Page 2 of Off Trail Love
“What was that?” the woman grumbles. She’s pulled out her book and is mostly minding her own business.
“Nothing,” I say. But I lean back in my seat and close my eyes again. My mind goes back to the day we were trying to eat steak at Jack’s parents’ house and I accidentally stabbed his hand with my steak knife. It was going to be a joke. You know that thing magicians sometimes do, where they poke a sharp knife between their fingers, or someone else’s fingers, while blindfolded? It was supposed to be like that. But not me being blindfolded. We’d been talking and even flirting, but then, just as I moved the knife, he moved his hand, and instead of connecting with the table on Donovan’s back patio, I stabbed Jack.
My first crush.
And the first guy who ever broke my heart.
It’s the very same Jack, who is now on the same plane as me, headed to Colorado. I wipe my sweaty palms across my lap and look at my phone.
Brooke
I thought you were flying. How are you texting us?
Meg
What’s going on?
I force my hands to stop shaking to type out a response.
I paid for in-flight texting. And now I’m glad. BECAUSE WE HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM. JACK FREAKING DONOVAN IS ON MY AIRPLANE.
“Who’s Jack?” my seatmate asks loudly. I glance in Jack’s direction, but thankfully, he doesn’t turn.
“Didn’t anyone tell you it’s rude to read people’s text messages?” I ask, avoiding her question.
She raises her eyebrows at me. “I’m old. I’m bored. And you didn’t answer the question. Who’s Jack? Is that man up there Jack?”
I ignore her and look back at my phone. I can’t handle having a conversation with a stranger right now.
Meg
THE Jack Donovan??
The very same. What do I do? What if he turns around and sees me?
Brooke
Why would that be a problem?
Ava
You’re not wearing his sweatpants, are you?
I frown.
My seatmate laughs, setting her book on the tray table in front of her. “You have his pants on? Oh, this is way better than my romance novel.”
I squirm as far away from her as I can in this tiny seat, hoping she can’t see my texts now. Did it just get hotter in here? I need to get off this airplane. “This cannot be happening.” I mutter under my breath.
They are my sweatpants.
I mean, they were at one point his, but they are mine now.
Meg
If he sees you, do you think he’ll remember you?
I certainly hope not. But if he does, I will make him wish he didn’t.
