Page 32 of Jett

“That man can't keep the nannies around for longer than a year, but Cari's been there for a few years now. This might be your chance to get him out of your system,” Eliana says to me, “because, boy, do you need to get this dinosaur out of your system.”

“He’s not a dinosaur—he’s only in his thirties!” I protest.

My aunt and Eliana exchange looks. “Told you,” Eliana says, as my aunt refills our glasses.

“When are you leaving?” Aunt Scarlett asks.

“On Tuesday.”

Eliana bangs her wine glass down. “Tuesday! You don’t have long to get ready.”

I need to buy some clothes this weekend, because I don’t have anything suitable to wear in Bermuda. I’m not sure what Brooke and I will do, but I’m assuming it will involve going to the beach. I’ll need a new swimsuit and something suitable to wear if we're invited out in the evenings.

“Look, my sweet girl,” Aunt Scarlett says. “You've resigned. You're an adult. He's an adult. If you want to have fun, go for it.”

I shake my head, as if this is the most ridiculous thing my aunt has ever said. Even if I fantasize about these things, reality is something else.

“I was going to go shopping for a few things,” I murmur.

Aunt Scarlett claps her hands together. “We’re going shopping,together. I’ll be back in a few days, and then, girls, we’re going to make a weekend of it.”

“I don’t needthatmany clothes,” I say.

“Don’t you worry about that,” Aunt Scarlett says, giving herself another helping of the chicken and dumplings.

Chapter 13

CARI

I’ve never flown first class before, and it feels like I’ve stepped into a different universe.

Not only is Jett’s bodyguard traveling with us, but everything is sleek, luxurious, and intimidating. Even Brooke seems to sense I’m out of my depth. She looked at me earlier, wide-eyed, when I asked her if they always handed out noise-canceling headphones to everyone. They look like they cost more than my grocery bill. And when she told me the seats turned into actual beds, my mouth fell open.

“Is this your first time on a plane?” she asked, her innocent voice cutting through me.

“No,” I replied, though the truth is I haven’t flown much. Just once, when I was ten. Mom and I flew to Hawaii to visit Aunt Scarlett who was living there at the time. I was so excited about the whole trip—the plane ride, the time with my aunt, the beaches, everything. It was also the time I nearly drowned. And when we came back, I remember being just as thrilled to get back on that plane, but we had a lot of turbulence. I got scared. People screamed when the pilot told us to fasten our seatbelts. I still remember the fear in my mom’s eyes.

That was the last time I flew anywhere.

Now, here I am, completely out of place. From the moment we boarded, the flight attendants have pampered us, offering things I didn’t even know you could get on a flight. I feel like I don’t belong in this world—like I’ve stumbled into a life that isn’t mine.

We fasten our seatbelts and prepare for takeoff. As the plane glides along the tarmac, I start to have palpitations. Beads of sweat break out along my hairline. My insides hollow out. As the plane speeds up, Brooke looks out of the window, marveling when the plane leaves the ground and ascends into the sky. I close my eyes and grip the armrest, as fear engulfs me. I relive that last flight—the screams are loud in my head, and I see my mom’s scared eyes again. My eyes squeeze shut, lost in my own private hell as I try to breathe through it and find a place of calm.

But then I feel something warm on my hand and I hear Jett’s voice. I must be dreaming again.

“Did you remember to bring the Steele reports with you?” he asks. I slowly peel my eyes open, and am shocked to see my boss. He’s crouching on the floor, staring up at me, his eyes filled with concern. His fingers are softly placed over my death-grip on the armrest. “Wh-what?” I manage to say, wondering what he’s doing here. I’m shocked to hear him talking about work.

“Sir, we’re still taking off. Please return to your—” A flight attendant hovers by us.

Jett barely glances at her. “I’m in the middle of something. Please leave.” Her mouth falls open, but she returns to her jumpseat. It seems everyone does as he commands.

My breathing is fast and shallow. “Did you … ask me for a …report?” Or did I imagine that?

His blue eyes lock onto mine. “The Steele reports. I need them tomorrow. Did you bring them?”

My mind rushes to the list he gave me, and I’m certain I packed everything on it. I nod. “I’m … I’m sure I did.” But now he has me second guessing myself and I try to remember what I packed.

“Daddy, is Cari scared?” Brooke asks.

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