Page 34 of Prince Material
“Orson.” His hand landed on my shoulder, warm and solid. “Let me do this. Please.”
I looked up at him then, really looked. His green eyes were serious, none of his usual playfulness present, only genuine concern and a steadiness I desperately needed right now.
“I can’t pay you back right away,” I said finally, hating how my voice shook. “Flights are expensive, and the emergency fund?—”
“Stop.” His grip on my shoulder tightened slightly. “Money isn’t an issue. What matters is getting you to your family.”
“But—”
“No buts. I’m calling my travel planner right now.” He was already pulling out his phone. “Give me your passport so I have your info.”
“I… I don’t have a passport.”
“Your driver’s license, then.”
Right. I had that. I handed him my whole wallet.
“Okay. Pack what you need. I’ll make sure you’re on the first flight home.”
I wanted to argue, to insist I could handle this myself, but the room was starting to spin and my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.Mom. Hospital. Heart attack. The words kept cycling through my head, each rotation bringing fresh waves of panic.
“Breathe,” Floris said softly, and I realized I’d been holding my breath. “We’ll get you there as soon as we can. Focus on packing, okay?”
I nodded, grateful for the direction. This, I could do. Pack. Simple steps. Logical sequence. One thing at a time.
In the background, Floris had switched to Dutch. It was such a harsh language, like he was choking.
When I had packed my bag, he finished his call. “Let’s go.”
“You got me a flight?”
He nodded. “You’re all set. I’ll drive you to the airport.”
“How… what…” I struggled to form coherent questions as Floris grabbed my bag and steered me toward the door. “From Logan? You’re driving me to Boston?”
“No. I arranged for a private charter from Worcester Regional Airport. It’s leaving as soon as you get there, so we need to hurry.” His hand was steady on my elbow, guiding me down the stairs I usually took two at a time. “The pilot is already filing the flight plan and running the pre-flight checks.”
Private charter.The words penetrated my fog of panic. “Floris, I can’t?—”
“You can and you will.” His voice was firm but gentle. “Let me do this for you. Please.”
Something in his tone made me look at him. His eyes were intense, almost pleading. “Why?”
“Because you’re my friend, and your family needs you.” He led me to his car, opening the passenger door. “And because I can help. It’s that simple.”
Nothing was ever that simple. But my phone buzzed with a text from Tia—ithadbeen a heart attack, and Mom was in surgery now, needing a bypass—and suddenly, I couldn’t argue anymore. I needed to get there.
The drive to the airport was a blur. Floris handled everything, speaking quietly to airport personnel who seemed to materialize out of nowhere to escort us through security and onto the tarmac. A sleek private jet waited there, its engines already humming.
“I’ll let your professors know what’s happening,” Floris saidas we reached the stairs to the plane. “Don’t worry about anything here, okay? Focus on your family.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice. Then, before I could think better of it, I pulled him into a fierce hug. “Thank you,” I whispered.
His arms came around me, strong and steady. “Text me when you land?”
“Yeah.” I pulled back, trying to ignore how right it had felt in his arms. “I will.”
The flight was surreal. I’d never been on a private plane before, and in any other circumstance, I might’ve been fascinated by the luxury surrounding me. But all I could think about was Mom, lying in a hospital bed while I was trapped in the air, useless.
