Liv nudges me about putting my phone on airplane mode. I guess I got so engrossed that I didn’t notice when she finished, and I didn’t notice that we were going into the whole pre-flight safety talk.
“Thanks,” I whisper and then decide to just put the phone away and listen to the whole spiel. We both sit in silence and once the plane starts moving, I close my eyes and try to relax. I’m not a fan of takeoffs and landings, and usually do my best to ignore them.
“I hate this part,” Liv murmurs. “Like…how fast are we going? How does a plane just lift off the ground? And I don’t need the complete history of the Wright brothers or anything, but it’s kind of freaky as hell that something this big just goes up in the air and stays there!”
Okay, there’s a hint of hysteria in her voice, but I’m not sure what to say because I’m kind of trying to keep my own hysteria at bay.
“I never liked to fly,” she goes on. “When I was a kid, I seriously peed myself the first time I was on a plane. It was awful. My parents were mortified and I essentially had to sit in a wet seat for the entire flight.” She groans. “Great. Now I have to pee.”
“You’re fine,” I say, my eyes still firmly closed and my hands keeping a white-knuckled grip on the armrest. “Don’t think about…you know…peeing.”
Is this really the conversation we’re going to have right now?
“My mother said it was because I wet the bed until I was eight, but that wasn’t it,” she says miserably. “I was terrified, and it just happened. Normally, I don’t drink that much before a flight, and I use the restroom like three times before boarding. I didn’t do that before we re-boarded!”
Opening my eyes, I look at her. “Liv?”
She turns her head, and I can see the absolute misery on her face. “It’s going to be fine. I promise. As soon as the captain announces we can get up, I promise I will jump up and block anyone else from using the restroom first.”
“You must think I’m a total weirdo. Between the eulogy for my ex and now the whole…you know…pee thing, you’re probably wishing that witch had kept my seat.”
I don’t know this woman well enough to say for sure, but I’m guessing she’s a little tipsy and probably wouldn’t be talking like this in any other circumstances. Between the lousy travel issues and the whole death of her ex thing, she’s probably more than a little out of sorts.
“I’m perfectly happy with you sitting next to me,” I assure her. “And really, this isn’t a big deal.”
The plane speeds up and we both go a bit wide-eyed and somehow end up holding hands.
“We got this,” I tell her, and she nods.
“Okay.”
We stay locked like that for what feels like forever, and I take the opportunity to really study her. Besides those wide green eyes, Liv’s got what I’m guessing is long, blonde hair—and I’m only guessing because it’s up in a messy bun—smooth, creamy skin, and a smattering of freckles across her nose. Her lips are pink and a little glossy, and she nervously chews on the bottom one as the plane continues to rise.
She’s staring back at me with equal intensity, and I’m curious about what she’s thinking. Is she seeing the nerdy tech guy? The guy who used a formal name and was too timid to tell that woman who stole her seat earlier to just get lost? Or does she see that I’m a decent guy who maybe isn’t too terrible to look at? Should I have put in my contacts earlier instead of being lazy and wearing my glasses?
Ugh, why am I like this?
Duh, because deep down, I am still that awkward guy who showed up at college with zero social skills.
I just hide it better these days.
After what feels like an eternity, we hit the cruising altitude and can safely get up if we need to. And, as promised, I immediately stand and motion for Liv to get up and do what she’s got to do.
Giggling, she stands. As she moves in front of me, she smiles. “You’re a really great guy, Sebastian. I’m glad I’m sitting next to you.” Then she kisses my cheek before turning and walking away, leaving me standing there a bit dumbfounded.
I glance around to see if anyone noticed, but no one’s paying any attention.
Except Darcy. She gives me a knowing smile and I swear I feel myself blush before quickly sitting down.
Naturally, Liv’s back quickly and I’m back on my feet and moving out of her way and then sitting back down and wondering what I’m supposed to do or say. Do I take out my earbuds and start watching a movie? Play more solitaire? Ask her what perfume she’s wearing because it smells fantastic?
I’m about to ask what she’s going to do when I see her look up and frown.
“What the hell are you doing?”
I turn and see the woman from earlier standing behind me with her phone and she’s clearly recording Liv.
“I want to show the world the nasty bitch who wouldn’t give up her seat to one of her elders. I have health issues and she didn’t care and everyone should know,” she states.
