Page 65 of Terms of the Flight

Khaleya’s hand was in mine as we flew to Pisa with Premier Wings. I know this was also awkward for her. I’ve had to get her to sit her ass down a few times. She was trying to do the other flight attendant’s job.

“Doll, you alright?” I asked.

She turned to face me with wide eyes.

“Yeah, why do you ask?”

“You just look like you aren’t here. You need me to take you in the back real quick?”

I lifted a brow and smirked. She pulled her hand from mine and swatted my shoulder.

“Big, please. I know all these damn people on this plane.”

I nodded like I understood. “I get it. You don’t want them to know your social security and shit. That’s how you get your identity stolen, baby.”

Her eyes expanded and her mouth dropped open. Khaleya leaned forward to whisper, as if someone had heard me.

“That was one time! Stop bringing up old shit.”

I cracked up. “Old shit, huh? This was last night, Doll.”

“Like I said. Old shit.”

I couldn’t catch my breath. I was laughing so damn much. I held my hands up in surrender.

“My bad, Killa. But I do need to talk to you about the contract. You’ve been avoiding this talk since we made shit official.”

Her smile dropped, and she leaned back into the seat with her arms crossed.

“What do you want me to say, Big? I chose you, didn’t I.”

I reached out and placed two fingers beneath her chin to return her eyes back to me.

“That doesn’t mean what we agreed on doesn’t apply, Doll. Did you not fulfill the shit in the contract?” I asked.

“No, I didn’t. It was supposed to be fake, and here we are in a full-blown relationship. That wasn’t in that janky-ass contract.”

I lifted a brow. “No, where in the contract did it say things couldn’t become real? I made sure of that. I was feeling you the first time I saw you on this plane. And don’t be calling my contract janky, Doll. Hostile as fuck, keep it up, and we going to the back.”

She cracked a smile, then got serious again.

“I don’t want to take from you. I wanted to work for that money.”

“Who says you are not about to work for that money? I need you to be in there acting like I’m the best you’ve ever had and dated. Nah, all jokes aside. I’m not letting you struggle for another second. Not when I’m here helping fucking strangers, Doll.”

She shrugged and looked out of the window.

“You don’t get it. I have to get it honestly. If you give me the money now, I’ll feel like I fucked for it.”

I ran my hand down my face and groaned. I couldn’t change how she felt, and I didn’t know how I could get her what she wanted without her losing everything. She loves Stamped by Khaleya. Yet here she was willing to walk away from it because she wanted to experience a relationship with me.

I was going to figure this out one way or another.

“I hear you. We’re going to figure this out.”

She nodded, then laid her head on my shoulder. I reached out to grab my chilled bottle of Fiji water and took a sip. Then I placed it back on the table. I closed my eyes, hoping a nap would get my mind going.

An hour later, the pilot was waking us up, letting us know the jet would land soon. I hoped the surprise I had for Khaleya when we landed would get her spirits back up. I needed the smart-mouth version of my baby to make an appearance, and soon.