. “It’s just … I was always so good to her, you know?” I can’t believe I’m admitting this to her, but there’s something about the warmth in her expression. I can’t help it. “I did everything right,” I explain, “Everything I was supposed to. I tried to treat her like a queen. And then she goes and picks the ass**le in the leather jacket.”

“He’s not an ass**le,” Lacey objects. I raise my eyebrows. “OK, so he can be kind of … prickly,” she agrees diplomatically. “But, he really does love her.”

“It’s OK,” I tell her gently. “I know she’s your best friend, you have to be on her side.”

She gives a little shrug. “I’m sorry she hurt you, I really am.”

I pause, surprised. “Thank you,” I reply slowly. “I won’t lie, it sucked, but, if it wasn’t meant to be …” I shrug. “I don’t want to be with someone who doesn’t want to be with me.”

Lacey looks at me, her face thoughtful. “So what do you want?” she asks.

“You mean, in a woman?” I reply, thinking of that dream life I always planned for. “I guess … a girl to come home to every night, someone who’ll be a good wife, a great mother. Someone sweet, and kind, and loyal.”

A good girl, I add silently. Who’ll never break my heart.

Lacey goes silent. “Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out,” she says finally. Her voice is quiet. “Anyway, I’ll let you get back to your reading.”

She plugs headphones into her phone, and then fixes them in her ears, turning her face away from me. I blink at her sudden change of mood. Well, OK then.

I go back to my law briefs, but I can’t help sneaking another sidelong glance at her; her gaze fixed on her magazine. I wonder if I said something wrong, but I can’t for the life of me figure out what.

I sigh. Add ‘easy to read’ to my dream woman. Girls like Lacey are a mystery to me, so for the next few hours, I bury myself in legal research and mind-numbing case files, until I feel a slight nudge.

Lacey clears her throat. “Can I …?” She gestures to get out of her seat.

“Oh, sure.” I get up, standing aside in the aisle to let her through.

“Thanks.” She brushes past me, her whole body sliding against mine as she maneuvers out of the seat.

I inhale in a rush, my body tightening. She heads down the cabin towards the bathrooms, and I can’t help watching her go: the smooth sway of her hips in those jeans, fitting tighter than they have any right to be.

What I wouldn’t give to get her out of them …

I startle at the thought, sitting back down in my seat with a jolt.

No.

No way.

Lacey is trouble—even if she wasn’t friends with Juliet, she’s practically the opposite of what I need in my life right now: someone sweet, stable, reliable. Lacey is none of those things. Hell, she couldn’t be further from it if she tried. And I know she thinks I’m some boring, by-the-book kind of guy, she only tolerated for Juliet’s sake.

I reassure myself listing all the reasons why lusting after Lacey Andrews is a bad, bad idea, until I feel another tap on my shoulder, and there she is, standing by me, waiting patiently to get back to her seat.

I bolt up. “Sorry,” I say quickly, stepping into the aisle.

Suddenly, the plane lurches wildly. Lacey yelps, stumbling against me. I grab her, gripping onto the seat back for stability as the plane dips again, a stomach-dropping jolt that sends Lacey even harder into my arms. The lights flicker, and there are cries of panic in the cabin as the overhead compartment flies open, raining bags down into the aisle. I draw Lacey close to shield her, and she buries her face against my chest, wrapping her arms tight around me as we lurch again. Time stands still, my heart in my throat, until finally the turbulence is over, and the flight evens out.