That’s our cue to be ready to help any passengers that may need it and wish them safe travels as they leave the plane. I stand beside the door and wait for them to line up to get out of the small area and on to their next adventure.
The door opens and people funnel into the air bridge. Another successful flight. We have a few hours until the next one and I’m not sure what I will do for those hours. I’m sure part of it will be spent at one of the food places with Lana, listening to her go on and on about all the hot guys she’s been dating. Not exactly how I want to spend my free time, but it’s better than being alone with my thoughts.
The guy, Bentley, who bumped into me earlier still hasn’t come through the line to depart the plane. There’s no way he could have gotten lost in the cramped space. And I’m almost certain the guy sitting next to him doesn’t have any issues with how flights work. Surely, I didn’t miss them. I shouldn’t care that they haven’t come through yet, but I have a special place in my heart for the first-time fliers. It doesn’t matter if they are children or older, nothing quite prepares them for how it feels to be up in the air, above everyone else, and passing through cloud after cloud.
“He’s coming,” Lana whisper yells in my ear. Where did she even come from? I thought she was handling the first-class people, not back here waiting for me to make a move on a guy I have no intentions of having any relationship with. Not even a quick one-night stand. It’s not how I operate.
“Go do your own job,” I jab her with my elbow. “I’m perfectly capable of handling a full-grown dude.” Especially if that one is as good looking as this one. No. Stop that, Jolene. No men. Ever.
The man in question stops right in front of me. “I didn’t catch your name earlier.” He looks down at where my name tag is, and I move my hand to cover it up. Even if I were interested, I wouldn’t make it that easy for him.
“That’s because I didn’t offer it.” My lips quirk into a half-smile. I’m knowingly flirting with this man. It honestly feels great even though I know I shouldn’t be doing it. “I hope you enjoyed your flight and have an amazing time in New York.”
“So, would you be willing to offer your name?” There’s a line of people standing behind him. Shuffling back and forth, patiently waiting to be let off the plane. I wonder if they think this is normal, or that maybe this man needs something more important besides my name.
“Come on Bentley,” the tall man behind him tries to nudge him forward, “let the woman do her job and stop stroking your ego. She’s obviously not interested.”
“But she smiled,” he grins at me while he’s talking about me as if I can’t hear every word he’s saying, “that has to mean something.”
“It was barely a smile, and she’s just being polite.” He nods his head toward me. “I’m sorry about my friend here. He has a habit of not letting things go even when it’s not going in his favor.”
“If I didn’t persist, I never would have made the team,” his mouth widens, and damn it if it doesn’t make him more attractive. “From what I recall none of the players liked me and were trying to talk Coach into not giving me another chance. I kept pushing and here I am. On my way to help my team get to the finals.”
“See what I mean?” The friend shrugs and then places his hands on Bentley’s back to push him forward.
“It’s fine,” I laugh. “I’ve known quite a few people just like him.”
“I feel like I should be offended.” He places his hand over his chest as if I have wounded him. He clearly doesn’t knowhowto be offended. “So, are you going to give me your name, or am I going to have to hunt down your friend and ask her for the information?”
The people behind him are getting antsy. The feet shuffling has now turned into sighs and some crossing their arms over their chest, irritated that this guy is wasting their precious time. Normally, I wouldn’t give into something like this. But, I know he would look for Lana, and she’d be all too happy to give him any details he wants. No, I’m going to do what needs to be done for the greater good of the rest of the passengers wanting to get off this plane. “My name is Jolene.”
“Like that country song?” He tilts his head to the side and looks like a confused puppy. But I’m kind of annoyed that his first question isthat. I’ve heard it a million times, and it drives me crazy each time.
“Yes,” I sigh. “Just like the country song. Now, if you would,” I wave my right arm toward the door. “There are other passengers waiting to leave, and you’re holding up the line.”
“Sorry.” There’s that smidge of insecurity he had when he ran into me earlier. “I’ll be seeing you, Jolene. Have an exceptional day.”
Because that’s not creepy at all. “Yeah, you too.” I swear the rest of the people on the flight want to clap their hands as he walks out of the door into the small hallway that leads to the airport. That has got to be the weirdest confrontation I’ve ever had. Hopefully, he’s gone before I get off the plane. I do not want to deal with that mess when I have time to enjoy myself before my next flight assignment.
* * *
Why can’t I be lucky just once in my life? Standing right next to my best friend is the one person I don’t want to see. Carter is talking to Lana animatedly, and I don’t want to interrupt. Hell, I don’t know why he’s even here. He rarely does domestic flights. Almost all of them are international.
“Hey, Jolene,” Lana waves me over. “The Captain here was just telling me he’s retiring from the business.”
“What?” My voice is loud even among the chattering people around us. “You love to fly, what’s making you give it up?”
“I love Kendall more than flying, and I want to start a family.” He’s practically glowing with happiness, and as much as it hurt when he didn’t want more from me, I can’t begrudge him this. “I can’t very well do that if I’m always up in the clouds.”
“You have a point there,” Lana claps him on the back. “I wish you the best, and hopefully you’ll come see us every once in a while.”
“As if I would fly on any other airline,” he rolls his eyes. He looks at me and asks, “How have you been, Jolene?”
That’s not what I was expecting to come out of his mouth. “Huh?” I take a minute to gather my composure. “Fine. We were switched to more domestic flights since IA partnered with this basketball team. I get to see my bed more.” I cringe. What the actual hell? That makes me sound desperate, and that’s not how I want to sound.
A figure crosses my peripheral and it’s none other than Bentley. His eyes catch mine and I wave him over. “Speaking of, this is one of the players from the team. Bentley, this is Carter.”
Carter furrows his brow, confused as to why I’m introducing him to this guy he’ll never see again. “It’s, um, nice to meet you.”