The Exception (2 page)

Jillian

“Here you go, miss,” the flight attendant spoke as she handed me my wine.

“Thank you.”

I didn’t waste any time gulping down half the glass. I needed it more than I thought I did. Realizing that I still had my sunglasses on, I removed them and set them in my purse.

“You’ve been crying,” the man who was all too fucking nosey, but seriously hot as fuck, especially with that light stubble across his jaw, spoke.

“How do you know that?” I asked with an attitude.

“Your makeup.” He swept his finger under his eye.

Sighing, I took out the compact from my purse and opened it.
Ugh
. He was right. I looked like a raccoon. So much for the waterproof mascara Giorgio put on me. I got up from my seat and went to the bathroom. After cleaning myself up and reapplying my eyeliner and mascara, I sat down in my seat and looked at him.

“Better?” I spoke sarcastically.

He gave me a small but incredible smile. “I didn’t think it looked bad before.”

Looking down, my heart skipped a beat. This was the last thing I needed; to sit next to a sexy man who was trying to flirt with me just hours after I left my entire life behind and my fiancé standing at the altar.

“So, where are you traveling to?” he asked as I stared out the window.

“Hawaii,” I replied.

“Me too. Are you traveling alone?”

“Yeah.” I sighed. “Listen, I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but I’m really not in a talkative mood.”

“I understand. Sorry. After all, you did have a shitty day and I know when I have a shitty day, I’m not in the mood to talk either.”

“Good. I’m happy you understand.” I sighed.

I signaled for the flight attendant and asked her for another glass of wine. Bringing my knees up, I placed the pillow against the window and leaned my head against it. I was exhausted, both physically and mentally. My mind couldn’t help but wonder what was happening back in Seattle. The look on my mother’s face when she found I was gone. The embarrassment on Grant’s face when I never walked down the aisle. The whispers of the guests who gave up their time to attend a wedding that never happened. A tear ran down my cheek, and not because I was sad about what I’d done. I wasn’t entirely sure why the tear fell from my eye. Maybe it was because I wasn’t a robot anymore, looking at my life from the outside. I no longer had to pretend to be happy, and every smile that crossed my lips from now on would be real and genuine.

“Here.” The man handed me a tissue.

Taking it from him, I wiped my eyes.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. I wouldn’t want your mascara to run again.” He smirked.

A smile fell upon my face. A real smile. A smile that made me feel good inside.

“Here’s your wine.” The flight attendant handed me my glass. “May I get you anything else?”

“Is there a meal service on this flight?”

“No. I’m sorry. Light snacks only, but there will be a meal served on your connecting flight from LAX.”

The man reached down in the small bag he had under the seat in front of him and pulled out a protein bar.

“Eat this.” He handed it to me.

“Thanks, but no, I’m fine.”

“Obviously, you’re hungry. Don’t you like protein bars?” He smiled.

“I like protein bars. I eat them almost every day. Thank you for the offer, but I can wait.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself. If you’re not going to eat it, then I will.” He removed the wrapper and took a bite.

“You don’t even know me and you’re offering me your protein bar. Why?” I asked out of curiosity.

“Because you had a shitty day. It’s the least I could do to try and make your day a little better. That way, you can tell everyone that a nice gentleman on the plane gave you his protein bar because you were hungry.”

I let out a light laugh and shook my head. God, it felt good to laugh.

“See.” He smiled. “I think I just made your day a little less shitty.”

I laughed again. “Maybe I’ll just have a piece.”

He broke the bar in half and handed it to me.

“Thank you—” I cocked my head and narrowed my eye.

“Drew. Drew Westbrook.” He stuck out his hand.

“Nice to meet you, Drew. Jillian Bell.” I politely placed my hand in his.

“Jillian. That’s a beautiful name.”

I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks as I thanked him. A heat that I’d never felt before.

“I think I’m going to watch a movie,” I spoke as I took the headphones out of the package the flight attendant gave me.

Looking at his watch, Drew spoke. “You won’t have enough time. We’re landing in about an hour.”

“Oh. Okay, then I think I’ll just take a nap. Could you please wake me when we land?”

“Of course.” He nodded.

****

Drew

Jillian Bell. A beautiful name for an incredibly beautiful woman. The minute she stepped onto the plane, I took notice of her. Her brown hair with the subtle blonde highlights pulled back in a ponytail and her five-foot-six small-framed but very toned body that sported the black maxi dress she wore to perfection. I hated that she kept on those damn Gucci sunglasses for so long because I needed to see her eyes. When she finally took them off and I saw the ocean blue staring back at me, I was left breathless, even with the mascara stains underneath them. She was broken, that much I could tell, and there was a part of me that wanted to reach out and fix her. A complete stranger. Something I didn’t do. I was curious as to why she was traveling to Hawaii alone. Something happened. A break-up, perhaps? I wanted to know and I was going to find out more about Jillian Bell before our plane landed in Hawaii.

As she rested her head on the pillow, I couldn’t help but stare at her. Even while she attempted to sleep, she didn’t seem at peace. I sighed as I looked down at my iPad and sorted through some emails. Every time she stirred, I looked over at her to make sure she was okay.

Jillian

I awoke to the soft touch of a hand on my shoulder and the soft whisper of my name.

“Jillian, we’ve landed.”

“Already?” I yawned.

Drew chuckled. “Yes, already.”

Once the plane entered the gate, the flight attendant handed me my carry-on bag and Drew stepped aside to let me out.

“Ladies first.” He gave a charming smile.

“Thank you.”

As I stepped off the plane, I looked around for a monitor to see which gate my next flight was at.

