I remembered reaching twenty-three.
The next thing I knew, somebody was announcing our descent into New York.
I opened my eyes.
For several seconds, I had no idea where I was.
Then I realized my cheek was still against Luca’s shoulder.
I sat upright so quickly I nearly knocked over his water.
“Oh my God.”
He smiled.
“Good morning.”
“How long was I asleep?”
“About an hour and forty minutes.”
“You let me sleep on you for almost two hours?”
“You seemed like you needed it.”
“Your arm must be dead.”
“I stopped feeling my left hand somewhere over Pennsylvania.”
I covered my face.
“I am so sorry.”
He laughed quietly.
It was the first time I had heard him laugh.
“You helped me. Consider us even.”
Fiona had fallen asleep too, curled against the window.
I looked at Luca.
“You really didn’t move?”
“I was afraid you’d wake up.”
Something about that nearly undid me.
Not because it was romantic.
It wasn’t.
It was simply considerate.
I had become so used to being treated like my needs were an inconvenience that ordinary kindness felt almost dangerous.
A flight attendant approached our row as we began descending.
“Mr. Sterling?”
Luca looked up.
“Your security team confirmed they’re meeting you after landing.”
I turned my head.
Mr. Sterling.
The attendant continued speaking quietly, but I was no longer listening.
Sterling.
I knew that name.
Most people did.
Sterling Capital.
Sterling Digital.
Commercial real estate. Banking technology. Hospital investments. A charitable foundation whose name appeared on buildings in three states.
I looked at him again.
“Wait.”
He closed his eyes for half a second.
“You know now.”
“You’re Luca Sterling?”
“Unfortunately, sometimes.”
I stared.
He had used the exact same words.
Then I laughed.
I could not help it.
After everything that had happened that week, discovering that the quiet man who had folded a napkin into a ridiculous bird for my daughter was Luca Sterling was somehow the least believable part.
“You could have told me.”
“You could have asked for my last name.”
“That feels like information most people volunteer before asking a stranger to fake being their wife.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“I asked you to pretend to be asleep.”
“Same level of weird.”
“Fair.”
His phone vibrated.
He looked down.
The humor disappeared from his face.
I noticed immediately.
“What is it?”
He did not answer at first.
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