Narrator-
The next morning was bittersweet for Liliana. Her parents were ready to head back home, and she had to get back to Florida, hoping to cancel the resignation she had placed sent to HR. Liliana loved her job, and she had gotten accustomed to her usual clients, and she didn't want to have to start over from scratch with another company. Whether she would fly and serve Frantz was something she would have to discuss with him on her own time, but right now, her main focus was trying to not cry while hugging her parents goodbye.
Frantz had headed down to their parents' suite early morning, inviting them to breakfast before they departed. When Liliana had come face to face with Frantz, he greeted her respectfully with a "good morning," and a soft kiss on the cheek, which caused Liliana to blush more than she should have. Liliana had spent the rest of her night in a restless fit. Every time she attempted to dose off, all she could picture was Frantz, and that made her more than excited throughout the remainder of the night. Now it was only the matter of keeping her desires a secret.
At breakfast, her parents once again indulged in casual conversations with Frantz, meanwhile, Frantz didn't miss it when Liliana purposely avoided his eyes. Whenever he looked her way, if she had been staring at him, she looked away quickly, and as a result, he barely caught her eye during breakfast. Frantz had to admit, he found her actions doubtful, and he couldn't help it when he began to wonder whether she was having cold feet about agreeing to be in a relationship with him.
Meanwhile, as Frantz conversed with her parents, Liliana couldn't help it when her eyes studied his lips so carefully, that she could almost feel them against her body. At some point, Frantz licked his lips unintentionally, and Liliana shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Her timid actions had Frantz on edge, but he wouldn't confront her until they were alone. If she was having second thoughts, Frantz wanted to know sooner rather than later.
After breakfast, Frantz arranged to have Lili's parents escorted home, while he and Liliana would be taken to the airport.
Liliana stood in an embrace with her mother, as they spoke softly between them. All the while, Frantz studied Lili from afar, while he sat in the car waiting for her. As he studied her smile, and the way she looked at her mother adoringly, Frantz found himself falling deeper and deeper in love with her with every passing second, though he knew his actions were foolish, especially if Liliana was having doubts. Nevertheless, the way Liliana showed her love and respect for her parents, reminded Frantz of his relationship with his parents, and he was confident that Liliana would never mistreat his parents.
Unaware of Frantz's eyes, Lili's mom pet her cheek, with glistening eyes of her own as she reminded Liliana, "at least one call a day, that's all I ask." Her mother pointed firmly, and Liliana understood.
"I know ma," Liliana giggled and sobbed all at once, then her mom leaned in, kissing her cheek, while adding in a whisper, "and hopefully a grandbaby with that gorgeous man over there soon."
"MOM!" Liliana exclaimed before she could stop herself, causing Mr. Cavalier to look her way with a curious gaze, and in turn Liliana's face flushed, her mother chuckling as if she did nothing wrong. Her father shook his head and said, "would you leave her alone," then he pulled Liliana in for a hug as he said, "be good kid."
Then with an "I love you," to both her parents, Liliana let them go, and entered the car where Frantz was waiting for her.
As soon as they pulled away, Liliana hid her face into her hands, as she tried to keep her tears at bay, except the effort was futile. She was already crying. She always hated separating from her parents, yet because she had been so sheltered, they encouraged that whenever she was ready to step away, they would allow her the space. Nevertheless, their compliance never made the separation easier, and that's why her visits were few. And once again, Liliana found herself tearing up in her hands, hoping that Frantz wouldn't notice her silent tears.
Frantz knew that Liliana was crying, so taking out his handkerchief, he placed it softly on her knee, and his actions caused Liliana to giggle as she attempted to dry her tears.
"Thank you." Liliana spoke sincerely, and Frantz nodded silently, a small smile playing on his lips. The last time he gave her a handkerchief, they were not on the best of terms, yet almost twenty four hours later, Liliana called Frantz her boyfriend.
