The Single Dad hesitated.
There were questions that sounded casual to wealthy people and deeply personal to everyone else.
“Worth it.”
She noticed the answer.
Did not push.
Good.
He appreciated that.
The seatbelt sign illuminated.
A flight attendant announced light turbulence.
Nobody cared.
The aircraft bumped once.
Then twice.
The Female CEO’s right hand moved toward the armrest.
Her face did not change.
The Single Dad noticed because he had spent years noticing people whose faces did not match their bodies.
The plane dropped sharply.
Several passengers gasped.
The CEO’s fingers locked around the armrest.
The Single Dad closed the laptop.
Another drop.
A drink cart rattled somewhere behind them.
The CEO inhaled.
Too shallow.
He looked toward her.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
The plane shook.
She closed her eyes.
“No, you’re not.”
She opened them immediately.
“I said I’m fine.”
“I heard you.”
Another jolt.
Her knuckles whitened.
The Single Dad did not touch her.
Instead, he placed his own hand flat against the center armrest.
Palm down.
Still.
“Breathe slower.”
She stared.
“I know how to breathe.”
“Good.”
He looked toward the window.
“Then you’re halfway there.”
She almost laughed.
Another shake stopped it.
The Single Dad kept his voice low.
“No talking if you don’t want.”
The Female CEO looked at his hand.
Then at him.
He continued:
“Don’t fight the movement.”
“It feels worse when you fight it.”
She inhaled slowly.
The airplane shook again.
The CEO’s left hand drifted toward the center armrest.
Her fingers touched the edge of his hand accidentally.
She pulled away.
“Sorry.”
“You didn’t hurt me.”
She tried again.
This time she left her hand beside his.
Not holding.
Just close.
The Single Dad watched the cabin.
“Look around.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“Look at the flight attendants.”
She did.
One attendant remained seated at the rear jumpseat, calmly reading something on a tablet.
The Single Dad said:
“They’re bored.”
The CEO watched her.
“They don’t look scared.”
“Because this happens all the time.”
The aircraft dropped again.
The CEO’s breath caught.
The Single Dad turned.
“Look at me.”
She did.
“Stay here.”
Another vibration.
“Not the plane.”
“Here.”
Her eyes stayed on his.
He breathed slowly.
She matched it.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
Gradually the tension in her hand eased.
The turbulence softened.
The cabin stopped rattling.
The seatbelt light remained on, but the aircraft felt stable again.
The Female CEO did not immediately look away.
Their faces were closer than either had realized.
The Single Dad noticed small details.
Green-gray eyes.
A tiny line near the corner of her mouth.
The faint scent of something warm and expensive.
She noticed him noticing.
He looked back toward the laptop.
That was safer.