Page 17 of Triple Protection

"What is it?" He whispers, stepping his body into mine. He pulls me against his body and looks over my head for a threat, while the other two boys stand and look, too. I'm suddenly dizzy from the body-to-body contact, the smell of his spicy aftershave and shampoo or deodorant - whatever he wears that smells distinctly like him.

"I feel like I'm being watched." I whisper back. When I look at the other passengers, though, no one stands out or caught my attention. My gaze, however, lands on a young Black girl in a wheelchair sitting next to an older, beautiful Black woman who must be her mom. I shove off my anxiety and give her a little wave. She blushes and smiles and waves back.

Do you want a picture?I mouth while making a camera sign with my hands. Her beautiful little face brightens, and she smiles and nods.

"I'm going to take another picture." I tell Alex, stepping out of his embrace. He follows me, however, with a protective hand onmy lower back. I try to ignore the heat and tingling his contact is giving me as we approach the girl and her mom.

"You're Angela, from Angela's Angles, right?" The little girl asks.

I smile and kneel in front of her to get on the same level, vaguely aware of Alex standing behind me. "Yes, I am! What's your name?"

"Emma."

"That's a beautiful name."

Emma's mom turns to see who was talking to her daughter, mild concern written on her face. "Hi, I'm Angela. I think your daughter follows me on Instagram?" I look to Emma, who nods.

"She's Angela from Angela's Angles! She's super pretty and famous and awesome, mom!"

Emma's mom and I share a chuckle before I reach out my hand to shake the mom's hand.

"It's great to meet you. Are you guys heading to Texas too?"

Emma's bright demeanor shifts slightly. "Yes. We're going to see a doctor. I'm sick and he's going to try to make me better."

Oh.

"Emma has a rare blood disorder that her regular doctors can't seem to get a handle on. The specialist at the Children's hospital in Austin is going to take a look at her case and see if he can't help."

"I'm so sorry to hear that." I say, because I am.

"Are you going to be able to do anything fun while you're in Austin?"

"We're not sure. We booked a hotel for a week, but it all depends on whatever tests the doctor wants to run." Emma's mom answers.

"Well, here, take my number. If we can meet up and do something fun for Emma, I'd love to." I give Emma's mother, Victoria, my cell number and hope she'll call. She doesn't knowme from Adam, but hopefully Emma will show her my account and we can get together. I take a picture with Emma before an idea pops into my head.

I walk over to the counter by our gate and ask in a whisper, "I have four first-class tickets. Would it be possible to switch two of them for economy? That mother and daughter over there are having a rough time, and I'd like to be able to do something nice for them."

The woman at the counter looks over my shoulder and Emma and Victoria. "Typically, we don't allow passengers in different cabins to switch. However, it would make it easier for everyone to have the young girl closer to the door for her wheelchair access. If you're fine with downgrading, I think we can make an exception."

"Thank you so much!" I grab mine and Liam's boarding passes and hand them to Victoria. Alex and Brick are so big I couldn't ask them to cram in the tiny seats in economy. Liam is smaller, both in height and weight, and something told me he'd be happy to switch. Brick would sit in uncomfortable silence and Alex would bitch the entire time.

"What is this?"

"I've swapped seats with you so you and Emma can ride in first class. I hope you don't mind."

Victoria looks at me skeptically. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely! You should spoil yourselves every chance you get on this trip. I'm sure doctors' visits and tests will be stressful. Let me at least make the flight a little more enjoyable? And when you get to Austin, if you have a free night, I'd love to take you to dinner or the movies? Maybe have a girls' day? I'll be working in the mornings, but should have the afternoons free?"

Victoria gives me a heartwarming smile before she stands and drags me into her arms. Tears are brimming her eyes when she pulls back. "Being a single mom is hard enough, but a singlemom with a sick kid. It's just been so much. Thank you. I can't thank you enough." I pull her back in for another hug, my own eyes tearing up. I don't know how, but I am going to figure out a way to make Victoria and little Emma's life easier.

Chapter fourteen

Liam

Liam