He nods sympathetically. “I’m sorry for your loss. You must have cared about them deeply if the eulogy is this hard for you.”
Another snort is out before my hand flies up to cover my mouth. I feel my eyes go wide as he stares back at me with a hint of amusement. There’s no way I can just not say anything, and maybe if I just get it off my chest, he’ll stop talking to me and I’ll stop embarrassing myself.
“I guess I should clarify,” I begin before taking another sip of my wine. “The deceased is an ex-boyfriend. The only reason I’m doing the eulogy is because his mother—who is like a saint—asked me.”
“Wow. That’s very nice of you to do it, and I’m sure she appreciates it.”
“I really wanted to say no. It’s awkward as hell and no matter how hard I try, I can’t come up with even one good story about him.” Groaning, my head falls back against the seat.
“Ah, so he was an ex for a reason.”
I gasp and turn to look at him because…that was exactly how I thought of Matt. What were the odds that someone would say those words back to me? And a stranger, no less!
“What? Did I say something wrong?”
I blink several times as I try to make my mouth work. “Um…no. No. You just…you just phrased that perfectly. Thank you.”
His boyish grin is utterly charming, and when he leans in a bit, I can’t help but inhale his delicious cologne. “Glad I can help.”
Help? What? Oh, right…his words.
“So you see my dilemma,” I go on. “There’s no way I can stand up and bash him, no matter how right it feels. I have to find a way to say something eloquent and meaningful. Something that is going to leave his friends and family with a smile.” Another sip of wine. “I mean…that’s what a eulogy is for, isn’t it? To leave everyone with a good memory?”
“That’s what I’ve heard. I have to admit, I’ve never gone to a funeral before, so…”
I pull back. “Seriously? Never?”
“Yup. Never. All of my friends and family are still with me. My grandparents are all in their eighties.” He pauses. “My great-grandmother passed away when I was four, but I didn’t go to that funeral.”
“Well, that makes sense,” I reason. “I’ve lost both of my grandfathers, two cousins, and several aunts and uncles.” I pause. “Now I have to wonder what’s wrong with my family that I’ve lost so many and you haven’t lost any.”
Beside me, he laughs softly, but I’m seriously wondering if there’s something medically wrong with everyone I’m related to and if I need to go to the doctor sooner rather than later.
“I’m sure your family is fine,” he says, his voice having a very calming effect on me. “But you really need to focus on this eulogy.”
“Ugh…I know! I just didn’t expect it to be this difficult!” I whine.
“How about you start with one nice thing? I know he was your ex, but surely there is one nice thing you can say about him.”
“Pfft…that’s what you think.”
But he doesn’t move or excuse himself; he simply watches me like he’s silently imploring me to dig deep and come up with something.
Sighing, I say, “He had a great smile.”
“There you go! There’s your opening!”
Was it really that simple? Or was my writer’s block overflowing to every form of the written word?
Before that thought can really take hold, I notice one of the flight attendants standing to make an announcement.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we regret to inform you that because of storms across the Midwest, our flight will be delayed. For your safety and comfort, we kindly ask all passengers to deplane at this time. Please take all your belongings with you as you exit the aircraft. Our team is working diligently to resolve the situation, and we will provide updates as soon as possible. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. If you have any questions or need assistance, please see a gate agent or a member of our staff. Thank you for your understanding.”
Shit.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Mr. Handsome is already standing and gathering his stuff and then grabs my carry-on as well. If I wasn’t so annoyed at this situation, I swear I’d be a little swoony. Unfortunately, I need to gather up my belongings and try not to have an anxiety attack over this delay.
