Page 81 of Grown

My mouth dries. The thought of him in Shea’s phone, the way he was in mine... I’m out the window, on the wing, ready to jump. But I can’t. Because if I jump, there will be no one to protect Gab, Shea, Mom, Daddy, or the Littles from this monster.

He’s a monster—the thought sharpens, drenched in resolve.

“Leave her alone,” I mutter.

The plane rumbles. Harder now. Korey’s drink almost slides off his tray.

“Huh?” he says, glancing upward as if expecting the oxygen masks to drop.

I turn to him. “I said leave her alone.”

Korey’s face transforms slow, from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde. My stomach drops, the feeling of a falling roller coaster as the plane tilts. He lunges and I reel back, hitting my head on the window with a yelp.

“Miss, are you OK?”

Nicole appears at our side. Korey straightens, remembering we’re in public.

“Hm? Oh, nah, she’s fine,” he says with a light chuckle. “All this turbulence got her shook.”

Nicole stares at him then at me, unconvinced.

“Miss, do you need to use the ladies’ room?”

Korey cocks his head to the side, and I fear for Nicole.

“I said she’s fine.”

“Sir, I’m askinghera question.”

The plane tips upward, pressure building against my ear-drum. Nicole steadies herself, surfing the ride.

Korey realizes his intimidation tactics are no longer working and goes straight for charm.

“Oh, I see what it is. You’ve been reading them blogs about me, right?” He chuckles, standing. “Don’t trip, sweetheart. I’m not the monster they paint me to be. I’m a gentleman. I got her, aight? She’s cool.”

Nicole raises a vicious eyebrow. “Sir, if you don’t take your hand off my shoulder and sit down, I’ll have the captain make an emergency landing and the police waiting for you at the gate.”

Commotion stirs in the cabin behind us. “Hey, Boss, what’s going on up here?” Tony shouts. “Do you know who he is?”

Soon, everyone talks over one another. The flight attendants yell about federal regulations. Tony barks about his boss’s needs. Korey vents about how the world is trying to attack him.

The wings seesaw. Korey falls into his seat and I press into the window, widening the distance between us. He leans into me, his mouth on my neck.

“If you embarrass me on this fucking plane, you gonna wish you were fucking dead,” he whispers.

Outside, the brewing storm is a beautiful chaotic show.

“Miss!” Nicole, now shouting. “Do you need help?”

“I’m... I’m...”

“See? She says she’s fine! Why you harassing her?”

“Miss, are you fine? Do you need help?”

“What are you doing?” The white flight attendant scolds Nicole before whipping around to Tony. “Hey! Sir, I said back off. You need to return to your seat!”

The plane rocks. Small yelps escape the other passengers. A bell dings.