Page 58 of Irresistible Second Chance

“Window,” I said so that I had something to stare at besides his face for most of the flight.

He moved back so that I could enter and then, being the gentleman he was, he stored my carryon for me and then his own.

I sat back and stared out the window. He pulled out his laptop and kept working. It felt awkward sitting so close and not speaking to each other. Was he angry with me? I didn’t think he had a reason to be.

I turned to say something to him when I noticed the airbuds in his ear. Sighing to myself, I sat back and crossed my arms over my chest. He couldn’t ignore me if I ignored him first. Feeling silly because of my juvenile thoughts, I closed my eyes and told myself to just go to sleep. He’d wake me when we got there.

I felt like my eyes had been closed for only a few minutes before I heard the pilot’s message about nearing descent.

I sat up and looked over at Chris who had his laptop closed now.

“I guess you’re refreshed,” he said.

I nodded, “I needed sleep. I haven’t slept well in the past week, obviously.”

He nodded, “I get it.”

Then an awkward silence settled between us. I hated the awkwardness between us. Since we were kids, we could talk about anything together, but now he wouldn’t even look at me. It was like having a polite conversation with a stranger. I could feel myself getting upset but told myself to just get over it. I was there to work, so that’s what I would do.

He stepped off the plane and I followed behind him.

“Our hotel isn’t too far from here so I told Robert we would just catch an Uber instead of having the administrative assistant send for a car.”

“That makes sense,” I said putting my carryon down.

We waited again not saying anything. He had on sunglasses, and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. We waited in silence until our Uber arrived and then climbed into the car.

Chris was right. Our hotel was about fifteen minutes from the airport. That 15 minutes felt like hours though sitting in silence. The only words from Chris weren’t even directed at me. He spoke to the driver and pretended I wasn’t there. I felt he was being childish.

When the Uber pulled up to the hotel, I didn't wait for Chris to open the door for me. I got out, grabbed my bag from the trunk and made my way up to the hotel lobby.

“Hi, I’d like to check in, please.” I gave the hostess a tight smile, but I didn’t feel like smiling. I hoped I didn’t come across as rude, but it was a distinct possibility.

I needn’t have worried. She didn’t smile at me either.

“Of course,” the hotel attendant said coldly. Then she glanced behind me and smiled, “Are you all together?” I knew she was addressing Chris.

“No, we’re not. We’re under separate reservations.”

Her smile seemed to widen, and she glanced flirtatiously at Chris. “I’ll be with you in a second, sir.”

“Thanks,” he said, I glanced back at him and found him smiling back at her. I cursed his ability to make everyone around him like him.

She checked me in, and I didn’t even wait for Chris. I took my keycard and walked away. I could hear her flirting with him.

“So, is this your first time in Cincinnati?”

“Yeah, a quick turnaround trip.”

“Well, I hope you enjoy your stay...if you need anything...feel free to come find me. Here’s my number.”

I made a face and stepped into the elevator, leaving him behind. We were scheduled to meet with our clients for dinner that evening. I just wanted to take a shower and a nap. I needed to put on my game face because I wasn’t feeling very thrilled to be there.

I was sure Cincinnati had its charms, but it was the company that bothered me. I wasn’t used to cold, indifferent Chris. He’d been polite. He’d been civil, but I was used to his jokes and when he looked at me now, I couldn’t really read his eyes. I felt lost.

Sighing, I stood up and went to take a shower hoping I could wash away the melancholy I was feeling. I told myself that it was good that he was still around and not off in a foreign country when we could really use his skills here to help the company’s rapid growth. He was an expert in his field, and we could really use his help. I could be professional. As I washed my face, I said to myself, just because I was in love with him didn’t mean that I couldn’t work with him.

My hands froze on my face at the thought.

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