I nodded as she walked by. Her friend looked nervous as fuck. Instead of waiting for her to approach me, I said, “We can talk later on the flight.”
She gave me a slight smile. “Okay.”
She seemed to relax somewhat as she walked by. Once everyone had boarded and we’d given safety instructions, we prepared for takeoff. I sent my mama a quick text letting her know we were heading back to Houston and that I would be at their house tonight to visit. I hadn’t seen her nor my dad in a couple of weeks. I missed them. They always kept me grounded. Being around these celebrities could sometimes have my ego floating into outer space.
Being around my parents reminded me that had it not been for them, there was no telling where I would be. It was their money that made me a millionaire. There was nothing I did to earn that much money. Plus, had they not adopted me, I could have ended up in the foster system, not truly having a sense of family . . . the same family I used to take for granted.
Gabriella sat next to me, and as we took off, she leaned over to me. “What are you doing once we land?”
I turned to her and scanned her body. “I’m going home for a minute, then I’m heading to Beaumont to spend time with my family. I’m off for a couple of days.”
“Well, we’ll be in Houston until tonight, and I don’t have anything to do for hours.”
I nodded and bit my bottom lip as she slid her hand to my dick. This lil Latina was bold as fuck. We had never had sex, but we’d surely flirted. I supposed she was tired of talking. She knew we weren’t supposed to be engaging in those activities, though. Her boldness in this moment threw up a red flag for me. If I fucked her, it would surely get back to higher ups and cause us both to lose our jobs.
“So you don’t give a fuck about the company policies?”
“Ugh. I guess you do?”
“I like my job, girl. Quit tryna fuck my career up. Once I drop this dick in you, you gon’ be stalking a nigga and tryna get this shit while we in the air. So, as tempting as that lil mama is,” I said as I slid my hand between her legs and lightly pinched her pussy lips, “I’m gon’ have to pass.”
I pulled my hand away just as another attendant sat on the other side. Slowly shaking my head, I said, “See? We would have been right on out the company as soon as we landed in H-Tine. Quit fucking with me.”
She bit her bottom lip and turned her head without a word as we took off down the runway.
“Miss Kimaji? I have time.”
She fidgeted nervously. “Umm . . . Can Arlie stay? Can we talk here?”
I nodded and stepped into their cabin. I only closed the door slightly. There was no way in hell I would be accused of inappropriate behavior on a flight. After turning my attention back to them, Arlie said, “Please be patient with her. She’s extremely nervous about how you will respond.”
I frowned slightly, trying to figure out where this was going. Slightly leaning against the door, I said, “This is the best time to talk. I can’t be unhinged. I have to stay in control, no matter what you have to say.”
“It’s not that. I umm . . .” She hesitated, then closed her eyes. “Graham, you’re my brother.”
I frowned harder. I was at a loss for words for a few seconds. “How do you know that?” I asked, gathering my composure.
“My mom has a picture of you as a kid. You don’t look much different. I always wanted to know you, ever since she told me she gave you up. I’ve always wanted siblings. It seems unreal that I’m talking to you right now.”
“How old are you?”
“I’m twenty-six.”
I nodded repeatedly. “So, I supposed she had gotten herself together by the time you came along.”
I turned to walk away but suddenly turned back. “I’m not sure what you want me to say. I can’t say I’m upset, but I can’t say I’m happy either. I never really had a desire to connect with my biological family. I have a family.”
“I understand,” she said softly as Arlie rubbed her back.
I walked away and went to the bathroom to think. Why would I want to involve people in my life that pushed me out of theirs? Clearly, Kimaji had nothing to do with that. However, I knew if I gave her access to me, her mother would want accesstoo. I was pretty sure she knew Kimaji had run into me. I didn’t want to know her.Why should I want to?
In all my years on this earth, I’d known I was adopted. Not once did I want to know who my biological parents were. Now, Kimaji had my mind racing, wondering why she had a picture of me as a kid and why my mama was in contact with that woman. I was sure there were details about my adoption that I didn’t know, but now I needed the entire story. I felt like Kimaji wasn’t going to let this go. Whenever she could be in my space, I felt like she would be.
I left the bathroom and saw Noelle’s light on. Her attendant was seeing to someone else’s needs, so I went to her cabin. When I appeared in her doorway, she smiled but it immediately dwindled. “Hey, Noelle. What’chu need?”
Her head tilted slightly. “Could I get another blanket? I’m freezing.”
“Yeah. I’ll put it in the warmer for you, so I may take a little longer to come back.”
