Chapter 99

The car slowed as it approached the gates.

Tall. Black. Private.

Celeste leaned forward slightly in her seat, squinting through the tinted window.

“…where are we?” she asked, glancing between Rowan and the driver.

The gates opened smoothly without a word.

No security check.
No waiting.
Just… access.

Rowan let out a quiet laugh.
“Okay… hold on.”

The car rolled through, revealing a stretch of pristine pavement, a sleek building off to the side—and further ahead…

A jet.

Not a jet.

A jet.

Celeste blinked.
Then blinked again.

“…Naomi.”

Naomi, sitting across from them, didn’t even look up at first. She was scrolling through her phone like nothing about this was unusual.

“Mm?” she hummed.

Rowan leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, staring out the window.

“Tell me that’s not ours.”

Naomi finally glanced up, following their line of sight like she had to check.

“Oh,” she said casually. “Yeah, that’s us.”

Silence.

Celeste slowly turned her head toward her.

“…you got us a private jet?”

Naomi shrugged, like the question was dramatic.

“It’s just easier.”

Rowan let out a sharp laugh.
“Easier than what? The airport?”

Naomi tilted her head slightly, a small smile tugging at her lips.

“Commercial is a lot.”

Celeste stared at her.

“A lot?” she repeated. “Naomi, you bought a whole airport to avoid ‘a lot’?”

Naomi smirked.

“I didn’t buy it.”

A pause.

Then—

“I already owned it.”

Rowan leaned back in her seat, shaking her head.

“Of course you did.”

Celeste let out a soft, disbelieving laugh, covering her mouth for a second as she looked back out at the jet.

“…this is insane.”

Naomi’s eyes flicked to her.

“Is it?”

Celeste turned back to her, giving her a look.

“Yes.”

Naomi just smiled—subtle, quiet, like she enjoyed the reaction more than she’d ever admit.

The car came to a smooth stop right on the tarmac.

No crowds.
No noise.
Just open space and the low hum of the jet waiting for them.

The driver stepped out, opening the door.

Rowan got out first, stretching slightly as she took in the full view.

“Okay,” she said, turning in a slow circle. “I’m impressed.”

Naomi stepped out next, adjusting her jacket like she’d done this a thousand times.

“It’s just transportation,” she said again.

Celeste stepped out last—and froze for a second.

The jet looked even bigger up close.

Sleek. Glossy. Quietly intimidating.

“…you’re not real,” she muttered under her breath.

Naomi heard it.

Her smile deepened just a little.

Rowan walked up beside Celeste, nudging her shoulder lightly.

“You good?”

Celeste shook her head, still staring.

“No. But I’m getting on the plane.”

Rowan laughed.

“Same.”

As they walked toward the jet, Naomi stayed just slightly ahead of them—calm, unbothered, like none of this was a big deal.

Celeste leaned closer to Rowan, lowering her voice.

“She really just said she already owned the airport.”

Rowan smirked.

“I think we need to start asking better questions.”

Celeste huffed out a laugh.

“Like what?”

Rowan glanced at Naomi, then back at her.

“…what doesn’t she own?”

Celeste shook her head, smiling despite herself.

At the bottom of the steps, Naomi turned back toward them.

“You coming?” she asked, casual as ever.

Rowan gestured toward the jet.

“Oh, we’re coming.”

Celeste crossed her arms, giving Naomi a look as she walked up.

“You’re actually ridiculous.”

Naomi raised an eyebrow.

“And you’re still getting on.”

Celeste tried to hold the attitude—but a smile broke through anyway.

“…yeah. I am.”

Naomi stepped closer for just a second as they reached the stairs, her voice dropping slightly, playful.

“Then don’t complain.”

Rowan moved ahead, heading up first.

Celeste followed—

But as she stepped up beside Naomi, she hesitated for just a second.

Glanced at her.

“…next time, warn me before you casually flex like this.”

Naomi leaned in just slightly, her tone soft, teasing.

“Where’s the fun in that?”

Celeste let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head as she turned and continued up the steps.

Soft lighting lined the cabin, warm and low. Cream leather seats. A small lounge area. A fully stocked bar tucked to the side like it was nothing.

Celeste slowed to a stop just inside the doorway.

“…yeah, no,” she muttered under her breath. “This is crazy.”

Rowan walked past her with a quiet chuckle, already making herself comfortable like she was settling into the experience.

Naomi moved like she belonged there—because she did.

“Sit wherever you want,” she said, slipping off her jacket and setting it aside.

Celeste hesitated for half a second… then followed them in.

A few minutes later, they were seated.

And somehow—

Celeste ended up right in the middle.

She glanced to her left.

Rowan.

