Page 81 of Passenger Princess

"So, how's it going?" Harper asks. "Anything exciting happening?"

"He's teaching me to protect myself!" I say excitedly, remembering I hadn't yet filled them in on this. When we got to the hotel room yesterday, Jaime decided it was a good time to practice our releases again. However, this time, his lesson ended in amuchmore fun way than when we had our first lesson at the dance studio.

"Woooow," Jules says. Then her gaze moves to where Jaime is sitting off-screen. "Prepare for her bullshit, Jaime, because she's a pain in the ass when it comes to that kind of thing. I had to teach her the dance routines, and it was like pulling teeth."

I roll my eyes, putting a hand on my hip. "That's because you're a drill sergeant! I was tired! My feet hurt!"

"I'm just warning the man. If he's going to be teaching you self-defense, he should know how impossible it is to teach literally anything."

Jaime smiles at me before speaking. "Trust me, I know how stubborn she is." I turn to glare at him. "You did good, though, Princess," he says, his voice a bit lower.

I gasp, putting a hand to my chest. "Was that a compliment?" I say facetiously, a wide smile on my lips.

"Well, yeah. I've gotta keep you motivated, so you keep learning," he says.

I see the truth in his words, though—so we can have more nights like last night.

"I'm just lucky I have a patient instructor," I say, trying to makehim roll his eyes before I lean over with a smile and skim my blush brush on his nose. "Perfect."

"Did you just put makeup on my nose?"

I smile and wink at him as he glares. "Maybe."

He rolls his eyes at me, giving me exactly the reaction I was looking for. I love knowing I got to him, even if it's in a little way.

"God, you two are too cute," Jules says with a sigh right before an alarm goes off. "Fuck, that's my reminder to get out of the house. Gotta go, babe."

"Me too, I have a call in ten I have to get ready for."

"All right. Love you guys!" I say to my friends.

"Love you too. See ya later, Jaime. Keep my girl safe, yeah?" Jules says.

"My only job," he says with a rumble, and I smile at the screen. Jules and Harper's smiles are a reflection of mine right before the screen goes black.

I sigh, missing my friends already.

"They seem nice. A bit crazy, like you, but nice."

"They're the best,” I say with another sigh.

"I can't wait to meet them when we get home," Jaime says, his hand reaching out to rub my lower back.

I smile at him, unable to put words to what that means to me that he stays in the bathroom for the rest of the time I get ready like he wants to be near me as much as I want him to be.

THIRTY-NINE

JAIME

Initially, when I was given an itinerary for Ava's stops, I thought going to a speed dating session to promote a matchmaker was a bit of a pain in my ass, but probably meant I could stand in a corner for a few hours in peace while Ava did her thing.

I remember thinking it was a bit odd to put Miss Americana in speed dating when she isn't supposed toactually dateduring her reign, and then I realized it was part of the appeal: thepotentialto have Miss Americana.

The possibility that anyone could date her, this perfect woman.

Where I miscalculated was becoming utterly obsessed with her, and then barely a week after finally claiming her as mine, having to watch her date a dozen men right before my eyes.

It's my own personal version of hell.

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