Page 10 of Damsel in Defense
Eventually, once the plane levels out after takeoff, she speaks.“Did you see the photo?”
I nod.“Yup.”
“You know who I am now?”
“Sure do.And you know who I am, right?”
“Regrettably, yes.”I know she’s trying to get a reaction out of me, but it won’t work.I think the attitude she’s throwing my way is adorable.“And?”she finally presses.
“And you didn’t look terrible.”
She lets out a huff that’s half laughter, half aggravation.“You’re not supposed to sayIdidn’t look terrible.You’re supposed to sayyoulooked great.”
“Confidence isn’t one of my weaknesses,” I say.“Neither is honesty.”
That earns me a sideways glance.Not warm.Not cold either.Just…watching.
Flight attendants come around with trays of pre-takeoff champagne.Victoria waves the offer away with a polite smile.I do the same.
“Can I get a coffee?”she asks, then hesitates.“And an orange juice?”The flight attendant nods, then looks over at me.
“A sparkling water, please.In the biggest glass you have.”Again, she nods and continues forward to the other first-class passengers.
Victoria is staring at me.I lift an eyebrow, and this time, shedoessmile—just a tiny one, but it’s there.“You’re annoying early in the morning.”
I shrug, giving her a wide smile before focusing on the tiny screen in front of me.Our drinks come, and we sit in comfortable silence.Taking small sips of her hot coffee, Victoria closes her eyes.A hum of contentment comes from her side of the aisle.I’m not watching her anymore, but I can’t help but be aware of her.
After a while, she leans her head back against the seat.Her mouth tips slightly open as she exhales, her hands resting loosely on her lap.
She doesn’t speak again.
I notice the gentle rise and fall of her chest, slow and steady, and I know the moment she tips into sleep.Her body relaxes in that quiet way people do when they’re finally safe enough to let go.Or exhausted enough.
I’ll watch over you,I find myself promising to her.
A weird warmth builds in my chest.Protective.Fierce.Not what I expected to feel toward a woman I just met and am now being told could “ruin my reputation.”
Screw that.There’s no way this woman is the train wreck the media made her out to be.
She’s complicated, sure.But I’ve been stuck in a media-perfect relationship before, smiling for sponsorship deals and pretending I liked kombucha.It nearly killed me.
Victoria might be a storm.But she’sreal.
And right now?Real sounds like a relief.
I glance over at her again—at the way her lashes rest against her cheeks, the slight curve of her lips.She’s not the girl the tabloids make her out to be.
As the plane levels out, I randomly pick a movie from the offered entertainment.The rom-com I blindly chose turns out to be a good time waster.It’s about two coworkers who hate each other but decide to fake date for the sake of their careers.
The idea hits me, formulating in the back of my mind.Something reckless, yet strategic.
Crazy.
Something that could save both of us.
***
When the captain announces our descent into Toronto, Victoria’s still out cold.
