The plane ride is uneventful, though it's nice to be with my best friend after a long first quarter in college.

"So, I started seeing this guy, and Ella, he makes me feel amazing." She raises her eyebrows, teasingly. "In every way."

I smile, adding more champagne to her flute. Perks of flying with her dad.

"So when do I get to meet this guy?" I tease. "Did you meet him on campus?"

"Well, not exactly."

"What do you mean, not exactly? I thought you were in classes pretty much twenty-four seven these days." I know Kari's school schedule is much more packed than mine. I am taking the equivalent of underwater basket weaving, meanwhile she's in aeronautics and quantum physics.

"His name is Javier." Kari bites her bottom lip, blushing. "And I met him a few weeks ago when I was getting my oil changed."

"He's a mechanic?"

"No, he was there getting his oil changed also. We met in the lobby. We were both drinking crappy coffee and waiting for our cars to be ready."

"And let me guess, he ended up changing your oil?" I snicker, knowing I'm being immature but also unable to resist the opportunity.

"Yes that is exactly what happened. He took me to dinner, a nice dinner, downtown. Not at all like the losers at college who think hooking up in their dorm room is a turn on."

"Okay, so you didn't meet in class and he's not a frat boy loser. What's his story?

"Well, he's a little older."

I almost spit out my champagne. "How much older, exactly?"

"A lot older."

At this point my mind is working overtime. Maybe Kari won't be upset that her dad and I hooked up. Maybe Brett and I can have our happily ever after. Not that he's offered me one, but if he did... Maybe I could take it.

"Okay," Kari sighs, flopping back into her chair dramatically. "He's twelve years older than me. He's thirty."

I release the air I didn't know I'd been holding. "That's not so old."

"Are you kidding me? You don't think me dating a guy who is thirty, divorced, with two children, isn't too old for me?" She scowls at me as if she's sure I'm not gonna like the turn Javier has taken.

"I honestly don't think it's a big deal." I shrug. "If you're supposed to be with him, age doesn't really matter, does it? Could be worse. He could be a total asshole. He's not an asshole, is he?"

"No," Kari says, swatting my shoulder. "He isn't an asshole. He's really good to me. I mean, in the two weeks we’ve known each other."

At that, the two of us are lost in a fit of giggles.

Then my eyes gaze toward the front of the plane, where Brett is sitting in the cockpit.

I can't help but think about his cock.

How that pilot cocked me hard.

"This is why I love you, Ella," Kari says, sighing into her champagne. "You always surprise me. In the least expected ways. Now, all we need to do is get you someone that makes you happy. Someone who is not an asshole."

I want to add that I found someone that I've known for a very long time. Someone who always treats me right. Someone who always turns me on. Someone who has a child I already get along with, and has been divorced for over a decade. I want to say thank God I know who I want to be with.

I want to say it's your father.

Instead, I pour us each another glass of champagne and try my best to suppress the growing desire between my legs.

"I haven't been honest with you," I tell her, knowing Brett can't hear with his headphones on.

"No?" Kari asks. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I met someone too."

"What?" She sets down her champagne. "And you are just now telling me? What is wrong with you woman, I've been waiting for you to admit a crush to me the entire length of our friendship."

"Well, I was nervous too. He is older also, and he has a daughter."

"So what. Be happy. Carpe diem, and all that jazz."

I know she wouldn't feel the same way if she knew the daughter he had was her.

Still, I press forward. Knowing it would be dishonest to hold back from my best friend.

"We had sex."

"What the actual fuck!?" Kari jumps up, clapping her hands and squealing. Brett turns his head ever so slightly to see what the commotion is.

Kari waves him off and my heart steadies, knowing there is no way I could navigate this conversation with them both.

"Just once. I don't know if it will happen again."

"Why not?" she asks.

"It's complicated. He's older than Javier."

"How much older?"

"Much older. But I don't really want to say anymore, it is all so new."

Her eyes widen. "You little minx."

I shrug, embarrassed, wondering if telling her was the right thing. But then she takes my hands, squeezing them. "If he makes you happy, it is worth whatever complications come with it. I'm certain."

"Thanks, Kari," I say knowing she hasn't exactly given me her blessing, but it is as close as I'm going to get.

Now I just need to figure out how I can finish what I was just starting, with Brett’s cock in my mouth.