he looked worried.
“Sorry,” he said. “They were out of line.”
I waved it off. “I’m not offended. They were just teasing.”
“Nope.” He shook his head, his jaw tight. “Not okay.”
I glanced at everyone around him and they all looked like puppies who’d been scolded for getting carried away while playing and peeing on the carpet a little. Without thinking, I patted his shoulder, causing him to stiffen, so I pulled my hand back to my side.
“Really, it’s fine.”
I finished my rounds as the plane taxied to the runway. Takeoff was smooth. Outside the window, everything was blanketed in cottony white. From up here you couldn’t make out the gross dirt in the piles. It all looked peaceful and beautiful. The cabin was quiet as everyone stared out.
Marcelle got up, and I joined her. The beverage and snack service went quick. Nobody on the plane ordered alcohol today. I kept my cool when I gave Shawn his ice water, doing my best not to look in his eyes.
And then Silas came on the overhead speakers, talking about the temps and weather and how it was smooth sailing with no expected turbulence.
“And I apologize to anyone who is disappointed that flight attendant Robinson will not fall into their lap this afternoon.”
Everyone laughed or groaned with mock sadness, and I gave a curtsy with a tight smile. Very funny, Silas. Verrry funny. I patted Jerome’s shoulder as I passed, and he gave me a nod. When I came up on Shawn I stared at the side of his neck, wanting to trace my fingers up that skin and over the shell of his cute ear.
What a weird urge. His ear? Why was his ear cute to me? Ugh! I passed and wasn’t going to look back but couldn’t help myself. I peeked over my shoulder and caught him staring directly at my ass. His eyes quickly flicked up to my face and he froze, caught.
“Do you need something, sir?” I asked sweetly.
“Uh…” Oh, my gosh, the look of panic on his face was so adorable, and then I realized how my words could be misconstrued as an innuendo and I felt my face heat. I hadn’t been offering up my ass!
“Okay, then,” I said, and hurried back down the aisle. If I could stop making a fool of myself that would be great.
At the back of the plane I picked up the receiver and called the cockpit.
“Yell-oh,” Silas answered.
“Hi, Mr. Comedian,” I said. “Can I get y’all anything?”
He chuckled. “Just water for me.” He asked the pilot. “And a Diet Coke.”
I drew a happy face on the napkin for the pilot, and a face with the tongue sticking out for Silas, then brought them their drinks.
The rest of the flight went by quickly. I made my way through the cabin to pick up trash, and when I turned around I nearly jumped out of my skin. Shawn was standing super close.
“Didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, pointing to the lavatory door.
“Oh, yes.” I moved aside for him to go in.
I opened the trash bin, trying to shove the bag in at super speed so I could get back down the aisle, but Shawn was too fast. When he came out, he smiled at me and I smiled back, pulling out a sanitizer wipe for my hands.
“I enjoyed talking to you,” he said. “A lot.”
“So did I.” I held my bottom lip between my teeth, feeling guilty for even having this conversation.
“You’ve got my number. Don’t be a stranger, Harlow Robinson.”
He started to turn but I touched the crook of his arm and he faced me again, his eyes expressive with curiosity.
“Listen,” I said, swallowing. “It’s better if I’m a stranger.”
“Why’s that?” he asked.
I sighed at having to explain what he surely already knew. “Because if we talk I’m likely to catch feelings and that would be wrong.”
“Ah. Catch feelings.” He rubbed the back of his head, up and down, and I wished I could feel the soft prickles of his buzz cut under my own palm. “I understand. Just…don’t delete it. My situation…I don’t know. Maybe you’ll change your mind and need a listening ear.” He gave me one last friendly smile then went back to his seat.
His situation. I understood at that moment. He wasn’t sure his relationship was going to work out. What if it didn’t? I blew out a shaky breath. His relationship was none of my business.
I waited a moment before following. I made an effort not to meet