The Beginning of Us (58 page)

He’s carefully buckling her into her seat. He double, then triple checks to make sure she’s in snuggly. He kisses her forehead and tickles her neck, before jumping into the driver’s seat to bring us home.

When we pull in the driveway, there’s a hummer limo waiting in my driveway. Sierra is squealing with excitement! Trepidation starts to build again. “Uh Garrett, what is that doing here?” I ask.

He just shrugs. “Taking us to the airport, I suppose,” is the nonchalant answer to my question.

What the hell! A limo? Can’t we just drive like normal people? “You know, they do have parking at the airport these days. We can drive ourselves.”

He shakes his head. “No…too much work and I don’t want to leave your car there unattended that long.”

“Okay,” I concede, “but I do want to bring Sierra’s car seat.” I laugh at his confused expression. “She’s too old to have it on the plane, Garrett. She can be buckled in regular seats then. I don’t think she needs one in the limo either. We’ll just use a seat belt.” 

“Uh…no way lady, my princess will have her little pink throne,” he says, winking at Sierra, as he takes her out of her seat and spins her around.

As soon as he places her on the ground, she’s running for the parked limo. “Can I get in, Garrett?” she begs with unrestrained excitement.

“Yes, sweet girl, let me get your seat,” he says, before climbing into the back of the Jeep and unlatching her seat.

Garrett

Chapter 23

The driver opens the trunk waiting for instructions. He’s a big, muscled, well dressed guy, a lot like the security team we have on tour. I look him over and inform him, “Bags are by the front door.” He follows Lex to the door. I pick up Sierra, putting her in the limo and leaving the door open, so I can watch her while she can bounces around on the seats. She can get some energy out before I snap her cute little butt into her pink throne.

I walk toward the house to help Lex. My lady is trying to lug bags, while the damn driver walks behind her, eye fucking her. Oh hell no! I walk straight to Lex, “No sweetheart, I got this. Go get in the car with Sierra.” I’m glaring at the asshole standing behind my girl, studying her curves, and he hasn’t noticed me, yet. Grrrr!

She smiles and kisses my cheek. “I’ll get the car seat settled,” she says cheerily, not seeing what’s happening behind her back, thankfully. She’d be a little embarrassed if she knew. I know my girl is sensitive about bringing too much attention to herself.

She walks off toward the car. I step right in front of this asshole and speak very low, so as not to alarm my ladies. “Listen, fucker, those are my girls. You keep those eyes of yours on the road and on the fucking bags, not on my girls. Got it?”

He’s startled. That’s good, because I’m pissed. “Sorry, Mr. McKenna. Didn’t realize I was looking so closely. I’ll get the bags, sir. I’m really sorry!” I feel a little better, now that I’ve put him back in his place. I’ve never had an issue with any of my drivers before, but then again, I’ve never had Lex and Sierra with me. I’ll guard them with my damn life. I didn’t think I was the possessive type, but I guess I am. She’s mine and I don’t want anyone looking at her that way.

I pull the Jeep into the garage, lock up the house, and set the alarm. By the time I get back to the limo, the driver is standing by the open car door staring at anything other than my girls. I nod my head in approval toward him and tell him where to take us for dinner as I climb in the back. I know Sierra would like the rotating restaurant on top of the airport. I’ve heard the food is good, too. So we’ll have a nice dinner before our flight.

By the time we finish dinner and reach the plane, Sierra is winding down and getting snuggly. We pull up in front of the jet and the driver opens the door. Whitney’s car arrives right behind ours. Perfect timing. Lex looks a little surprised….

“Garrett, where are we?”  She asks staring at the jet, not moving. Scared.

“Sweetheart, we’re at the airport, getting on the plane. What’s wrong?” I ask, reaching to hold her hand, but she is incredibly rigid and tense, gripping her knees with white knuckled fingers. “Talk to me, baby. You’re making me nervous.” She’s got tears in her eyes.

Whitney reaches our car and opens the back door, irreverently joking, “Hey, guys, traveling in style? Huh?” Then she notices the look on Lex’s face. “Hey, Sierra, come with me. Let’s go check out the plane.” She helps a clueless Sierra out of the car.

“Babe, are you afraid to fly?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “No, I just don’t want to fly in those type planes,” she explains, pointing to the private plane. “I want to go in a regular plane, Garrett. Not a private jet,” she pleads as tears streak down her cheeks.

