I quickly moved out of the way, hoping that her germs didn’t spread to me, and spotted a seat off in the corner next to a woman that had her hood up. She had her head facing downward at an iPad and was clearly ignoring everyone and everything going on around her.
My kind of seat partner.
“Some lady that clearly shouldn’t be fuckin’ getting on a plane,” I muttered darkly, making some guy’s mouth quirk in a semi-smile.
“A-fuckin’-men,” he agreed. “If I make it back home without hacking up a lung, it’ll be a goddamn miracle.”
I snorted and kept walking as Downy continued to speak to me in my ear.
“Anyway,” Downy said. “This new department we created is going to be good. I think you’re going to like it.”
I had a feeling I probably wouldn’t, but at this point, a job was a job.
“All right,” I grumbled. “Have a good one. I’m going to get reading on my school work.”
“Okay,” he said. “Safe flight. Let me know when you get there, and don’t do anything stupid.”
I snorted. “I won’t.”
Hopefully.
I mean, other than getting another tattoo. Which was my second reason for going to Vegas.
“Later,” he said, then hung up without waiting for me to reply.
I shoved the phone into my pocket and dropped my baggage onto the empty seat, about to start searching for my headphones and iPad.
Except, before I could get them out, the loudspeaker caught my attention.
“Mr. Jonah Crew, please come up to the counter for seating assignment,” I heard over the loudspeaker.
Dropping my hoodie in the seat so my spot wouldn’t be stolen by the hacking chick that was headed back this way, I turned and scanned for the counter.
Spotting it in the far corner, I headed in that direction, knowing that I was likely going to be put into the shittiest spot there was on the plane since I was on standby and lucky to get any seat at all.
“Hi,” I smiled wide at the attendant that was standing all prim and proper in her gray business suit the airline likely required that she wear.
The flight attendant flushed.
I grinned wider.
I hadn’t done so much smiling since I’d talked to the curly-headed woman that I couldn’t seem to get out of my head two days ago.
And before that, it’d been fuckin’ years.
What the hell had the woman done to me?
After fixing her tire the other day, I’d yet to get her out of my mind.
When I’d come into my house to find her sitting at the kitchen table, nursing a cup of coffee, with my traitorous cat in her lap, I’d found something about the sight deeply comforting.
After that, I’d gotten her out of my house as quickly as I could manage, and then had hated myself for the rest of the day for going against my instinct.
“Umm,” the attendant stuttered over her next words. “I, well, I have a…” She looked at her computer screen and flushed guiltily. “I have a first-class seat available.”
I blinked, stunned to hear her say those particular words.
“You do?” I asked in surprise.
She nodded once.
“Nice!” I smiled. “Thanks!”
Okay, I was overdoing it a little bit, but my brother had taught me well. You can get more being charismatic and smiling than you can being broody and scowling.
“You’re most welcome.” She flushed even further. “Here is your ticket.”
I took the proffered piece of paper and grinned my thanks.
Walking away, I headed back to my hoodie, surprised to see that the woman next to my chair was now looking up at me…and glaring.
The closer I got, the wider my smile became.
“Pip,” I said, blinking. “You’re getting on another plane?”
She glanced down at the ticket in my hand.
“You got upgraded to a first-class ticket?” she gasped. “And you were on standby?”
I blinked. “Yes. How did you know that I was on standby?”
She furled her nose up in distaste.
“Because I heard her say she was going to start calling passengers up there one at a time that were looking to be put on the flight,” she answered. “Of all the luck. I asked her if I could be upgraded because of the…you know.” She shook her head in disgust. “I have to pee.”
She picked up her bag and walked away without another word.
I moved my hoodie over to her spot to save it and then began to pull out my iPad before I finally realized just why she was upset.
She needed the spot because it gave her more room to freak out. I understood that.
Frowning in concentration, I turned to the man beside me.
“Do you mind saving this seat for me?” I requested.
The man nodded. “You can have my coat.”
“Thank you,” I said as I got up and went back up to the counter.
I saw Piper walk by with not a little amount of annoyance on her face and regain her seat.