Page 32 of Let it Breathe
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Chai
He offeredto send me a car, but I refused and opted to drive myself to the airport instead. I checked in and waited for him in the lounge near the gate. He walked past me with his phone in his hand. He had two other people trailing behind him.
I picked up my phone after a few rings.
"Where are you?" he asked as he continued scanning the area.
"What's wrong? Afraid I won't show up?" I stood up.
"I knew once you agreed, you couldn't resist. Are you here or not?"
I giggled, and he turned in my direction. He suppressed a grin as he walked over to me.
"I think it's a little too late to be playing hard to get." He took my backpack off my shoulder and slung it over his own. He reached for my hand, leaned in, and kissed me. His soft lips left a short but scoring impression on my own. "Come on."
He dragged me away from the gate and into the First Class Lounge.
His people check us in while he walked right in and over to the windows that looked out on the tarmac.
"You going to introduce me to your entourage, or are they supposed to be seen and not heard." I pointed at the two people.
"My entourage." He peered at the tall black guy with muscles on muscles at the counter. The cute girl with him stood with her arms crossed, twirling one of her tiny braids around her finger. She stared out the window at the plane. "That's my assistant, James, and my cousin Mauri."
I was taken aback.
"Your cousin? I didn't know we were at the meeting the family stage."
"Well, my friends are my family, so welcome to the family, Ms. Chai." He winked and stood up. "You want a drink?"
"No. I'm good."
I watched Donovan walk over to the bar and speak to the bartender. The woman's face lit up when she recognized Donovan, or he could just evoke that natural response in people. He came back with a beer in one hand and a glass of water in the other. He set the water on the counter.
His assistant and cousin joined us.
"They moved that guy, so you two are sitting together."
"Thanks." Donovan nodded. "James, Mauri, this is Chai. Chai, James and Mauri."
"Nice to meet you both." I smiled and held out my hand.
James gave me a sincere smile with a head nod and then eyed Mauri out of the corner of his eye.
"Yeah." Mauri gave me a once-over and then turned her attention back to the window.
"Mauri, I can put you in a car and have them drop your ass back in Oakland if you don't behave," Donovan said, his tone authoritative but playful.
"What?" She held her hands in front of her. "I said hello. Not like she's going to be around long anyway."
"Mauri," James said.
"No, it’s okay. I get it." I turned to Mauri. "Hey, if you make it on the plane, how about we get to know it each on the way back ... you know, if I make it that long."
She grunted and tried not to smile. "I'm getting a drink."
"Excuse me," Donovan said.
