Page 26 of Love on the Sidelines

I walk over and set my bag on the ground, sitting so there’s an empty seat between me and Charlie. “Six hours at an airport, huh?”

Charlie looks over, surprised to see me. “You missed the flight, too?”

“Yeah. I got the time mixed up. What about you?”

He glances up at me, his eyes locking with mine. “I was on a work call and I couldn't end fast enough.” He shakes his head and I can barely hear him say, “Just another reason I need to delegate.”

“What are your plans?” It’s only then I realize how it sounds. I don’t want him to think I care about what he does for the next six hours of life, but I know boredom is going to set in really quickly for me.

“Trying to see if there are any private flights available.”

“Private flights?” I didn’t realize there was such a thing for people who aren’t celebrities and athletes.

Charlie glances up at me and nods. “Yeah, there are smaller planes where you can see if they’re going to where you need to go and then book a seat on them.”

“So not buying out the entire plane?”

He chuckles and says, “Some people do that.”

“How much does it cost?” I don’t know why I’m curious. My bank account might go into the red at the thought of booking a private flight.

“It depends on the size of the plane and the distance. This company says it’s around three thousand dollars per hour.”

I freeze, doing the math in my head. The flight I just missed was supposed to be just over three hours. Nine thousand dollars for three hours? That’s insane.

It could’ve been an hour that I sat there in a stunned silence. Sure, I haven’t talked to my parents in a few years, but even after coming into money, they only upgraded flights to first class. I could pay all the bigger bills for a year with that much money. The advantages of living in a mortgage-free home with my grandmother and paying for the basics.

“You would pay that much for one flight?” I ask, still trying to wrap my head around it.

He shakes his head and laughs. “No. I’m not that desperate.”

We sit in silence for a few moments, Charlie on his phone and me just trying to figure out how that much money for a flight is a reality.

“Let’s go,” Charlie says, standing up and pulling the strap of his messenger bag over one shoulder.

“Where?” I ask, glancing at the clock on the wall. We’ve still got five and a half hours until the flight takes off.

“I booked us a flight.”

Shaking my head, I say, “I hope you can get a refund.”

“For the regular seats on the flight we just missed? I’ve already done that.” That must mean he paid for them already. How much money does this guy have? And why am I touched that he would help all of us like this?

“I’m talking about the private flight. You don’t have to pay for me.”

Charlie sighs, like he doesn’t have the energy for me right now. I can understand. I wouldn’t have the energy to deal with me either.

“Ava, I’ve factored in several things. There is a big storm coming this way, one that might make it impossible for the plane to take off from here if we wait several more hours. You’re the coach. It would be hard for Marsha or one of the other parents to take over your duties. Think of it as a gift.”

“And what do you call the rest of the things you keep paying for?” It’s petty, but I’m trying to keep him far away in my mind, in the untouchable zone. But if he keeps doing things like this just because, it will be hard to keep my distance.

“Making my niece happy and helping others in the process. I might not know a lot about girl’s lacrosse, but I know the sports teams I played on growing up would have benefitted from someone to help with the costs of things.”

All the air from my arguments whooshes out of me. Darn caring hearted guy.

Sighing, I say, “Okay. Just this once.”

It’s not long before we get a car to take us to Skypark Airport, just a few miles away from the one I’m used to flying from. Luckily, I rarely check bags, aka. being too cheap to pay more money for them, so my carry-ons are all I have with me.

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