“Kids,” she repeated like I was hard of hearing. “Do you have them?”
“Didn’t I tell you not to question me?”
“I’m notquestioningyou. I’m asking you a question.” She tilted her head. “There’s a difference.”
I gritted my teeth.
“No, I don’t,” I said flatly. “And why do you care?”
“Well,” she said, stretching out the word, “I’ll be around you for a while, so I thought we should get to know each other better.”
I dragged a hand down my face, massaging my temples. “Well, you thought wrong. I would like silence if you wouldn’t mind.”
“You’re funny,” she said with a grin.
“I’m not playing—” I cut myself off before I worked myself up.Pay her dust, Marlon.Calmer now, I addressed her.
“Ms. Rodriguez.”
“Hmm?” She hummed sweetly.
“I’ve been up since yesterday,” I said, looking her dead in the eye, “and it’s all thanks to you. Do you mind shutting the fuck up so I can sleep?”
“But I can’t sleep.”
I groaned. “Of course you can’t.”
“I keep thinking about Daddy saying he’s disappointed in me and I-I—” her voice cracked, and before I could stop it, the sniffles started again.
“Hey. Hey!” I snapped, straightening in my seat. “Didn’t I tell you to cut that shit out?”
She sniffled louder.
“Oh my God,” I rubbed my forehead. “I should’ve taken the damn train.”
Her bottom lip trembled. “You’re so fucking mean, Marlon!”
“Sweet Jesus,” I said, closing my eyes. Before I could stop myself, I pressed the call button for the flight attendant. The poor woman appeared with the look of someone who wished they chose a different career path.
Yeah, you and me both.
“Hi!” Aurora chirped, turning the sobs to her brightest fake smile. “Did you find any champagne?”
The flight attendant stared at her, deadpan. “No, ma’am. I did not get off themovingflight and look for champagne.”
Aurora’s expression dropped.
“Excuse me?” She narrowed her eyes and her tone turned sharp. “I don’t think I appreciate your tone. Get your manag?—”
I slapped my hand over her mouth.
“Whiskey,” I said to the attendant. “Two doubles. Please.”
The woman looked between us, sighed, then walked off. As soon as I dropped my hand, she gasped, glaring at me.
“Absolutely not! Her service is not up to par!”
“Let the lady do her job, Karen.”
