Page 2 of Strings

I quickly release his hair from my fingers and pat it back into place before flopping down into my seat. I sneak a peek at him, afraid to see how angry he might be. He’s smiling graciously as he straightens his now crooked glasses.

“I really am sorry.”

He leans over to me and whispers, “She wouldn’t move for me, either. Trust me, I get it.”

I return his smile gratefully. “For the record, you have the softest hair I’ve ever balanced on.”

“I’m glad to know that giving up my all-in-one body wash, shampoo, conditioner combo for three separate items has paid off.” He runs his fingers through his hair, probably to fix the mess I created. It re-spikes with ease.

“I wouldn’t know. I’m still a combo girl.” Facing him slightly as I buckle my seatbelt, the word suave pops into my mind when I get a good look at him. I’ve never used the word suave as an adjective for anyone or anything in my life, but it’s all I can think of to describe him. I’m more a tattoos and Harleys kind of girl, and he doesn’t strike me as my go-to alpha male. Even with the stubble lining his jaw, I can tell he’s clean cut. It’s trimmed with precision. Thank God he’s not my type because the last thing I want or need right now is a distraction.

“Is that her?” a voice shouts from my left.

Turning toward the sound, I watch a girl drop her bag in the aisle and cross her arms. I swear I see a puff of smoke shoot out her nostrils.

When her eyes shift from me to the man next to me, I turn my head to regard him. He sighs and closes his eyes.

“I asked you a question, Sebastian. Is. That. Her?”

“If I answer you, will you leave me alone?”

She pounds her foot like a child. “Don’t you think I have a right to know?”

All eyes on the plane have now turned to face us. A flight attendant hastens her way down the aisle to address the commotion.

“You have zero rights to anything about me.”

“How can you say that? You’re breaking my heart.”

He doesn’t respond and her eyes brighten. “This isn’t her, is it? It isn’t her because she doesn’t exist. There isn’t another woman! Iknewyou were lying.”

I see the hope in her eyes. I turn toward the man to my right, unaware that the next few words out of his mouth will change my life forever.

“Yes, this is her.Thisis the woman I love. Now take your seat, Bella. You’re making a scene,” he whisper-shouts through clenched teeth as she shakes her head, refusing to let his words register in her brain. I think I see a tear roll down her cheek.

My head whips back and forth between them.Who is he talking about?For a moment, I stare at Grumpy to my left, convinced he’s dating her. Does he love Grumpy? The permanent scowl on her face makes me think not. Bella stares at me, assessing me from head to toe.

Holy shit! What the fuck? He can’t mean… me? Wait! What?I lift my hand to clarify the mistake and open my mouth, hoping the words will come.

“Miss, if you’d please take your seat.”

The flight attendant speaks before I can arrange my thoughts into words. She motions toward Sneezy as Bella lifts her bag and shifts into the only remaining empty seat, staring at me the entire time she moves like a lioness sizing up her next meal. Only, she doesn’t look like she wants to devour me. It’s more as if she’s mentally skinning me alive.

I try to wrap my head around what just happened. I must have misunderstood something.

“I can explain,” he says in a whisper, leaning toward me.

I pinch my arm. When the pain comes, I rub it away.Nope. I’m not dreaming.

I glare at him insidiously. If an expression could sayI’m sorry, his would be an apology written in calligraphy. He stares into my eyes as he speaks. “My fate is in your hands.”

I slouch down into my seat. I said no more drama in my life. Why in the name of karma does it keep finding me?

You can get over a cold, but bad decisions stay with you forever.

This was supposed to be a pain-free flight. I had plans to sleep or maybe close my eyes and let Billie Eilish’s music carry me away. Why in the hell would I help anyone, let alone some random guy? No one ever helps me.

“Fate?” I question dryly. “Dude, I don’t know you from Adam. Why in the world did you think it would be okay to drag a stranger into the literal middle of your personal crap?”