Time escaped us. It was passing us by rapidly. Thirty minutes felt like ten. Before Royce and I were comfortable in our seats, we were exiting the vehicle. I was the first on my feet. She took my hand, accepting my assistance as she slid to the edge of the seat.
“Well don’t you look darling?” Range greeted Royce with a hug.
“Thank you.”
“The boots are giving bad bitch energy,” Roulette claimed.
“Hi,” the youngest, Rome, greeted Royce, tossing her arms around her.
“Hey, Ro.”
“We should get going. Dinner is waiting,” the oldest suggested.
“Ish. I haven’t introduced you to the men in my family.”
I remembered one of them from last night. The others I was unfamiliar with.
“Israel, Roulette’s other half. He was with us last night. Psalms, Rugger’s husband. Priest, Rather’s husband. Saint, Rome’s fiancé.”
“What’s good?”
“Congratulations.”
“Welcome to the family.”
Psalms was silent. No introduction was needed. He was no stranger and neither was I. Though we’d never crossed paths, we never intended to. It was best in our line of work.
“Alright. Enough of the introductions. Let’s head up!” Rather instructed, taking Priest by the hand.”
“Ladies first,” he reminded her.
One after the other, the women took the stairs and entered the aircraft. I wasn’t the last to enter the spacious cabin. Neither was I the first of the men. I fell in between the assembly line, eventually getting back to my bit of peace. Back to her.
Pop!
Pop!
Roulette was the first to pop the iced champagne. Rather followed.
“Champagne?” Royce asked, holding an empty glass in my direction.
“Nah, my baby.”
“Something stronger?”
I nodded.
“Yeah.”
As the word left my mouth, a chilled glass of brown liquor was passed to me. Psalms tipped his head toward me and rejoined his wife just a few feet away. Her eyes were trained on me. So were his. I didn’t take offense to their curiosity. It was expected.
I observed as the women poured one glass after the other. Every male in the cabin declined the bubbly and opted forbrown. It didn’t matter what kind of brown as long as it didn’t fizzle and pop.
Royce settled beside me, resting her back against the seat. Her legs crossed mine.
“Are you okay?”
“I’ve never been better.”
