I glanced at Gabriella. I knew she was about to be shady. It was very public that Arlie and I were in a relationship. She had to know that I already knew what flight “my girl” would be on. I was heading to Baltimore to surprise her for dinner. While what I said was real about not wanting to be in her business and shit, I missed her. I was supposed to have an early birthday dinner with my bio mom, but I told her I would rather wait until Kimaji could join us. She seemed to understand.
Plus, I was lonely as fuck. My parents and most of my family were in Baltimore because they all worked for Noah in some way. If they weren’t, they were working at their regular jobs and didn’t have time to be fooling around with my ass. Cooper was the closest to me, and he was working overtime this week. So, I figured I may as well carry my ass to Baltimore and celebrateArlie’s new beginning. When my mama told me what all they were planning, I knew I had to go.
Arlie thought she was just going out there for a financial literacy class and to talk to Noah about what it would be like being signed to YKMN. She had no clue that it was already a done deal. I knew that part beforehand, but not about the dinner party until my mama said she and my dad were heading out there. My dad had done the manual for the financial literacy class and sometimes, he taught the intro class.
Gabriella was still standing there, so I said, “I know.”
“So y’all really are a couple? You risked your career for her but wanted to act like that was beneath you when it came to me?”
“First of all, the only thing that got me in trouble was that I had on a Premier Wings uniform. Being with her wasn’t really against policy. They had to reprimand me because the airline’s reputation was on the line. I have never needed this job. They need me. Remember that. Now do your job beforeyouend up getting suspended. That won’t play out as well for you as it is for me.”
She huffed and walked off. I didn’t give a damn. No one was specifically assigned to me since I wasn’t in a cabin. I was basically catching a ride. It was one of the perks of the company. Since I hadn’t been fired, I could still benefit. Regardless, my parents were investors . . . big investors. My mama wanted to go after them about suspending me, but I told her to let it ride. I understood how the business game worked. I shouldn’t have gone there that day, and I surely should have waited to put my coat on. That was what gave it away.
When the pilot stepped out of the cockpit, he frowned when he saw me. I slowly shook my head. He was a brother that always looked out. He came to me and asked, “It’s against company policy to fuck?”
I laughed but didn’t offer an explanation. That nigga was crazy. He went to the mic and addressed the passengers, then slapped my hand and went back to the pit. Once they’d given the safety instructions and we were in the air, I connected to the Wi-Fi. Kimaji had sent me an audiobook to listen to a while ago, and I hadn’t started it yet. She’d sentStrummedby Iesha Bree. She said the main male character in it reminded her of me, except he was a singer.
Before it could get started good, Gariella was in my fucking face again. I rolled my eyes and sighed deeply. I took out my earbuds and stared up at her. She was gon’ fuck around and find out. I was only nice on this plane because it was my job. I wasn’t working today and wouldn’t be for another week. “What, man?”
“I was just asking if you wanted something to drink.”
“Naw.”
“A snack?”
“No.”
She rolled her eyes and moved on to the next passenger. I pushed my earbuds back in my ear, then relaxed to listen to the book.
I knocked on my parents’ suite, so I could get dressed for dinner. When my mama opened the door, she smiled. “Hey, baby!”
I smiled and walked in. Once she let the door close, she hugged me. “Hey, Ma. You good?”
“Yeah. How about you?”
“I’m cool. I met my bio mom yesterday.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Really? How did it go?”
“It went good. She said she know you. Y’all went to school together.”
I watched her closely. Despite her being a criminal defense attorney, she wasn’t a good liar, at least not when it came to her lying to me. I could always tell. She would fidget quite a bit. My mamaneverfidgeted. She was always confident in what she did and said and slightly aggressive, even when she was wrong as fuck.
She looked away, and said, “Yeah, we did. I wouldn’t say we were friends though.”
I tilted my head as I stared at her. She wouldn’t look at me. “Mama. Why you avoiding my eyes?”
She turned to me and smiled. I could see the nervousness in her eyes. “I’m not avoiding your eyes, Graham.”
“Yes, you are. What’s wrong?”
“What else did she say?”
Although I thought I wouldn’t bring it up to her, I had to now. Seeing the torment in her eyes wouldn’t allow me to lie to her. “She just said she was connected to your abuse as a kid and that was why you probably didn’t mention that you knew her. You don’t have to talk about it, Mama. I know it’s traumatic for you. She didn’t say how she was connected or anything like that. She said she thought you had told me that y’all knew each other. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have mentioned it.”
She lowered her head for a moment, then went to the couch and sat. I followed her to it and sat next to her. “Where is Dad?”
“He and Shawn went to meet Kai and RJ. Hopefully, they aren’t in no bullshit. He should be on his way back in a little while.”
