Having running water down her body while being high up in the clouds was definitely a unique experience. Angela found herself smiling throughout the entire experience and just wondering how she came to enjoy these little things that she didn't really bother with back then. Her family chartered private planes many times in the past but not once had she tried showering in flight. And now she was showering in Gael's private plane, and there was something about it that made her feel giddy inside.

Just like what he told her, she took her time and did her usual routine inside the bathroom, dried her hair, and slipped on new clothes. She wasn't going to put on makeup, but she was already here getting ready and not really in a hurry, so she thought she might as well make herself presentable. Once done, she came out of the bathroom and went to join Gael in the lounge area.

He was working on his tablet when he asked without looking up, "How was the shower?"

Angela stopped in her tracks as she roamed her eyes over his outfit, her heart doing several backflips when she noticed that they were matching clothes. Dark jeans and a white shirt underneath a black leather jacket. Crap. Did she just match herself with him?

She must have been silent for a long time because he looked up at her. He set his tablet on the side, briefly glancing down at himself before gazing back at her. A teasing smirk broke his face as he took in her appearance. "Nice outfit," he remarked, folding his arms across his chest.

"I...didn't mean to match you. I must have subconsciously thought of the combination and grabbed the clothes without thinking much—"

"Don't make excuses now. It's okay, Angel. I don't mind at all. I'm flattered, and I actually like it."

Angela clicked her tongue. There he was with his teasing again.

When she didn't budge from where she was standing, he chuckled and held out his hand for her. "Come on. You said you couldn't sleep much last night. Why don't you take a nap?"

She took his hand and let him pull her to his side. It was the same sofa in which she laid on and rested with him while they flew from Hillberry to Esmea three months ago. The reminder made her stomach flutter.

Just as she was seated, a very leggy blonde in a flight attendant uniform came and set a drink on the side table next to Gael. The flight attendant gave him a sultry look, but he didn't pay her any attention at all. His eyes were trained on Angela the whole time. The attendant shot Angela a glance and rolled her eyes before sauntering away.

'What a bîtch!' she cursed in her head, slightly huffing as she settled into the sofa.

"What's wrong?" he wondered, probably seeing whatever was on her face at that moment.

"Nothing." Realizing her expression, she relaxed her brows and stared at the T.V. in front without actually watching what was on it. "I thought you said you stopped drinking the hard stuff?"

Gael glanced at the side table, looking like he just noticed there was a glass of amber liquid on it. "I did. I'm not drinking this."

He then shut the window shade down, turned the lights above them off, then he pulled her closer to his side as he told her, "Get some sleep. There's still about two hours until we land. I'll wake you up then."

Angela didn't want to fight it. She did feel a little drowsy, unsure if it was because of the shower, the coziness of the atmosphere, or because she felt safe with him around that she could just lower her guard a little and sleep.

She was feeling relaxed until her mind decided that it was time to panic. She snapped her head towards him, her heart starting to race. "Anything I should know about before I get there? Who or what do I need to look out for?"

Gael studied her face. "Are you nervous?"

"It just really dawned on me that I'm meeting some of your family. I must be crazy. I don't know how to do this. What do I do?"

He chuckled, his tone sounding so carefree and boyish that it made her insides melt. "Just stick to my side all the time and you'll be fine."

That didn't really help her at all. When Gael met her father a couple of nights ago, he was also nervous, but he still pulled it off and even left a great impression on her father. And now, she didn't even know who she was meeting or how many people there were. The urge to back out was so strong she had to clench her hand into a fist.

If only she knew how impossible it was to stick to his side "all the time". Angela was definitely in for a ride.

It was after rush hour when they landed, so the travel time from JFK airport going to Brooklyn, New York, wasn't as bad as they expected. They passed by the Botanic Garden in Prospect Park and Gael opened the window of the Town Car that fetched them from the airport. He showed Angela the urban park, saying, "This is more beautiful in spring. We'll have to come back around March next year so you'll get to see the cherry blossoms."

The promise in his voice gave her tingles that traveled from the tip of her head to the ends of her toes. She didn't respond but the smile on her face said it all.

They reached Bay Ridge, a residential area in the southwest corner of Brooklyn that's filled with generations of families with Irish, Norwegian, Greek, Italian, and Middle Eastern populations. The location was like an escape from the harsh atmosphere of the metropolis but also having the convenience of transportation to and from the busier parts of New York—like Manhattan. The neighborhood was an ideal place for those who wanted a quieter home in the city.

Passing by several brownstones, Angela grew nervous by the second. Gael placed his hand over hers as if to comfort her. She must have been pretty obvious.

Every house looked similar, but the one where the car stopped was the liveliest in the line of brownstones on Senator street. The two walked up the stairs and paused in front of the closed door. She took several cleansing breaths and focused on his hand in hers.

"It'll be okay." He smiled and squeezed her hand.

"Is it too late to back out?" She chuckled nervously.

The door opened from the inside, and a tall, dark, and handsome man greeted Gael, pulling him in for a hug. Since they were still holding hands, she was tugged with them, forcing her to step into the house.

She was too anxious to be aware of what's happening at the moment until the man asked, "Oh? You brought a girl. Your wife?" Gael met Angela's widened stare, and a teasing smirk ghosted his lips.

Murmurs sounded from the house, and footsteps came towards the door. 'Crap crap crap,' She panicked. Her heart was about to burst out of her chest. Men, women, kids—they all stared at her with curious stares.

Angela felt like she just walked into a lion's den.