We’re well into the movie when another meal is wheeled around. Dinner? Breakfast? Who blooming knows. As long as there are more Australian biscuits, I am not complaining.
But as the flight attendant reaches my seat, she frowns.
‘I’m afraid you’ll have to return to your own seat, ma’am,’ she says.
Damn it! I’ve been so comforted sitting here, feeling at peace for the first time all flight, that I’d almost forgotten about today’s seat swap.
‘Oh no!’ I wail. ‘Please don’t send me back there. I’m sitting between my ex-boyfriend and a man who smells really bad and, honestly, I’m not sure I can cope with any more of either of them.’
‘I’m sorry, ma’am, but passengers have to sit in their allocated seats.’
I eye up the trolley filled with fancy premium economy food longingly before I make to stand up.
But Callum’s hand settles on mine.
‘Wait,’ he says. ‘Could we please allow my friend to stay here? She’s having a tough time of it today and that seat has been reallytriggering for her. Plus, there’s an empty spot right here next to me. Would it be too much trouble to let her stay?’
The flight attendant’s formerly firm expression melts.
‘Of course, sir. No problem.’
And then she hands me a fancy breakfast!
‘Wow,’ I say once she’s left us to it. ‘You are such a charmer!’
‘It’s a gift.’ Callum grins. ‘Nah, just kidding. Sometimes all you can do is ask, right?’
‘But I did ask and it was a no until you brought out the big guns. Is no one immune to your charm?’
‘I can think of one person,’ he says, gaze flicking to mine. ‘Small. Looks like butter wouldn’t melt. Razor-sharp tongue.’
‘Me?’ I clutch my chest. ‘Please, as if you’ve tried to charm me. Unless we consider criticizing my job “charming”.’
‘Howhave I criticized your job?’
I roll my eyes. ‘Now you’re just being obtuse.’
Callum sighs.
‘Not being able to charm you is my one stumbling block,’ he says.
And I’m so confused by this. So thoroughly overwhelmed by everything that has happened today. The misfire with Hamish, again. The devil-may-care attitude in which I apparently just now tell people exactly what is on my mind. That time I decided that spritzing deodorant over somebody else wasn’t an enormous infringement of personal space and, in fact, a really great idea.
AND NOW THIS?
So it is perhaps not surprising that my response to Callum is not as intellectually brilliant as I’d hope it could be.
‘You’re a stumbling block,’ I retort.
‘Oh Moss.’
‘Oh Bang. At least we’re back on firmer ground now.’
‘You mean the ground where you are constantly taking the piss out of me, or misjudging my character, or both?’
I shake my head at him.
‘I’m going to eat this breakfast-slash-dinner now,’ I reply, shutting him down.
