Page 32 of Terms of the Flight

four hours later…

I’d removed my scarf and hat, but would soon be in the comfort of my home. I was actually going to have a break from flights for a little while. I’d taken time off so I could focus on my new launch for Stamped. But tonight would be about nothing but watching movies with Da’ana, drinking wine, and getting rest.

I’d even muted my notifications on Instagram and TikTok to stop looking at everyone’s opinions about Myheir and me. I knew it would blow up, but I didn’t know it would be like this.

I made sure the drive back home was a silent one. I needed the peace. That was until my phone rang through the car’sspeakers and Mr. Big popped up on my screen. I released a breath, then answered.

“Let me find out you miss me already.”

“You can say that, or you can say I have human decency. I wanted to make sure you made it back home safely.”

I smiled. Not many people outside of Da’ana or my family cared about my safety, so it was refreshing. Even if this wasn’t real, I planned to ignore that for the moment.

“If that’s what you need to tell yourself to sleep at night. I’m going with the first one.”

He chuckled. “You driving home now?” he asked.

I glanced at the screen with a lift of my brow. “Yes, Big Daddy, I am.”

“Keep it up, Doll.”

I didn’t need to push any further to know exactly what he meant by that.

“Don’t get your panties in a bunch, Sir. How is your day going? I know you had work to do for the rest of this week, right?”

“Khaleya.”

I couldn’t help it but laugh.

“Ugh, you have to laugh a little more. Life isn’t always so serious. Now, tell me about your day so far, and make it good.”

He cleared his throat like he was getting ready to give me a dissertation.

“It’s been cool, but busy. My bad if I’m replying weird and shit. I’ve never had anyone give a damn about how my day was going. How was the flight?”

I smiled and did a little dance in my seat. Then I stopped, catching myself. This shit isn’t real, and it was time I acted like it.

“Is this what fake dating looks like? Us checking in on each other and pretending to care how the other is doing?”

He chuckled.

“It’s common decency to care about how someone is doing. Not to mention, I care about how your day is going and how you feel. So, nah. I’m not pretending. If you didn’t want to know how my day was going, you didn’t have to ask, Doll.”

I rolled my eyes. I knew it would come back on me, since I was the one who started it. I bit my lower lip before finally releasing it.

“I’m not pretending. It felt natural, and I do care how your day is going.”

“Don’t make this a big deal. I know this relationship is part of a deal, but we need to be ourselves. If you feel it, say it.”

I stopped at the red light and then glanced at the screen.

“Are you not worried that somewhere along the way, your view of us might get a little blurry?” I asked.

“Nah, because if either of us fell, I’m sure neither of us would allow the other to hit the ground.”

He sounded so sure, so confident. But he was right. I didn’t have to think long about that answer, and that bothered me. I would just think of it as me being a decent person, but I knew better.

“Am I right?” he asked.