Page 52 of Terms of the Flight

A knock sounded at my door. I didn’t need to ask who it was.

“Come in.”

Da’ana stepped inside and plopped down onto the edge of my bed.

“What happened?” she asked.

“I might have made a mistake agreeing to do this. My heart is beyond confused, and clearly his is, too. He doesn’t know me enough to want to make this thing real.”

Da’ana stilled, and a slow smile spread across her face. I rolled my eyes, knowing where this was getting ready to go.

“I knew this would happen. In every romance book I’ve read with the fake dating trope, the couple always realizes this can be real. But I need you not to be hardheaded like the heroines in the books. They waste so much damn time worried about a damn deal neither party is concerned with.”

I pointed to the zipper behind me, so she stood and unzipped my dress.

“First, I need you to realize this shit is real. It’s real life, and nothing like those damn books you write or read. So be serious for a second. Money is and was on the table. Real money! Now suddenly he is ready to just tear the contract up?—”

Da’ana held her hand up to stop me, her smile only annoying me further.

“Wait, so… he offered to tear up the contract and make this real?” she asked.

“Yes, but the man had two fingers in my pussy. He would say anything in that moment!” My hand shot up to my mouth as I realized what I’d said aloud.

Now Da’ana was full-blown dancing like she was just told she’d won a million dollars. I rolled my eyes and stepped out of the dress, then laid it across the bed. I walked into my connected bathroom and turned on the shower.

“If you’re going to play around all day, let yourself out, Da’ana,” I shouted from the bathroom.

“Don’t get mad at me because you let that man play in your honey pot. Now you need to know what it’s really about over there. You might as well give that man a shot. What does it really hurt? Don’t answer that now. Think about it, and I’ll be in the living room with a glass of wine with your name on it.”

I waited until I heard the door close behind her. Then I stripped out of my clothes and stepped under the water. I closed my eyes briefly to think about what I should do.

I’ve always wanted a connection like this with someone, but it wasn’t just about a connection. Essentially, I’d have to leave everything associated with the deal behind. Stamped by Khaleya would stay where it was until I could get the money to go further.

Could I choose a possible temporary feeling over a dream I’d worked my ass off for?

a few days later…

I had been lookingat this text for the past few days.

Doll: Give me some time to think. I’m not saying no.

I’d been giving her some time, but that shit was running out today. I didn’t want the trip to Tuscany to be awkward, and we were leaving in a few weeks. The only reason she got away with it for this long was because I’d been working overtime on Jace and Simone’s wedding bands. I didn’t want to half-step for their union.

Today was my first free day in a long time. So I scrolled through Khaleya’s social media, needing any kind of contact with her. It didn’t make it any better that my pops needed to seeme. So I planned to stop by their place first, then see what was up with Khaleya. If she didn’t want things to change, I needed to know that.

I smirked as I watched a video of her showing her process of making body oils and the butters. She was so damn charismatic and passionate about anything she did. Her personality was the main reason I wanted to help her.

I locked my phone and slipped it into my jogger’s pocket. Then I grabbed my keys from the counter and made my way to the garage to drive my Mercedes-Benz S-Class. I didn’t get to drive it often; it was all black everything. On my off days, I took advantage of driving myself around.

I turned on the radio and drove the short drive to my parents’ place. Once I made it, I parked and rang the doorbell so they knew I was coming in. I didn’t need to walk into anything. My parents were sitting in the living room watchingLiving Single.I knew without a doubt this was something my mother had chosen for them to watch.

The moment I stepped into the room, my mother glanced up with a big smile. I held my hand up to stop her from moving, since I was coming to her. I stooped low to kiss her cheek, then dapped my father up before taking the love seat by them.

“What was so important you needed me to rush over here, pops? I’m trying to pop up on Khaleya real quick, since I haven’t had many off days,” I told him.

He nodded, then kissed my mother’s cheek and slid off the couch to stand. I followed suit, knowing this could only be some bullshit if he needed me to go to his office. I steeled my nerves before we made it. I had no intent on allowing him to piss me off before I went by Khaleya’s place. I was already going to need the patience of Job when I went there, especially since I hadn’t let her know I was coming.

The moment we stepped inside his office, I closed the door behind myself and followed him over towards the couch and coffee table. The closer I got, I realized he had a few folders spread over the table with pictures. I leaned in and noticed it was Khaleya’s grant paperwork. I didn’t need to wonder what this call was about anymore.