Chapter 1
“LadiesandGentlemen,welcomeon board of this aircraft…” The meaningless words floated away as Damian flicked his paper open, vaguely irritated already, that simmering anger coating his growing fear.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.He took a bottle of pills out of his bag and downed one with his whiskey, that fiery burn soothing a bit his anxiety. Fuck this flight, and every flight…He pushed the button above his head and read until a stewardess appeared, her blonde hair in a tight bun, a perfect red lipstick smile.
“Yes, sir?”
He gestured to the glass. “Bring me another one. Without ice.”
She took the empty glass and swished to the front, then came back and handed him his drink.
His eyes flashed. “I said no ice.”
She kept quiet but went back to the front, bumping into her colleague, a young man. He jumped away from the sloshing drink which spilled on the dark blue carpet.
“Fuck…” Stephanie couldn’t hold back a curse, her eyes darting back to that lone man sitting in first class.
The young man took the glass out of her hands, arching his eyebrows. “What’s up?”
“That asshole wants his drink without ice… and I forgot because of everything else we have to do… and it’s anyway soon take-off. Fucker!” She opened the bottle, but the young man took it out of her hands.
“Hey. Let me deal with it. Just get the other stuff ready. His first drink?”
She rolled her eyes with a grateful smile. “Third.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah… oh! Mighty fine asshole, that’s for sure. Thanks, Gabe.”
“It’s nothing.”
He poured the drink and brought it to that lone man. Leaning a bit as he was tall, putting on his smile. “Your drink, sir.” Meeting his eyes as he looked up, steel blue, almost with a grey shade. Black hair cut short, a business haircut, his jaw clenched. Anger. Fear. A surprised flash in those stunning eyes, too quickly gone as he took the glass out of his hands, his lips twisting into a disgusted curve.
Damian scanned his face, a bit puzzled at this young man, as he had been expecting the blonde woman. Hazel eyes and light-brown hair, almost dark blonde, cut short, but the top had been left a bit wild, even if he’d tamed it with a dash of gel. A wide smile which seemed to light up the room.Surely a fag…He pursed his lips and took the drink, averting his eyes. He sipped the drink, trying to tame the shaking of his hand, his eyes back on the paper.
Gabe straightened and left him, feeling a bit flustered, maybe a vague shame there, but he dismissed it fast, busy with preparing the take-off. He took the microphone and Stephanie got ready to demonstrate the safety instructions, half of the passengers already with their headphones plugged in, some asleep. Gabe’s smooth voice filled the plane as it started rolling on the tarmac.
Flying into the night, preparing to serve dinner. The black-haired man had been a mild nightmare, drinking almost constantly, and losing it a bit when Stephanie had suggested to him to slow down. She had left his seat in tears, and Gabe decided not to let her go to him again. Taking a deep breath, pushing the cart down the aisle.
He leant down to the man, watching as his glassy eyes turned to him.Drunk… perfect.He pushed a smile on his face. “Dinner, sir?”
“I’m not hungry.”
A tiny alarm bell in Gabe’s head, so he smiled wider. “It is a long flight, and you should eat a bit.”
“I just told you I’m not hungry.” He waved his hand at Gabe, his anger plain. “Get out of my face.”
“Of course, sir. Just ring me if you change your mind.”
The man chuckled and leant back, closing his eyes. “Sure…”
Gabe and Stephanie served the other passengers, then dimmed the lights later when they had gathered the garbage. They sat then to eat. Gabe lost a bit in his thoughts.
Stephanie nudged him. “Your break-up eating at you?”
He looked at her, bitter. “Yeah… I just wish he would have been less blunt…” Thinking of his former partner, a pilot, who had just ditched him before his flight for a younger guy…Insane… How young?At twenty-eight, Gabe felt like the world of ever having a stable partner was slipping away from him. Raphael’s new boyfriend was twenty-one, barely out of training, and Raph had made it clear that he was no longer interested in Gabe.Maybe it’s my fault too…thinking they would settle. But this one hurt, of all his break-ups, because he had loved Raph, he still did, his wide smile, his perfect body. Silver Fox and Golden Sparrow. Those were their nicknames. He swallowed.Not anymore…He took the passenger log and checked asshole’s name. Damian Bourne. Checking the birthdate with a wry smile.Almost thirty-nine. Probably a rich guy on business, flying home to his family.He looked up at the buzz of the caller…Fuck…and made his way to Damian’s seat, putting on a smile, still.
“Yes, sir?”
“I might be ready to eat…” That voice, feeble. “Or not…”
