4.
933 Words
The cabin lights dim as the plane starts to taxi down the runway. I grip the armrests, my heart racing. This is really happening. I’m on a flight to the Maldives with a man I met less than forty-eight hours ago.
Flynn sits beside me, his expression calm and unreadable. He has a book in his lap, but he hasn’t opened it since we boarded. Instead, he’s been watching me, as if waiting for me to say something.
“You don’t seem nervous,” I say, breaking the silence.
He raises an eyebrow. “Should I be?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug, trying to sound casual. “It’s just… this is a little crazy, isn’t it?”
Flynn chuckles softly. “A little? Kiana, this is the most insane thing I’ve ever done. But that’s what makes it exciting.”
I glance at him, surprised by his honesty. “So you’re not the type to take risks?”
“Not usually,” he admits, leaning back in his seat. “I’m more of a planner. I like knowing what’s coming next.”
“Then why did you agree to this?”
He pauses, as if considering his answer. “Because you seemed like you needed someone to take a risk with you.”
His words catch me off guard, and I look away, focusing on the seatback in front of me. “That’s… kind of you.”
“It’s not kindness,” Flynn says, his tone serious. “It’s curiosity. You’re different, Kiana. I wanted to see where this goes.”
I don’t know how to respond to that, so I stay quiet. Outside, the plane speeds up, and I feel the wheels leave the ground. My stomach flips as we ascend, the city lights shrinking below us.
Flynn notices my grip on the armrests and nudges me gently with his elbow. “First time flying?”
I shake my head. “No, I’ve flown before. Just… not like this.”
“Not like this?” he echoes, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“With a stranger,” I clarify, glancing at him. “Heading to a tropical paradise on a whim.”
He smiles, and for a moment, it feels like the tension between us eases. “Well, here’s a tip: don’t think about it too much. Just enjoy the ride.”
“Easier said than done,” I mutter, but his words do make me feel a little lighter.
A few hours into the flight, the cabin grows quiet. Most of the passengers are either asleep or engrossed in their screens. Flynn and I haven’t spoken much, but the silence between us feels oddly comfortable.
“So,” I say suddenly, turning to him. “What’s your story?”
Flynn looks at me, his eyebrows raised. “My story?”
“Yeah. You know a lot about me—well, my disaster of a love life, at least. But I don’t know anything about you.”
He hesitates, his fingers drumming lightly on the armrest. “Not much to tell, really.”
“Come on,” I press. “You agreed to fly halfway across the world with me. The least you can do is share a little.”
Flynn sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Alright. What do you want to know?”
“For starters, what do you do for a living?”
“I’m a consultant,” he says vaguely.
“What kind of consultant?”
“The kind that gets paid to solve problems.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “That’s not an answer.”
He smirks. “It’s the best you’re getting for now.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine. What about family? Do you have any siblings?”
“One,” he says. “An older brother.”
“Are you close?”
Flynn’s expression darkens slightly, and he shifts in his seat. “We used to be. Not so much anymore.”
I want to ask more, but there’s something in his tone that stops me. Instead, I say, “I have a younger sister. Her name’s Tessa. She’s… well, let’s just say she’s the opposite of me. Outgoing, fearless, a bit of a wild card.”
Flynn’s lips twitch into a small smile. “She sounds fun.”
“She is,” I say, my voice softening. “But she’s also stubborn and has a knack for getting herself into trouble.”
“Sounds like you’re close, though.”
I nod. “We are. She’s always been my biggest supporter, even when I make terrible decisions.”
Flynn’s gaze lingers on me for a moment before he says, “Like this one?”
I laugh, the sound surprising both of us. “Exactly like this one.”
The conversation shifts to lighter topics—favorite movies, embarrassing childhood stories, dream destinations. Flynn has a dry sense of humor that catches me off guard, and I find myself laughing more than I have in weeks.
“Okay, your turn,” he says after I finish telling him about the time I accidentally dyed my hair green in high school. “What’s your dream destination?”
I think for a moment before answering. “Italy. The food, the history, the scenery… it just seems magical.”
Flynn nods thoughtfully. “Good choice. I went there once for work. Rome is incredible.”
“Wait, you’ve been to Italy?” I ask, intrigued.
“Briefly,” he says. “Didn’t have much time to explore, though.
- Writer
