Page 82 of Off Script

It would be just like that? She’d get “true fame” and then he’d bounce? Cheers! Looking back on the deal they made, Jada realized the terms on her side had changed. Like he was not supposed to leave her ever. Ugh, what would her Black Women Hall of Fame team have to say about this?

“Are you ready for the trip?” Tristan broke through her What would Lena Horne do? conundrum.

“Trip?” Jada forced herself to refocus.

“You know, the premiere forRival Warriors. You’re flying with me to New York, in, like, two days.”

“Right, of course. I’ve already started packing my bags,” Jada said, suspecting all over again that maybe all he cared about was the bargain. About contracts and appearances. Fake kisses and fraudulent feelings. It was so hard to equate these callous remarks with the same man who’d broken down to her about his mom, who’d shown her such tenderness in his weakest moments.

Jada looked down, placing her napkin in her lap to fight back what she was feeling. She could call him out for dismissing what they had. Then again, aside from those moments of deep pillow talk, whatdidthey really have? Great sex, lies, and ambition. She knew that, and she was tired of fighting. It was better to give in this time, to let this one go.

Besides, why argue with the truth?

26

Sitting on the runway, Tristan gave Jada an appraising look.

“I know your track record with Ferris wheels but what about planes? You going to be okay for the next few hours?” he asked her.

“I fly often enough for different jobs, and I’m fine. The only thing that throws me off is bad turbulence,” Jada replied. She avoided eye contact with him, glancing out the window.

Frowning, Tristan studied his companion. He’d been doing that a lot lately. Just looking at her. Paying attention to every expression, each movement. So quickly she’d entranced him. It was like once he finally saw her, all of her, he couldn’t look away. And it wasn’t just because of her beauty. It was about seeing her smile when something made her happy, the joy he got from making her laugh.

None of that was evident today.

Ever since Tristan had picked her up so they could go to the airport, Jada had been suspiciously quiet. Sullen even. It wasn’t like the old days back when they’d constantly been at each other’s throats. This wasn’t animosity she was throwing at him. It was something more brooding. Something worse.

But as he racked his brain, he couldn’t think of what he’d done to upset her. After confiding in her the night his mom waltzed back into his life, he’d felt closer to Jada than he ever had to anyone else. Today, he couldn’t get a sense of her at all.

Things remained relatively uneventful for a while, aside from Jada tensing up at takeoff. She squeezed his hand but had eventually gone back to looking at the bright sky outside.

He shook his packet of peanuts at her, drawing her attention back to him.

“You think for first-class they’d spring for name brand, Planters. Want some?”

“No, thank you,” Jada said politely, then turned back to the window.

“We can order whatever you want. We’re big-timers after all. You want to see if I can get you some filet mignon instead?”

“What time is the premiere tomorrow?” Jada asked.

“Around seven. You in a hurry to walk the red carpet with me?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t want to miss any opportunity to reach superstar status,” she said nonchalantly.

Oh. It finally hit him. The other night at dinner. The stupid comments he made. To him, it hadn’t meant anything, but he’d rattled her.

He bit the inside of his cheek. He couldn’t find the words to explain to her that it had all been him being a thoughtless jackass. Of course he didn’t want to end things with her—not after everything they’d been through together. Jada had become so much more to him than the attractive girl he’d taken his anger out on in that dressing room. Jada was more than his co-star now, more than his cohort in their scheme. She was . . .

The plane suddenly shook with unforeseen force. Like many of the other passengers, Tristan and Jada both jolted upright in their seats.

“Sorry, folks. It looks like we’re about to run into a bit of turbulence. Please stay seated.”

“Jeez, don’t they usually give you the warningbeforethe aircraft pulls the avalanche act,” Tristan said to Jada, but as he glanced over, he saw her petrified face. Her eyes were squeezed shut, just like on their Ferris wheel ride.

“You’re fine, Jada. I’m right here with you,” Tristan said, holding her hand. He held on more tightly at her timid grip. “You can hold on to me as tight as you want.”

Wonderfully, she took him up on it. She leaned against his shoulder, huddled in his embrace, as the world quaked around them. He held her like that until the storm passed. He felt her tension ease as she fell asleep on his shoulder.

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