Page 17 of Bitter Secrets

Even at this ungodly hour, Sarai’s hair was styled in ringlets. Although she couldn’t focus properly, she noted that Sarai wore red dangly earrings and some fashionable getup that sparkled. Jasmine snatched her hand back and walked around the other woman.

“I can’t function at this hour. I need sleep.”

She flopped on the couch and let out a growl when Sarai perched on a chair across the aisle from her.

“How was the wedding?”

“Later,” she hissed.

“The photos are going to make a splash in the papers. The backdrop, that dress, your family in attendance… Everything looked picture-perfect!”

“I may kill you,” she said with her eyes closed.

Sarai laughed, making her wince and huddle deeper under her hood.

“Okay, okay, we’ll talk later. Can I get you anything?”

“No.”

She plastered her front against the back of the leather couch. There was a lot of movement going on around her. Her solitary lifestyle of taking long walks around the lake, or long, introspective train rides was at an end. Roth took over, which meant saying goodbye to a routine, peace, and privacy. She heard the rumble of his voice as he neared. He gripped her hip briefly before he moved away. The engines revved. Even as her stomach fluttered during lift off, she drifted back to sleep.

* * *

Her pillow wasn’t comfortable.She shifted and prodded it. Something wasn’t right. The sound of the jet engines hummed in her ears. She opened her eyes and saw the overhead lights had been dimmed and the shades drawn. She was still stretched out on the couch, but the reason her pillow felt like a rock was because her head was on Roth’s muscular thigh. He was sitting up with his feet propped on the chair’s footrest, sound asleep. She sat up and eyed the cabin blearily. Johan and Mo were seated at the back of the jet, also asleep. Sarai was nowhere to be found.

Rising gingerly, she crept to the bathroom and splashed her face with water and swished mouthwash, which made her feel better, but she still felt grungy and groggy. When she exited the bathroom, she came face-to-face with Sarai, who looked just as alert as she had when she boarded the jet.

“You’re on something, aren’t you?” she muttered.

Sarai giggled. “Are you hungry?”

“Yes, actually.”

“What do you want?”

“An all-American breakfast.”

“Got it.”

Jasmine made her way to a seat and began to lift the shade before she realized the sun was going to blast Roth in the face and wake him.

“Coffee?”

Sarai held a cup in one hand and a pot in the other.

“Sure. Thank you.”

Sarai poured and then settled across from her.

“How long was I asleep?”

“Five hours,” Sarai said promptly. “Before I forget, I have your SIM card for your phone, so you won’t have any hiccups. I can install it for you if you like.”

She handed her phone over and watched Sarai install the SIM card and reboot her phone. She put in her passcode and, even though her cup was only half empty, refilled it with more steaming coffee. She was feeling almost human when Sarai gasped.

“What?”

Sarai turned her phone toward her, looking horrified. “You have three hundred and twenty-six unread text messages.”

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