Page 107 of Addicted

The flight attendant handed us each a glass, then turned to Ish and Destiny.

“And for you two?” she asked.

“I’ll take a champagne too—” Ish started.

I whipped my head around so fast I almost gave myself whiplash.

“Boy, if you don’t get some lemonade,” I said, giving him the look.

Ish’s face fell. “Come on, Indie. I’m sixteen—”

“And?” I said, cutting him off. “You ain’t grown. Get you some lemonade and sit down somewhere.”

Aurora burst out laughing, and even Stone smirked.

Destiny covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Ish groaned. “Man, this is embarrassing.”

“Should’ve thought about that before you tried to order alcohol in front of your big sister,” I said, turning back around.

The flight attendant smiled politely. “Lemonade for both of you?”

“Yes, please,” Destiny said sweetly.

Ish mumbled something under his breath, but he didn’t argue.

I took a sip of my champagne and sighed. This was the life.

The flight attendant brought Ish and Destiny their lemonades, then disappeared toward the front of the plane. A few minutes later, the pilot’s voice came over the intercom.

“Good afternoon, everyone. We’ll be taking off shortly. Please fasten your seatbelts and prepare for departure.”

I buckled my seatbelt, my heart racing with excitement. The engines roared to life, and the jet started moving down the runway.

I grabbed Stone’s hand, squeezing it tight. He looked at me, his expression soft.

“You nervous?” he asked.

“A little,” I admitted. “I’ve never been on a plane before.”

His eyes widened slightly. “Never?”

I shook my head. “Nope. First time.”

Stone brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles.

“You gon’ love it, baby,” he said. “I promise.”

The jet picked up speed, and then we were lifting off the ground. I gasped, my stomach flipping as we climbed higher and higher into the sky.

Aurora squealed across from me. “Oh my God, we’re flying!”

I laughed, my nerves melting away as the jet leveled out. The seatbelt sign turned off, and I unbuckled, leaning back in my seat.

“This is amazing,” I said, looking out the window at the clouds below us.

Stone wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “Told you,” he said.