Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 89012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Not him.
Shit.
Me: He’s not here, you guys. We board in like ten minutes.
Their responses come in quickly.
Sara: Relax. I just talked to him.
Rebecca: STOP IT.
Me: I’m starting to think this was a mistake. Who waits until ten minutes before boarding to get to the airport? Do I even want to vacation with someone like that? Really shows how excited he is.
Me: I think I dislike both of you right now.
Me: I’m getting twitchy.
Me: Why did I let you talk me into this? It’s embarrassing.
“Good afternoon, passengers. Will BlueSky Passenger Thompson please report to the check-in desk?”
I freeze. That’s me. I look around and find no one else looking specifically worried about the announcement and heading to the desk.
Why do they want to talk to me?
I grab my bag and make my way through a maze of feet, bags, and one person reclined on the floor. I have half of a notion to stop him and let him know that a mother changed her baby’s diaper there two hours ago, but I don’t. I can’t save the whole world, and right now, I need to focus on my sanity.
“Hi,” I say, coming face-to-face with a pretty attendant. “I’m Ashley Thompson.”
She smiles brightly. “Yes. We wanted to let you know that you’ve been bumped into first class. You can board with the first group shortly.”
What? “I’m sorry.” I move my strap around on my shoulder and slow blink at her. “I’m not … Are you sure it’s me? That’s Ashley with a -ley. Not a -leigh like a lot of people do these days.”
“Yes. You were upgraded a few minutes ago.”
Dammit, Sara.
I force a smile. “Thank you.”
Of course, Sara upgraded me. She probably feels terrible about me getting stood up when this was all her idea anyway.
She should feel bad.
A behemoth of a man with muscles the size of my head sits in the seat I was in before, so I take one across from him. As soon as my butt hits the plastic, I pull my phone out again.
Me: FIRST CLASS?
Me: First of all, SARA, I don’t want to know what favors you’re doing for your boss in order to afford that ticket. GOOD GRIEF. Second, I know you guys feel terrible AS YOU SHOULD, but this is overkill.
Me: And I’ll pay you back.
Me: I’m not happy about paying you back because I’m scared to look up the price of that ticket, but I can’t stomach letting you do this.
Me: This was a pity ticket. Do you know what I’m feeling right now, knowing that you guys bought me a first-class ticket out of pity? Defeated. I’m defeated.
Me: You are the reason I’m sweating right now.
I grin.
Me: Guess I’ll cool off with a nice cold beverage in first class.
I wait for a response. Crickets.
Static buzzes overhead before a monotonous voice comes over the speakers.
“Good afternoon, passengers. We are pre-boarding Flight 1868 to Nassau. We are now inviting those passengers with small children, any passengers requiring special assistance, and active-duty military personnel to begin boarding at this time. Please have your boarding pass ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately ten minutes. Thank you.”
Me: We’re boarding. I’ll text you when I land.
I reconsider my outburst earlier. Maybe I was overkill.
Me: Thank you for trying to help me. I know your intentions were good, and I love you for loving me.
I start to put my phone back in my pocket, but I can’t help myself.
Me: You’re obviously shit matchmakers, though. Let’s remember this going forward. xo
Sara:
What the heck is that?
I do a quick check of my carry-on items. Everything is where it’s supposed to be. I slide my phone next to the magazine I purchased after I used the restroom for the third time and sigh.
A bubble of pure excitement forms in my belly. It slowly overtakes my frustration from moments before. Whether he comes or doesn’t come, I’m going. And that’s still pretty great.
I’ll have lots of quiet reading time.
And I can swim with pigs!
“Now boarding BlueSky Elite members and first class.”
I head for the short line to board. Quickly, I sweep the area one final time to see if I happen to recognize anyone.
Not surprisingly, I don’t.
Who cares? This is going to be fun. And someone else would’ve just been a pain in the ass anyway. They would’ve wanted to talk. I couldn’t eat what I wanted at every meal. What if I wanted to nap, and they didn’t?
I won’t even have to shave my legs.
I grin. And I could totally have a vacation fling instead. It would be super hot, and it would also drive Sara batshit crazy that she doesn’t know him.
Yes, the universe took care of me with this one.
I show my pass to the agents, and in a few short moments, I’m taking my seat at the front of the plane with the other posh passengers.