Then to her right.

Naomi.

“…this feels intentional,” she said, narrowing her eyes slightly.

Rowan smirked.

“Does it?”

Naomi reached for the champagne bottle, pouring with effortless ease.

“You sat down,” she replied calmly.

Celeste opened her mouth—

Then closed it.

“…I walked into that,” she admitted.

Rowan laughed softly.

“Yeah. You did.”

The jet began to move, smooth and steady.

There was no chaos. No noise. Just a quiet glide into motion.

Celeste leaned back slowly, her body relaxing into the seat despite herself.

“…okay,” she said, exhaling. “This is nice.”

Naomi handed her a glass.

“Told you.”

Their fingers brushed for just a second.

Celeste felt it immediately.

Looked down at the glass.

Took a sip like she needed something to do.

Rowan shifted slightly beside her, turning just enough so her body angled toward Celeste. “You’re real quiet again,” she teased.

Celeste rolled her eyes lightly. “I’m taking it in.”

Naomi leaned back on the other side, watching her. “Or you’re overwhelmed.”

Celeste glanced at her quickly. “I’m not—”

She stopped.

Because Naomi was looking at her like she already knew the answer.

Rowan caught it too.

That hesitation.

That little crack.

And just like that—the energy shifted.

Rowan moved first—but not with her hand.

She leaned in.

Slow. Intentional.

Giving Celeste just enough time to react—but not enough to overthink.

Her lips brushed Celeste’s cheek first… then just barely the corner of her mouth.

Soft.

Teasing.

Celeste froze.

“…Rowan—”

But before she could even finish—

Naomi leaned in from the other side.

Not rushing.

Not competing.

Just… joining.

Her lips met Celeste’s other cheek, lingering just a second longer, her breath warm against her skin.

And suddenly—

Celeste didn’t know where to look.

Or breathe.

Or exist.

“…you two—” she laughed nervously, her voice soft, slightly breathless. “What are you doing?”

Rowan pulled back just enough to look at her, a small smile playing on her lips.

“Flirting.”

Naomi reached for the champagne bottle, calm as ever, refilling Celeste’s glass like nothing just happened.

“Very lightly,” she added.

Celeste blinked.

Looked at Rowan.

Then Naomi.

Then down at her glass.

Then back at them.

“…this is a lot,” she admitted, her voice quieter now, a little shy, a little overwhelmed.

Naomi didn’t look up right away as she poured.

“Explain that further,” she said smoothly.

Celeste let out a small laugh, shaking her head as she looked between them again.

“Both of you,” she said, gesturing lightly. “I mean—look at you. Look at you two. This is crazy.”

Rowan raised an eyebrow, amused.

“Crazy good or crazy bad?”

Celeste huffed a quiet laugh, her cheeks warm.

“Crazy a lot,” she corrected. “And then look where we are—”

She gestured around the jet.

“—that’s even crazier.”

Naomi finally handed her the glass, their fingers brushing again.

“And yet,” Naomi said softly, eyes on hers, “you’re still here.”

Celeste swallowed slightly.

“…I don’t even know where to put my hands,” she admitted, laughing under her breath.

Rowan leaned back a little, giving her space—but her gaze stayed locked on her.

“Anywhere you want.”

Naomi tilted her head, studying her reaction.

“Or nowhere at all.”

Celeste looked between them again.

Still close.

Still watching her.

Still… on her.

Her heart was racing.

Her thoughts were everywhere.

“…you two are doing this on purpose,” she said, narrowing her eyes slightly—but there was no real fight behind it.

Rowan smiled.

“A little.”

Naomi didn’t deny it.

Not even a little.

Celeste shook her head, letting out a breath as she leaned back into the seat.

“…this is insane,” she muttered again—but this time there was a smile in it.

Naomi gently took the glass from Celeste’s hand, setting it down on the table in front of them like she didn’t want anything distracting her right now.

Celeste barely had time to react before Naomi’s fingers found hers.

Warm. Familiar.

She lifted one of Celeste’s hands and guided it over, placing it on Rowan’s thigh.

Not rushed.

Not forceful.

Just… intentional.

Rowan’s lips curved instantly, her eyes soft as she looked at Celeste, her hand coming up to rest lightly over Celeste’s.

“Hey,” Rowan murmured, like she was easing her back into something she already belonged in.

Then Naomi took Celeste’s other hand and placed it on her own thigh, holding it there for just a second longer before letting go.

Now Celeste sat there, caught between them again—

but this time it felt different.

Less overwhelming.

More… familiar.

Still a lot.

But not in a scary way.

“…you two missed me or something?” Celeste asked, a shy smile breaking through as she glanced between them.

