CHAPTER 2 — FIRST CLASS, FIRST LIE
I guided them forward like any other passengers.
Professional.
Controlled.
Unshakable.
Row 2A and 2B.
First class.
Of course.
Ryan always paid for comfort.
Even when he didn’t deserve it.
Ashley whispered something to him as they sat down, her smile gone now, replaced with confusion.
“You said she was your ex,” she hissed.
Ryan forced a smile.
“She is. Technically.”
Technically.
A word men like him use when truth becomes inconvenient.
I adjusted their overhead bin.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” I asked warmly.
Ashley looked at me like she wanted to disappear.
Ryan leaned forward slightly.
“We need to talk,” he said under his breath.
I nodded once.
“We will,” I replied. “After takeoff.”
Then I moved down the aisle.
And for the first time in years—
I smiled for real.
May you like
Because he thought I was trapped with him in this moment.
But I had chosen it.
