Page 125 of Play the Part

My luck.

Luck.

The word still feels so foreign on my tongue. If Huxley, freshly out of prison, could hear me now. He’d laugh in my face. But I refuse to feel embarrassed by a younger, more broken version of myself. I’ve earned this luck. I deserve this life.

“That’s totally normal.” She pats my knee. “Deep breaths, remember.”

I nod and breathe deeply from my nose while Connie leans back into her seat.

“Who knows, maybe you’ll love to fly — and besides,” she says, smirking playfully. “Nothing a few glasses of champagne can’t fix.”

I snort. “Do they have beer at least?”

Connie laughs and nods. “Yeah, they have beer.”

A few minutes later, we’re ready for takeoff. Connie keeps her arm outstretched, holding my hand while the plane rumbles loudly under us. I swallow hard, my heart beating even harder, but it’s mostly from excitement.

I can’t believe this is happening.

I can’t believe I’m heading to Brazil with my dream girl.

The love of my fucking life.

Our seats are in the middle aisle, and from over Connie’s shoulder, I look out the window. I don’t feel it when the wheels lift from the tarmac, but my eyes widen when the scenery starts to shrink.

Holy shit.

I’m flying.

I don’t hide my reaction when I look back at Connie. I’m grinning like a fool. And she is, too. Something about this moment feels like an important turning point. Like I’ve finally left my old life behind. I still don’t know if I believe in fate like Connie does.

But right now, I believe in myself.

And that’s a powerful fucking thing.

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