“Jillian?” Drew spoke as he approached me.

“Yeah?”

“We have an hour and a half layover until our next flight. How about we grab something to eat? I know that half a protein bar didn’t do much for you and the idea of dinner on the plane is a little revolting. Totally not my idea of fine dining.”

Drew Westbrook seemed like a really nice guy. A really hot and sexy nice guy. His six-foot stature, dark hair, smoldering brown eyes to match, the stubble he sported on his face, and overall demeanor was refreshing. A little panty soaking but refreshing. Was he hitting on me? Probably, but it didn’t matter. Guys were off limits to me and would be for a very long time. Not until I found me, would I even consider finding a guy.

“Sure. Why not.” I smiled.

“Great. Is there anything in particular you’re in the mood for?”

“A nice thick juicy burger and a plate full of French fries.”

He narrowed his right eye. “Really? I wouldn’t have thought you ate stuff like that, considering how fit you look.”

“I normally don’t, but today calls for comfort food.”

“I see. Okay. A nice thick juicy burger and a plate full of French fries it is.”

As we headed in the direction of our gate, we stopped and took a seat at Umami Burger.

“What can I get you?” the waitress asked.

“I’ll have the LAX burger, please.”

“Everything on it?” she asked.

“Yes. And whatever you have on tap.” I smiled.

“And for you, sir?”

“I’ll have the veggie burger and whatever you have on tap.”

“The veggie burger?” I smirked.

“Is something wrong with a veggie burger?” He cocked his head.

“No. Nothing at all.” I snickered.

“I didn’t take you for a beer kind of girl.”

“Oh really? And what kind of girl did you take me for?”

“The kind of girl who drinks fine wines, fruity cocktails, and expensive champagne.”

I looked down as I ran my finger and thumb along where my ring once sat.

“I like a beer every now and again.”

He was right about me. I did drink fine wines, fruity cocktails, and expensive champagne. Ever since I could remember, my mother used to tell me that beer was for the lower class; that it was a cheap man’s drink and I had an image to uphold. I could never drink a beer around my parents or Grant. He was just as bad as they were, only drinking his scotch or bourbon on the rocks and holding his glass in such a prissy manner as to alert everyone he was the upper class and not to be fucked with.

“Earth to Jillian.” Drew waved his hand in front of my face.

I looked up at him and lightly shook my head. “Sorry. What were you saying?”

“You seemed lost in thought. Care to talk about it?”

The waitress set down our beers in front of us and I quickly took a large sip.

“No.” I smiled as I set down my glass.

His eyes narrowed at me as he studied me for a moment.

“Who are you, Jillian Bell?”

Tilting my head to the side and giving a light shrug, I spoke, “I have no clue.”

A confused look swept over his face, and before he had a chance to say anything, the waitress set our burgers in front of us.

“How’s that veggie burger?” I asked.

“It’s good. How’s that grease-dripping burger you’re eating?”

“Fantastic,” I spoke with a mouthful of food.

Drew let out a light chuckle. Once we finished eating, I leaned back in my chair and puffed out my cheeks.

“Oh my God. I’m so full.”

Did I care that I had just scarfed down a burger, a plate of fries, and a beer in front of a sexy man that I had just met a couple of hours ago? No. I didn’t even give it a second thought. I was over what anybody thought of me.

“We better get to our gate,” Drew spoke as he pulled out his wallet and threw some cash on the table.

Reaching into my purse, I pulled out some money.

“I got it, Jillian.” He smiled.

“No. No. I’m paying for my own.” I set the dollar bills on the table.

Drew picked them up and placed them back in my hand.

“I said I got it. See? Now I’ve once again made your shitty day a little less shitty.” He grinned.

I couldn’t help but smile as I stared into his deep dark brown eyes. He was a really nice guy. Or was he just trying to get into my pants? Either way, I let him pay. He could be nice all he wanted but he wouldn’t get a piece of me, even though the thought of his muscular strong body on top of mine was enticing.
Shit.
I needed to stop thinking that.

As we boarded the plane for Hawaii, I took my seat next to an older woman who was dripping in gold and diamonds. She wore a Donna Karan suit, and when I looked down at her feet, I couldn’t help but notice her Jimmy Choo’s. Her hair was secured in a perfect bun and her makeup was immaculate. She reminded me too much of my mother. Drew’s seat was two rows behind me and I admit that I was a little disappointed he wasn’t sitting next to me.

“Excuse me, ma’am?” Drew spoke as he stood in the aisle. “Would you mind switching seats with me? I have a lovely window seat two rows back.”

“I’m fine where I’m at,” she spoke with an attitude, not looking up from her magazine.

I looked up at Drew, gave him a wink, and motioned for him to go sit back in his seat. Suddenly, I began to cough loudly until the woman looked over.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

“No.” I coughed in her face.

She leaned to the side of her seat, away from me as I kept coughing.

“Can you please cover your mouth?”

“Oh sorry. It happens so much that sometimes I forget.”

As I coughed in my hand, I placed it on her arm.

“I’m sorry, but once I start, it could go on for hours. So I want to apologize in advance for the disruption it may cause you during our six-hour flight.”

She looked down at my hand, which was touching the fabric of her suit, and then back up at me. Grabbing her purse, she got up from her seat and, before I knew it, Drew was sitting next to me.

“Well played, Jillian.” He winked.

“Thank you.” I smiled. “I didn’t want to sit next to her anyway. She reminds me of my mother.”

“Is that a bad thing?” His brow arched.

“Yeah. It is.” I looked away.