33 Bronson

The ice in my tumbler rattles as the takeoff begins. I catch a glance at Nicole who has the same fearful face as before when we first arrived in San Francisco.

“Are you sure you’re going to be alright?” I ask placing the glass down on the small round table beside the chairs. Nicole has told not only me but Rand, Landen and Jim, who have also voiced their concerns with her this morning. We all told her our opinion; Landen even had the idea of giving her Dramamine. But like I knew she would, Nicole shut us all down with a single narrowed gaze.

“I’m fine. Now that I know what it feels like, I’m not as afraid.”

The plane jets around as we rise through the air and I look back over to see Nicole already squirming. Her eyes are shut and her breathing heavily. I unbuckle and make my way over to her chair, kneeling beside her and taking her body, pulling it into mine as far as her seatbelt will allow.

“So stubborn.” I mumble and it clears the air enough for her to giggle.