He makes it sound so easy. “Wanna help install my flooring this weekend?”
“I set myself up for that one, huh? Yeah, I’ll help you.” He tilts his head. “Have you applied for a captain position yet?”
I look out at the ragged Superstition Mountains in the distance. They’re not mountains like we have in Washington, with trees and snow and a gradual ascent. They’re more like massive rock cliffs that jut into the sky from flat ground.
“I don’t think I’m wise enough for that seat yet. I still need your advice, so how am I supposed to mentor younger pilots?”
He shrugs. “It’s easy to give advice. It’s harder to take it. That’s where the real wisdom lies.”
“Right.”
“I’m serious.” He gives a half smile. “Besides, a lot of advice comes from learning through experience. You’ve made enough mistakes to have something to offer.”
I huff, though I can’t argue. “Thanks.”
As if on cue, Eva knocks on the door window and motions us back inside. Her lips are moving, but I can’t hear anything, which was the whole point of staying out here. Also, she doesn’t have the door code. I can cup my hand around an ear and play dumb as long as I want.
Vincent grips my shoulder. “It’s go-home leg. Think I can get you on your hotel shuttle by the time we’re scheduled to land?”
Vincent flies so fast that there’s still another plane at our gate when we arrive. We have to wait for that one to push back before we can park.
Once we make it, I sneak past Eva to go outside—into the rain this time—and do my walk-around. By the time I return, everyone has deplaned. This is great, except for the part where Eva has pulled my luggage to the front of the plane and is waiting for me.
“You didn’t have to do that ...”
Eva giggles. “Stuart, come on. I’ve got princess parking, but you can walk me out.”
“Princess parking” refers to getting dropped off and picked up by a friend rather than taking a shuttle to the employee lot or walking up the hill in the rain, the way many of us do. I look to Vincent and Desiree for help, but they’re apparently friends with the next captain coming on and are deep in conversation. It would just be awkward if I waited with them.
I put on my bravest smile, head up the jet bridge, and ask, “Who’s picking you up?”
“Remember that guy I told you I was dating, Stuart? The one interested in becoming a pilot? Maybe you can give him some pointers.”
If she’s dating someone else, why is she still talking to me in that ridiculous baby voice? It can’t hurt to encourage her in a relationship. Plus, Vincent suggested it’s time I start mentoring the next generation of aviators. “Sure.”
We exit into the terminal and head out through baggage claim. Normally I would have just walked across the sky bridge to the parking garage, but if I’m going to meet Eva’s beau, I have to follow her.
Eva says something in baby talk, and I try to tune in to her squeaky voice. But then another voice catches my attention.
First there’s the warm laugh. Then the smooth tone. “I think that’s my bag, but it’s hard to tell when they’re all black.”
A woman tosses her hair. It’s longer and darker than Claire’s. She has her back to me, but I know it’s Joey before she angles to reveal her perfect profile, complete with dewy lips and long lashes. Worse, she’s withhim.
My heart lurches in a clear sign that I’m not as healed from my past as I wanted to claim. I’m not ready to face my ex. Especially not with Eva by my side.
Joey turns my way. She may see me. Then I’ll have to smile and lie about how well I’m doing.
If Claire were available to date, I would be able to move on. But since I’m doing the right thing, I’m single, while Joey gets to live it up with the guy she cheated on me with.
I’m reminded of how Claire hid behind me in a similar situation, but Eva’s not tall enough to hide my frame. I need another place to duck out of the way.
The escalators up to the sky bridge are across the room. I can’t dart that quickly, and if I tried, I’d just bring attention to myself.
I spin and dive back onto the escalators we just came down. And I mean dive. I’m on my hands and knees, peeking up over the handrail.
Fortunately, I’m above Joey’s line of sight now. She won’t notice and take pity on me. Unfortunately, I left my carry-on downstairs with Eva.
“Stuart,” the flight attendant trills.
