Chapter 5
“I wish we had more time in Miami. This body could have used some sun.”
I glanced at Gabriella’s fine ass. She was a stewardess that floated between flights.
She’d gotten on in LA to assist us on the flight to Miami.
Now she was just hitching a ride back to LA.
I wanted to test her waters so bad, and I believed she knew that shit.
It was hard for me to hide my attraction at times.
When I was in awe, I stared, bit my bottom lip, or licked them.
It was a natural reaction when I saw something I liked or desired.
“Well, as you can see, the sun needs me.”
She scanned me from head to toe, then met my gaze. “Mm-hmm. Lucky ass.”
I licked my lips as she squeezed by me, sliding her ass against my crotch.
I almost smacked her on it. She was gon’ make me give her some salsa she ain’t never had.
She turned back to look at me after she passed and winked.
I slowly shook my head and begged my dick to stay at ease.
Closing my eyes, I concentrated on my job and how much I loved it.
I continued getting shit ready for different cabins, then came across SOLA’s . . . Arlie’s.
I swallowed hard and decided I would text her friend, Kimaji.
What she had to say about how she knew me had been bothering me since I left Arlie’s room.
She wouldn’t have made a big deal about it had she only known me from being around somebody I used to fuck with.
I was just hoping she wasn’t related to somebody my mama had put behind bars or that my dad had killed.
He’d killed an FBI agent to protect my mama and killed a cop to protect my aunt.
Those were the ones I knew about. However, that was years ago, but people didn’t give a fuck how much time had passed when it came to shit like that.
Someone’s life had been taken, and sometimes, they would spend their entire lives trying to avenge that shit, regardless of how wrong the person that got killed was.
The FBI agent had raped my mama and was gonna kill her because she had uncovered some evil shit he was a part of that had directly affected Uncle Shawn.
My dad walked up on it when he went looking for her.
She was taking too long to get to the apartment from the parking lot.
I hoped he blew his head off. He deserved to die for that shit.
My dad said my mama had nightmares about that shit for months.
She still tried the case he was trying to get her to drop and put a lot of powerful people behind bars.
That trial was what blew her up and caused her career to take off.
I pulled my phone from my pocket after I set Arlie’s Hot Cheetos on the small table and put her blanket in the chair.
Closing my eyes, I thought about all the ways this shit could go.
Instead of texting, I put my phone back in my pocket.
She would be back on the flight within the next hour.
If she was adamant about putting me up on game, she would say something on the flight.
Hopefully, her approach wouldn’t throw me off.
Otherwise, I would pull all the way out.
I continued getting other cabins ready and by the time I was done, it was time to board.
As I made my way to the front, I winked at Gabriella.
If I could find a way, she was gon’ get fucked when we got to Houston.
I had a day off after this flight, and I was beyond grateful.
I’d been working for ten days straight. I needed a reprieve to spend time with my people and rest. I didn’t sleep well in other places. I constantly woke up during the night.
I supposed with the bullshit I witnessed growing up, people always doing foul shit to my family, it was hard for me to sleep in places I was unfamiliar with on the first night.
Most times, I only stayed in these places one night.
Sleeping on flights was a huge no-no. I needed to be available whenever the passenger needed me.
For long flights, they allowed time for us to sleep, but I rarely did.
When the first passenger walked on, she smiled and nodded politely at everyone, and her gaze landed on mine.
She was beautiful. Most of the women, no matter the age or the race, they got on this flight well put together.
I never saw anyone getting on wearing a bonnet, not even on the long or early flights.
Every now and then, I saw them wearing one on long flights when they wanted to sleep, but they never boarded that way.
As she walked past me, I returned her smile. “You don’t remember me, do you, Graham?”
My eyebrows lifted. “No, ma’am, I don’t. I apologize. Please remind me.”
“I’m Noah’s daughter, Noelle.”
“Oh! What’s up? It’s good to see you.”
She gave me a one-armed hug. We weren’t around each other a lot, since I was older than her, but she used to come around with her dad at times. I was glad my thoughts didn’t go to the gutter when I looked at her. She was definitely off-limits.
“It’s good to see you too,” she said as she walked to her cabin.
She wasn’t on my list of passengers. I would have surely recognized her name, Noelle Charles.
She was only in her mid-twenties. She was also an amazing singer, just like her father.
She already had two platinum albums. It was crazy that I didn’t recognize her.
I supposed it was because she was all made up.
I usually saw her barefaced and comfortable.
When I turned my attention back to those boarding, my eyes met Arlie’s. She gave me a slight smile as I welcomed her and her friend aboard.
“How was the show?” I asked after my welcome spiel.
“It was good. Thanks.”
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 access too.
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.”
“Ooooo. Thank you so much.”
I chuckled and walked away, feeling like I was on autopilot.
My mind was on everything but what I was doing.
I was so glad I had the next couple of days off.
I would need them. My mama and I needed to talk ASAP.
I had a feeling my dad didn’t know she was in contact with that woman.
Back then, she was always doing shit behind his back.
Since that wasn’t important, he probably still didn’t know about it.
When I got back to Noelle, I spread the blanket over her and watched her shiver dramatically. I chuckled and slowly shook my head. Before I could leave, she called my name. I turned back to her, and she said, “God is in control. Always remember that.”
I frowned slightly and tilted my head, trying to figure out why she said that. Just as I was about to ask why, she continued.
“I can see that something heavy is on your mind. God gave me a gift, and I try to use it to glorify Him as often as He allows me to. Your demeanor has changed from when I first saw you. Your pain is etched on your face from your scrunched eyebrows to your downturned lips. Your shoulders look tense and rigid and your steps look unsure.”
I swallowed hard. “Thank you, Noelle. You indeed have a gift. Send one up for me.”
“Absolutely. Have faith that He will perfect that which concerns you.”
I nodded and gave her a tight smile, then made my way to the front to see what another passenger needed.
As I walked by SOLA’s cabin, I glanced at them and could see she was still holding Kimaji, gently caressing her back.
For some reason, my heart felt heavy. I was never a nigga that gave a fuck about people’s feelings, especially people I didn’t really know.
However, here I was, feeling like I should go back in there and hug her.
I fought against that shit though. I needed to talk to my parents first. My mom could see hidden agendas and logic, and my dad could see the heart.
They both knew what it meant to connect to family they had no knowledge of as adults.
My dad had found out about two sisters and two brothers as a grown man, and my mama had found out about Aunt Serita and Aunt Sonya as a grown woman.
I needed to know how their initial introductions went.
I knew my mama and Aunt Sonya used to bump heads, but I didn’t know about my dad’s side of the family.
After assisting one of my passengers, I sat for a minute.
We had an hour left on our flight, and I couldn’t wait to land.
If I chose to talk to Kimaji, I knew how to find her.
As far as Arlie was concerned, I supposed she meant what she said about no attachments.
She was treating me like I was a stranger, but I supposed I was treating her the same way.
That was probably best, because if she looked at me a little too hard, I would probably get fired for doing exactly what I’d denied Gabriella of.
That woman was gonna be hard to get out of my system. My phone buzzed, and the number wasn’t saved in my phone. When I opened it, I realized it was from Arlie. I’d forgotten I deleted her contact info.
Please consider getting to know her. She won’t tell her mom she’s in contact with you.
I huffed and slid my phone back in my pocket. I would leave the message there so I could message her back after talking to my people. I closed my eyes for a moment, hoping that Noelle’s prayers made it to God’s ears. I needed every ounce of them.