I grimace. “Trust me, you don’t.”
She hands my phone back as understanding dawns. “You know this young man.”
“This was supposed to be our honeymoon. Until I caught him with his assistant facedown, ass up on our couch.”
Her gasp draws the attention of our neighbors. “No! He cheated on you in your own house?”
“That he did.”
My chest feels concave and hollow as the burning anguish of infidelity lights up with my admission. I feel like I could puke, and it wouldn’t be the first time. I spent two days wrapped around my bathroom toilet before my brother’s wives peeled me off the floor intervention style.
The flight attendant waits while I open my armrest tray table and deposits my mimosa in front of me with such perfect timing that I guzzle it down in one gulp.
Her judgmental glance bounces off my shield. My ego took enough of a hit since my fiancé cheated that I’m pretty sure I’m impervious at this point. Her opinion means nothing.
A flash of yellow crosses my line of sight. “I’ll get another when we’re up in the air.”
My seat neighbor must have read my mood because she didn’t even ask before offering over her mimosa.
“Thanks.” I throw her drink back too.
“What’s your name, dear?”
“Cortney.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Cortney. I’m Delaney McBride.”
I nod. “Likewise.”
“If I can offer up some wisdom from an old lady.” She pulls her glasses off and tucks them back on top of her head.
“By all means, I’m an empty well these days.”
She laughs and twists toward me in her seat. “I’ve been single for thirty years. Had a falling out in my marriage after fifteen years and decided I never wanted to do that again, and let me tell you, the companionship is not lacking.”
Her light brown eyes lock on mine.
“Do you get what I’m saying?” She looks at me pointedly.
“Oh, I hear you loud and clear, Delaney.”
She nods and bites back a grin. “The sea is full of fish. Big fish. Muscled fish.Youngfish.” She giggles. “Sometimes I even catch two fish at once.”
The force of the laugh bursting from me vibrates my lips. I’ve learned more about this dear woman beside me in ten minutes than I ever knew about my own birth mother.
“Noted.”
“Really.” She pats my knee. “Someone as beautiful as you will have no problem finding someone to fill the void if you so choose.”
“I don’t know, Delaney. I live in a really small town, and most of the men I know are my brothers and their friends.”
She leans in like she’s sharing a secret. “Maybe start there. Have you ever dated one of your brother’s friends?”
Immediately, my mind flashes back in time. Memories tumble loose of being eighteen and carefree. Of roaming hands and warm, naked skin. The stuffy air on this plane does nothing to ease the heat of my sudden blush.
“I wouldn’t call it dating. We spent a night together.”
“Just one?”