Rowan let out a quiet laugh.

“A little?”

Naomi leaned back slightly, but her eyes stayed on Celeste.

“More than a little.”

Celeste’s cheeks warmed.

“…okay,” she muttered, trying to play it off, but her fingers didn’t move from where they were.

The jet hummed softly around them, steady, calm—like the world outside didn’t exist.

Rowan tilted her head slightly, looking past Celeste toward Naomi.

“Baby.”

Naomi’s eyes flicked to her. “Yeah?”

Rowan shifted just a little, still keeping her hand over Celeste’s.

“Can I ask you something?”

Naomi’s expression softened, curious.

“Yeah. Anything.”

Rowan studied her for a second… then asked quietly,

“Why didn’t you ever make a move on Celeste before all of this?”

The question settled in the air.

Celeste’s breath caught slightly.

Her eyes moved to Naomi.

Naomi didn’t answer right away.

She looked at Celeste first.

Really looked at her.

Then leaned back into her seat, exhaling softly like she was deciding how honest to be.

“…because I knew,” she said finally.

Rowan frowned slightly. “Knew what?”

Naomi’s gaze flicked between them.

“That if I did,” she said, voice calm but real, “it wouldn’t be casual.”

Celeste stilled.

Rowan’s expression shifted.

Naomi continued, quieter now.

“I didn’t want to blur lines unless I was ready for what came with it.”

Rowan tilted her head.

“And now?”

Naomi’s lips curved slightly.

“Now I don’t care about the lines.”

Celeste let out a soft breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

Rowan smiled a little at that, then looked back at Celeste.

“So basically,” Rowan said, teasing lightly, “you were always the problem.”

Celeste blinked.

“Me??”

Naomi laughed quietly.

“Not a problem,” she corrected. “More like… a decision.”

Celeste shook her head, smiling shyly, but her hands still hadn’t moved.

“…you both are crazy,” she muttered.

Rowan squeezed her hand gently.

“Yeah,” she said. “But you’re still right here with us.”

Naomi leaned in just slightly, her voice softer now.

“And you didn’t pull away.”

Celeste glanced between them again.

Still close.

Still touching them.

Still being looked at like that.

Her heart was racing—but not from panic anymore.

From something else.

Something warmer.

“…I missed you too,” she admitted quietly.

Rowan’s smile softened instantly.

Naomi’s eyes did too.

Rowan’s fingers traced lightly over Celeste’s hand where it rested on her thigh, her expression soft for a moment before something more playful crept in.

She tilted her head again, glancing over at Naomi.

“Baby…”

Naomi looked at her immediately, calm, attentive, a small smile already forming. “Yes, my love?”

Rowan stretched her legs out a little, getting comfortable, but her eyes stayed locked on Naomi’s.

“Soooo…” she dragged out, clearly about to stir something up, “how much money do you really have?”

Celeste let out a quiet laugh under her breath, already shaking her head.

Rowan wasn’t done.

“…like how rich are you, actually?” she added, raising an eyebrow.

Naomi blinked once.

Then leaned back slowly in her seat, crossing one leg over the other like she had all the time in the world.

“…that’s what you want to ask me right now?” she said, amused.

Rowan shrugged.

“I mean… we’re on your private jet,” she gestured around, “that took off from your private airport.”

Celeste laughed softly, covering her mouth.

“She’s got a point.”

Naomi’s eyes flicked to Celeste, then back to Rowan, her smile deepening just a little.

“I’m comfortable,” she said simply.

Rowan narrowed her eyes.

“No,” she shook her head, smiling, “don’t do that. That’s not an answer.”

Naomi let out a quiet laugh.

“It is an answer.”

Rowan leaned forward slightly now, playful but persistent.

“Are we talking millionaire comfortable? Billionaire comfortable? Secretly owns half the world comfortable?”

Celeste turned toward Naomi now too, clearly curious.

“Yeah… because the airport thing?” she added. “That changed the conversation.”

Naomi looked between them—two sets of eyes on her now—and just shook her head lightly.

“You two are unbelievable.”

Rowan grinned.

“And yet, here we are.”

Naomi exhaled through a small smile, then reached for her glass, taking a slow sip before answering.

“I’ve done well for myself,” she said.

Rowan immediately pointed at her.

“Deflection.”

Celeste laughed again.

“Hard deflection.”

Naomi raised an eyebrow.

“You both are very nosy.”

Rowan leaned back again, completely unbothered.

“Correct. Now answer the question.”

Naomi looked at her for a long second… then glanced at Celeste.

Then back.

“…enough that you don’t need to worry about anything when you’re with me,” she said, voice softer now, more intentional.

The teasing didn’t disappear—but something real slipped in underneath it.

