Justin by Kirsten Osbourne

glancing at his watch. “Where’s Cody? I swear that man is going to be late for his own funeral.”
    Cody climbed onto the plane then, pulling Amber along behind him. “I told you, you’re going to love it.” He rolled his eyes at Justin. “She’s worried she won’t like the island.”
    Justin laughed. “There’s something wrong with you if you don’t like the island. It’s incredible.”
    “ That’s what I keep telling her!”
    There were two seats across from where Justin and Sarah had settled. Cody pointed to one and sat in the other. Amber rolled her eyes at Sarah. “He points and expects me to just do as he commands.”
    Sarah nodded. “Justin told me on the way here that he’s keeping me like I’m a lost dog or something.”
    Amber settled into the seat Cody had indicated for her. “These men need to be taken down a notch.” She kicked off her shoes and stretched out in the chair.
    “ Only one?” Sarah looked over at Justin. “I think twenty or so would be better.”
    A stewardess came from the front of the plane. “You need to buckle up. We’re about to take off. I’ll serve dinner once we’re in the air.”
    Cody tilted his cowboy hat back onto his head. “What are we having?”
    “ The same thing you always insist on having when you fly. Salad, steak and baked potatoes.” She walked back toward the front of the plane.
    Justin smiled. “Sounds good to me!” He turned to Sarah. “So what exciting things did you do with your day off today?”
    “ I shopped and packed.”
    “ What did you shop for?”
    She blushed. “Just clothes.” She couldn’t meet his eyes as she answered him. She’d been thinking about wearing her new clothes for him too much.
    He noted her blush, but decided not to pursue the subject in front of the others. Was he hoping too much to think maybe she’d gotten something risqué to wear for him?
    “ What did you do?”
    “ I got all my charts and graphs in order for the meeting.”
    “ On your day off?” She wrinkled her nose.
    “ That is a day off for him,” Cody cut in. “He’s always loved playing with numbers and making stupid little graphs. I swear, when we were in college, we had new little graphs shoved under our noses daily. Finally we had to tell him to stop wasting ink or the company would go under.”
    Sarah gave Justin a weird look. “Really?”
    He shrugged. “I find charts relaxing. I know, it’s weird, but it works for me.”
    Sarah looked at Amber with wide eyes. “Do you find charts relaxing?”
    Amber shook her head. “I’ve never found anything having to do with money relaxing.”
    “ What do you do to relax then?”
    Amber smiled. “I ride my horse. I still live on the ranch where I grew up and I take long rides through the countryside.”
    Sarah nodded. “I’m not much of a horse person, but I can see that as relaxing. I’m so glad you don’t make charts.” She said the last in a loud whisper, and then cut her eyes over to Justin to see how he’d react.
    Justin was glaring at Cody. “Thanks, man. I’m glad you’ve got my back.”
    Cody grinned. “Someone has to!”
    “ I know all of your embarrassing secrets, you know.”
    “ I don’t get embarrassed.” Cody smiled at Amber. “I’d be happy to go on a long relaxing ride with you anytime.”
    “ What do you do to relax?” Amber asked him.
    “ I cook.”
    “ You cook? Like grilled cheese sandwiches and stuff?”
    He shook his head. “Nahh…like cordon bleu stuff. I actually took some classes after college for fun.”
    “ You’ll have to cook for me sometime.”
    “ I’d love to.” His hand covered hers and Sarah turned away.
    Justin looked at Sarah. “What do you do to relax?”
    Sarah smiled. “I’m a reader. I like to take a three hour bath and read in the tub.”
    Justin raised an eyebrow. “Bubbles?”
    “ What does that matter?”
    He grinned. “Just trying to get a good mental image.” He laughed when she swatted his arm. “What do you