Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 31777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Uh-huh.
Sure they were.
As soon as she overpowered Ralph, tied him up, and took control of the plane so they could freaking . . . well . . . land!
Her breathing came in short pants.
“Faith, shit. We should have driven!” Reuben said.
They could have driven, but she’d been doing better at flying. It was just this stupid storm! She squeezed Courageous Camel and felt a little better.
Then the plane dropped and she let out a cry. “I want out, Daddy!”
“It’s okay, Faith. I’m here. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” Reuben wrapped his arm around her and she buried her face into his chest as the plane continued to rattle and move around.
“Mr. Jones, just letting you know that we’re going to have to land the plane,” Ralph said through the intercom. “The storm is getting too intense. My apologies, it’s hit earlier than it was meant to and we’re having some issues.”
Some issues? What were some issues?
The world around her spun and she felt ill. Was she going to pass out?
Don’t pass out.
Reuben yelled something at her, but she couldn’t understand what he was saying.
This was it.
The reason why she didn’t fly.
Because now she was about to die.
And just two days before Christmas? That was so unfair.
8
CAT AND ALEJANDRO
23rd December
“Ican’t believe you’re all here!” Cat cried as she hugged her friends again.
Immy yawned tiredly but gave her a happy smile. They’d gotten here late last night.
“We’re glad we’re here too,” Maeve told her. “But I have a question.”
“Yes?” she asked as she sat on the floor. At least she was sitting okay today.
She’d noticed that Immy was sitting rather gingerly.
Hmm.
She’d also noticed that Maeve was looking slightly nauseous. What was that about? If she wasn’t well, why had Gray let her out of bed?
Although all the men seemed to have gotten up early to work out in the massive gym. That’s where they were right now while she was holding her Little symposium. Subject matter: Death to the elf traitor.
“Why are we in your closet?” Maeve asked, glancing around in confusion.
“It’s so the evil elf doesn’t find us,” she confessed.
Immy’s eyes grew wide and she sat up straight with a wince. Yep. Someone had definitely gotten her bottom warmed.
“You have an evil elf?” Immy asked.
“You’ve been spanked recently,” Cat accused, pointing at Immy who went bright red.
“Cat, don’t embarrass Immy. But, yeah, you have, right?”
“Yes, but it wasn’t my fault!” Immy cried.
“It’s never our fault,” Cat informed her.
Maeve just looked more ill.
“Maeve? Are you . . .” Cat trailed off as Maeve rushed through the closet and into the bathroom. The bathroom door slammed shut behind her, but Cat could easily hear that she was vomiting.
“Oh no,” Immy said worriedly as they both stood on the other side of the door. “She doesn’t sound good. Should we go in there? Should I go get Jenner? What do we do?”
“Don’t worry, Maeve. We’ll go get your Daddy or my Papi,” Cat told her. That’s who she’d want if she wasn’t feeling well.
“No, don’t!” Maeve cried, surprising her.
Cat shared a look with Immy. “Don’t?”
“No, don’t, I’m . . . um. I’m fine now. Must have been something I ate.”
Uh-huh. Sure.
Cat winced as she heard Maeve throw up again. Immy rocked her weight from side to side.
“What about someone else? You want Sampson? Jenner? Abe?” Immy asked.
“No one! Please.”
“Are you sure you’re not lying to us?” Cat asked as she vomited again.
“I don’t know,” Maeve said miserably.
As soon as Cat heard the toilet flush, she opened the door and marched in.
“Cat, we shouldn’t go in,” Immy told her. “Bathroom time is private time.”
“Not between friends.” Cat sighed as she took in Maeve.
She looked utterly miserable sitting on the floor, pale and shaky.
Cat grabbed a cloth and wet it before crouching to wipe Maeve’s face. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know,” Maeve said croakily. “The day before yesterday I felt ill, I vomited and then I felt better. Bit tired but otherwise fine. Yesterday, I was fine. Okay, a little nauseous but I didn’t vomit. Then this morning, bam! Sick again.”
“Hmm, that sounds odd,” Cat said.
“Can I get you anything?” Immy asked. “Gatorade?”
“No thanks, I’m fine,” Maeve said tiredly.
Cat shared a look with Immy. “Maeve, does Gray know any of this?”
She had a feeling she already knew the answer . . .
“No!” Maeve said, shaking her head. “No way! I am not spending my Christmas in bed.” She grimaced. “I didn’t tell him because I thought he’d make me stay at home. And I wasn’t missing out on Christmas with you guys. But if he finds out, he’ll make me stay in bed. Which just isn’t fair!”
Cat frowned. “Wait. You’re only sick sometimes? And you’ve been tired?”
“Uh-huh.”
Cat glanced at Immy again. “Babe, what are the chances that you’re pregnant?”
Because Cat was thinking they were pretty high.