Rowan’s expression shifted just slightly.

Celeste did too.

Naomi held their gaze.

“I don’t talk about numbers,” she added calmly. “But I take care of what’s mine.”

Silence.

Not awkward.

Just… felt.

Rowan leaned back slowly, nodding once.

“…okay,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I respect that.”

Celeste glanced down for a second, then back up at Naomi, her voice quieter.

“Yeah… I like that answer better anyway.”

Naomi’s eyes softened just a little at that.

Then Rowan’s grin came back.

“So we’re rich-rich.”

Naomi laughed, shaking her head lightly.

“Yes,” she said, looking between them, “we are rich-rich.”

Rowan sat up a little straighter, clearly pleased with that answer.

“I can get used to this,” she said, smirking. “You’re sexy and rich? I hit the jackpot.”

Celeste laughed softly beside her, shaking her head.

Rowan wasn’t finished though—of course she wasn’t.

“And you’re actually a good person?” she added, pointing at Naomi like she was listing things off. “The whole package deal.”

Naomi raised an eyebrow, amused.

“Oh really?”

Rowan nodded, completely serious for half a second.

“Oh yeah,” she continued. “And good in bed.”

Celeste choked on a laugh, turning her face away slightly.

Naomi just laughed—real this time, shaking her head as she leaned back.

“Anything else?” she asked, teasing.

Rowan pretended to think, tapping her chin.

“Hmm…”

Celeste nudged her lightly.

“Okay, relax,” she said, smiling.

Rowan grinned, leaning back into her seat again.

“I’m just saying,” she added casually.

Naomi’s eyes flicked between them, still smiling.

“You’re a problem,” she told Rowan.

Rowan shrugged.

“And you love it.”

Naomi didn’t deny it.

Naomi’s laughter faded into a softer smile as her eyes shifted to Celeste.

There was something more intentional in the way she looked at her now—less teasing, more… curious.

“Bae,” Naomi said gently.

Celeste glanced up at her, still a little flustered from everything.

“Yeah?”

Naomi tilted her head slightly. “Do you have anything you want to ask me?”

Celeste blinked.

Naomi continued, calm but open, “I know you basically know everything about me after being friends all these years… but is there anything you’d like to know?”

Celeste hesitated for a second.

“…well—”

Naomi narrowed her eyes slightly, already catching it.

“Not pertaining to money.”

Celeste’s face dropped immediately.

“Naomiii,” she whined, dragging it out as she leaned back into the seat.

Rowan burst out laughing.

“See? I’m not the only one.”

Celeste crossed her arms slightly, looking at Naomi. “But Rowan got the chance to ask.”

Naomi laughed, shaking her head.

“Fine,” she said, giving in just a little. “Go ahead, bae.”

Celeste’s eyes lit up instantly.

“…okay,” she said, sitting up a little. “What’s your most expensive purchase… and how much was it?”

Naomi didn’t even hesitate.

“Absolutely not.”

Rowan laughed again.

Celeste leaned forward, reaching out and lightly tapping Naomi’s arm.

“Come onnn.”

Naomi shook her head, smiling.

“I’ll tell you what it was,” she said, “but not how much.”

Celeste squinted at her.

“…fine.”

Naomi took a small sip of her drink before answering.

“A luxury resort.”

Silence.

Celeste blinked.

Rowan blinked.

“…you bought a whole resort?” they both said at the same time.

Naomi shrugged like it was nothing.

“Yes. We were expanding.”

Celeste slowly turned toward Rowan, leaning closer and lowering her voice like Naomi couldn’t hear her.

“Look up the price for a resort.”

Rowan was already pulling her phone out.

“I’m on it.”

A few seconds passed.

Then Rowan’s eyes widened.

“…there is no way,” she said, looking back up at Naomi. “There is no way you paid over 150 million for a resort.”

Naomi didn’t even flinch.

She leaned back, completely unbothered.

“I can neither confirm nor deny any of that,” she said smoothly. “I told you—I’m not saying the price.”

Celeste stared at her.

Rowan stared at her.

Naomi’s lips curved slightly.

“Just know,” she added calmly, “whatever I spent… I made it all back in a year.”

Silence hit again.

Heavier this time.

Rowan slowly leaned back in her seat.

“…yeah,” she muttered. “I’m not asking you nothing else.”

Celeste shook her head, laughing softly, still trying to process it.

“You’re actually insane.”

Naomi glanced at her.

“Smart,” she corrected.

Celeste smiled, shaking her head again.

“Dangerously smart.”

Rowan pointed between them.

“Yeah, no—she’s rich, smart, and calm about it?” she said. “That’s a dangerous combination.”