Oh shit! Why didn’t I think of this? Of course, this would be traumatic for her. I’m an idiot. “Babe, I can’t take a commercial flight. It’ll be a disaster, and we don’t have security until we land in Nashville. Do you want me to book you on a commercial flight? Sweetheart, I’ll do whatever you want to make you feel better. But I’d rather you fly with me, where I can hold you.”

She takes several deep breaths, looking out the side window, watching Sierra climb the stairs with Whitney. She turns to look at me. “Is the weather okay?” she asks in a whisper.

“Yes, babe, I promise. We wouldn’t be going if it weren’t. I want to keep you safe. Always,” I say with my hands resting on hers.

“But, are we safe, Garrett?” Her eyes plead for me to reassure her.

“Yes, baby, you’re both always going to be safe with me.” She nods, just enough that I see her acceptance, and starts to slide out of the seat. I grab her by the waist and hoist her into my lap. I kiss her with all I have. I want her to feel how much I care right now. She relaxes in my arms and I feel the tension begin to dissipate. “I love you, Lex,” I whisper into her hair.

“Yes, you do,” she says, and that’s all I need to hear. I need her to know it’s true. I slide us out of the car and carry my girl up the stairs of the plane.

She’s putting on one of those fake-ish smiles, but I’m sure that’s all she has to offer right now. We’re settled in and doing the preflight stuff, as our bags are being stowed. Sierra is buckled into her seat. I’ve double checked both my girls’ seat belts. I sit in the seat next to Lex and across from Sierra and Whitney.

Thankfully, even though the tension is high, Whitney’s keeping Sierra very cheerful and distracted. They chat away about some television show and color in a book. The stewardess comes over to tell us to put the tray table away and I give her a clear ‘back off’ look, so she leaves and hasn’t asked again. I want my princess to remain distracted from the tension her Mama is feeling.

Lex lays her head on my shoulder and closes her eyes. I hate to see her stressed. I should’ve thought of this beforehand. I’ll be damn sure to work out alternate arrangements for the trip home. I rub Lex’s knee as we start taxiing down the runway. When we start for take-off I turn my head into Alexis’s ear and whisper, “You, my beautiful girl, have made my life more complete than I ever thought possible. I love you more than my life. I’ll do anything to keep you happy, healthy, and safe. Anything.” She nods at my reassurance.

“Look at me, sweetheart.” She complies quickly as we’re speeding down the runway and I feel the tires lift. “I love you…like crazy love you, sweetheart!”

The corners of her lips lift. “Yes, Garrett, I know. And clearly you know how very much I love you, too. Right?”

I give her a little smile back. “Yeah, babe. I know.”

The little one pipes right in then. “Well I love all of you, too!” She breaks the remaining tension that’s still lingering as she points to the three off us and we laugh.

I pat her little head, saying, “Back at ya, little chick.” She giggles adorably at that.

Alexis

Chapter 24

I don’t really know why I thought we’d be traveling on a commercial airplane. Of course, we’d be traveling on a private plane. I feel kind of stupid for expecting anything different. Garrett is quite an amazing man. I can’t stop thinking about how incredibly fortunate I am to have him. He was strong for me when I was scared. Private planes scare me. I realize it’s a fear founded solely on my own tragedy and not the actual statistics, but still…it’s a big fear.

Jed almost always flew commercial, but on his last flight it was a private plane, because they had to make it for a meeting about a project. The weather was bad, and they thought they could fly around the storm. They were wrong and he paid the price for that. But it was just an accident. I have to remember that. 

The plane lands safely in Nashville. We’re gathering our things when the cabin doors open and four huge men walk onto the plane, greeting Garrett. “Hi, boss, great to see you,” the guy in front says.

Garrett signals for the men to keep it down, pointing to Sierra sleeping. “Grab the bags, guys. This is Alexis & her best friend, Whitney. How does it look out there?” he asks.

“Same as always boss, but the car’s waiting,” big guy number one answers.

Garrett nods, and points to Whitney and me. He’s talking in a low voice, so I can’t make out what he’s saying. He speaks to the guy for a few moments. Then he flashes me a grin that looks more like a grimace, before dashing out the door with the other three guys. I look to the big guy and inform him I’ll be ready as soon as I gather Sierra up.

“That isn’t necessary, ma’am. We’ll be pulling into the hanger for you to disembark.” His tone is matter of fact, like he has this scenario down to a science.