For a while they sat in silence, but Liliana could feel Frantz studying her. His gaze was subtle, but his silent analysis made her edgy.
"What?" Liliana asked, with a frown when Frantz kept staring her way and he simply shook his head and shrugged as he replied, "Nothing, I can tell that you really love your parents." Frantz noted, his signature hand resting against his chin, his index finger on his lips.
"I do." Liliana nodded with a soft smile, and Frantz became curious, "so why did you move away from home? I mean you guys seem to have a good relationship, and I can tell it's not the easiest thing for you to say goodbye." Frantz observed, and Liliana understood what he meant, so in turn she replied, "there weren't many flight attendant opportunities in my town after my last job, plus my mom feared that if I stayed home too long, I would never create a family of my own, and she wants grandbabies." Liliana chuckled shaking her head.
"Do you want to have children?" Frantz asked, since the subject came about, and Liliana felt her heart flutter at his easy and casual tone, yet interest in her future, and she blushed deeply while saying, "I do, eventually," she began playing with her sweaty fingers, then clarified, "but not for a while. I plan to enjoy my alone time with my husband for a while before adding kids to the mix."
Frantz nodded, but said, nothing, and Liliana drew in a breath and asked, "what about you?"
"Me? Yes, I'd like to have children as well, or else my mother will never let me hear the end of it." He chuckled, and Liliana smiled, she could tell that Frantz had deep respect for his parents as well.
While the couple settled into a comfortable silence, Liliana leaned against the window, her mind flying to space for a bit before she was suddenly reminded of her dream from the night before. Instantly feeling as though she was sitting directly beneath the sun, Liliana adjusted her posture, crossing her legs, as she cleared her throat softly, her neck and face warming up.
Frantz saw her change in demeanor, and he noticed just how flushed her face became as she looked out the window but appeared very uncomfortable.
"Are you alright?" Frantz asked, Liliana, and she nodded quicker than usual as she said, "mmh hmm, just fine." She added for emphasis, though she could tell that Frantz didn't believe her.
"Are you hot? You're sweating a little." Frantz pointed, as he observed her red complexion, while raising an eyebrow.
"No, no, I'm just fine..." Liliana gulped, her throat dry, her heart accelerating. She was silently praying that they reached the airport soon, or else she would not survive the car ride. It was getting too hot, even though the AC was on.
Frantz lifted a curious eyebrow, but asked, no further questions. He could tell something was up, but he didn't want to push her.
Thankful that Frantz didn't pry, Liliana cleared her throat again, and closed her eyes for a moment, as she felt the sweat roll down the back of her neck. Opening her eyes, and staring back out the window, Liliana felt a flutter in her lower abdomen as she remembered the last time Frantz kissed her in the back of his car. Rolling her eyes and muttering a self-scolding, Liliana blushed darker and darker, while she felt the heat prickle in her armpits.
Frantz couldn't seem to shake Liliana's odd behavior, and he began to notice that she appeared more flustered as time went on. Unable to focus on anything else, and feeling the need to know whether she was having second thoughts, he straightened his posture as he said, "alright be honest with me, what's going on?" His tone coming out firm and string, making Liliana even more fidgety.
Liliana avoided his eyes as she cleared her throat and said, "nothing..."
"Oh it’s something." Frantz pushed, and Liliana closed her eyes and shook her head as she explained, "I can't tell you."
"Why can't you tell me?" Frantz asked, carefully, not letting up.
"Well, because it's weird." Liliana explained awkwardly, as she wiped her palms on her jeans, yet the sensation of her hands running over her thighs instantly sparked a want deep in her loins, as she remembered the way his hand had caressed her skin in the dream. Liliana released a soft and shaky breath, while Frantz slowly began to piece the puzzle together.
Her flushed cheeks, the sweaty palms, the shift in position, they were all starting to point in one direction. However, before Frantz could really figure out what was wrong with Liliana, Armagio pulled into the airport, and drove up to the private jet.