Free Map to the Stars by Jen Malone Page A

row behind us. The drop must have woken everyone. Graham threw his hands up in apology, but didn’t turn around. Instead, he picked up his phone again and bent his head to type.
    I’ve flown around the world @ least 4Xs by now. Nothing 2 it. I promise. Take my water & just try for tiny sips in b/w deep breaths. We’ll be on ground soon. OK?
    I read his text, but didn’t answer. My mouth was too dry, so I settled for nodding. Graham gave me a sympathetic look and passed me his water bottle. I was momentarily distracted by wondering how much it would command on eBay, but then the plane lurched againand I grabbed Graham’s arm without thinking.
    Wordlessly, he extracted my hand from his arm, where my nails were likely leaving marks, and held it gently in his own, his thumb tracing tiny soothing circles in my palm. Okay, so I might be about to die, but I was going to do so holding hands with Graham Cabot. I knew Wynn would consider that a fair trade.
    A loud noise from the belly of the plane stiffened my spine with fear.
    â€œIt’s okay. It’s just the landing gear coming down,” Graham whispered. “Hey, look at me. It’s okay, I promise.”
    I swiveled my head to meet his eyes in the dark cabin. Suddenly, the noise of the engines and the motion of the plane seemed very far away and my terror started to recede as other emotions crowded in. I didn’t break eye contact and neither did Graham. For one endless moment, we stared straight into each other’s eyes and it definitely didn’t feel like I was small-town Annie looking at big-time Graham.
    Several heartbeats passed where neither of us moved.
    Then, without taking his eyes from mine, Graham adjusted in his seat so that his head tipped slightly closer. His gaze moved away from mine for just the tiniest of seconds to flicker down to my lips and then back. I exhaled lightly and moved infinitesimally nearer. His breath was soft on my cheek.
    His eyes moved back down to my lips and stayed there for a long, lazy moment. My stomach started jumping like someone had opened a can of something fizzy in it and it had nothing to do with the plane this time. Graham’s forehead was mere inches from mine and if I movedmy face even a fraction of an inch closer we’d be—
    â€œLadies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. . . .”
    Graham gave a tiny sigh of frustration when the cabin lights assaulted us. He jerked his head and hands away just as Melba appeared over the top of his seat and the captain welcomed us to London. Melba complained about the evils of Heathrow Airport while Graham mimed agreement, but when I caught his eye he met mine with an expression of chagrin. And I think, just maybe, disappointment at the interruption.

Chapter Seven
    After the customs officers filed off the plane (nothing like the star treatment), we waited to disembark onto the tarmac.
    â€œI think you have a little bit of . . . what is that? Cucumber?” Graham smirked as he reached up to peel the fleck of green from my mom’s eyebrow, but she swatted his hand away.
    â€œListen, mister, someday you’ll need your beauty rituals too. Don’t mock.”
    Graham pretended to be offended. “I would never do such a thing!” He turned to include me when he said, “Do you want to ride in my limo to the hotel? I think there should be plenty of space.”
    I caught his eye and ducked my head, nodding once. Whatever had almost happened in the air was still crackling between us and I wasn’t sure I wanted Mom to pick up on it. Especially not until I figured out what “it” was.
    The flight attendant moved aside, leaving the pathway to the door clear, and Graham offered me a hand, most likely just to help me downthe narrow steps to the tarmac, except I couldn’t help but read meaning into it. I mean, we’d just had a total moment, right? And in a few minutes we’d be cuddled in the backseat