What the hell? I guess Garrett wants to keep us hidden. I knew he would be ashamed to be seen with someone who wasn’t from his rock star life.

The jet starts to taxi again. Whitney shoots me a confused look. I shrug and try to play it off, like she can’t see I’m upset. She knows me too well. I should prepare for the interrogation as soon as we’re alone.

Once the three of us and our bags are loaded into the car, the big guy, whose name I now know is Dan, slides into the back of the limo with us. He says, “Proceed,” and the limo begins to roll forward. After we clear the hanger a low roar penetrates the windows. We stop and Dan pushes open the door, stepping out. The low roar becomes thunderous. The screaming, wailing, and shrieking are enough to make my ears bleed. I immediately turn to check on Sierra. She’s sleeping like a log. I should’ve known nothing would wake her up.

Garrett jumps in as soon as Dan clears the door. The door closes as the limo starts to move. He looks disappointed and worried. I guess he’s concerned that his fans feel let down. Well, I didn’t ask to be here. He begged. If we we’re going to hamper him so much he should have left us in Florida. My anger is building.

I’m getting madder by the minute, and now that we’ve finally pulled up in front of Garrett’s palatial home I’m even more pissed. Why didn’t he give me a clue what it’d be like when we got here? Photographers, fans, limos, mansions, security team, being hidden…this fucking sucks! I’m about to throw a huge tantrum, but I’ll hold it together until Sierra’s in bed.

Garrett obviously senses my mood because he says
nothing
when I pick up Sierra and carry her into the house. He just opens the doors and leads me to the room where Sierra will sleep. He’s prepared, because while I’m laying Sierra on the bed I see him switch on what looks like a baby monitor, but it’s one of the new high tech camera kind.

I’m not sure where the other receiver is, but if he thinks I’m sleeping with him tonight, he’s off his damn rocker. No chance of that. “Where are our bags?” I ask in a bitchy tone.

“They’re coming up now, sweetheart,” he says sweetly. I roll my eyes in his direction, intending for him to see. He does and the hurt look on his face doesn’t even come close to making me feel better. It makes it worse. Sweetheart, my ass…you just wait and see how sweet I’m going to be about all this shit!

There’s a light tap at the door as two of the security members hold up our bags. Garrett instructs them to leave the bags here. Then he follows the guys out of the room.

I’m searching Sierra’s bag for pajamas when Whitney walks in. “Lex, you okay sweets?” She asks with concern.

“Nope!” I reply.

And then she starts in on one of her typical I know what’s best for you lectures! “Lex, I get that you’re pissed. It’s been a shit evening. I get it. A lot of unexpected shit happened, but seriously…is it worth this amount of angst?”

Now I’m getting more pissed and my frustration isn’t only aimed at Garrett. “Whitney, shut the hell up. I’m not discussing this with you now. Find a place to sleep in this big ass house and leave me alone. I cannot believe you’re sticking up for him in this whole situation. You’re supposed to be my best friend!” I say in the best whisper-yell I can manage, attempting to not wake Sierra.

“Alexis, you are so self-destructive it’s ridiculous. I can’t even begin to talk to you right now. Goodnight!” she says, turning on her heel and walking out of the room.

I change Sierra and myself into pajamas and climb into bed beside her. I imagine he wasn’t expecting me to sleep in here, but I’ll be damned if I’ll sleep anywhere else. I lay in bed beside Sierra for what feels like hours, but it has only been just under one hour when I see the door open and the light around it expand. I see his silhouette, he’s heading toward me. He bends down beside me and kisses my head, then lifts me out of the bed. “No,” I say, but he ignores me and keeps walking with me cradled in his arms.

He takes me to what appears to be his bedroom and lays me into his bed. “Listen sweetheart, you can be as pissed off as you want in my damn bed, but you aren’t sleeping apart from me. Build a wall with pillows, but you’re fucking sleep here!”

I’m pissed and tears are prickling my eyes. “Why? I don’t want to be here. I want to go home, Garrett. This trip sucks and I’ve only been on it a few hours. Make sure we’re on the next flight out!” He’s hurt and angry, but I’m not the one screwing this up. He should be pissed at himself. He comes over to the bed where I’m sitting. I’m staring daggers at him, willing him to say anything else, so I can release all the hurtful crap I want to say.