Page 11 of The Woman in 3B
“I promise I’m not normally that clumsy,” I assured her. “I was having an off day.”
Her golden-colored eyes narrowed in contemplation. “Are yousureyou won’t spill it on anyone else?” she pressed. “Because I would really love a cranberry juice with a splash of seltzer water if you have it.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Oh, youreallywant to ruin someone’s day,” I teased. “Might as well go all the way and order a Bloody Mary.”
She tapped at her lips in thought. The motion drew my attention to her plump lips and her nude nail polish. “Mmm. Tempting,” she hummed. “But I’m technically at work, so I guess I should behave.”
“Oh, what’s the fun in that?” I grinned.
I couldn’t explain from where my flirtatious attitude was coming. I typically only turned on the charm when there was a bingo card square in the balance. She was a beautiful woman, however, so perhaps I simply couldn’t help myself.
She waggled a finger at me. “You’re a bad influence, I can tell.”
I grinned wider, not really having a clever response for her. “Cranberry with a splash of seltzer, coming right up,” I promised.
The safety video was about to play, so I jammed myself in the rear galley and began to prep the drink orders for First Class. I was only a few minutes into making drinks when Gemma appeared.
“You’re awfully chipper,” my friend observed.
I continued to crack open soda cans and fill plastic cups with ice cubes. “Am I?”
“You’re humming like Snow White at work or something.”
“Is it a crime to be in a good mood or enjoy my work?” I defended myself.
Gemma smirked. “No. But normally it’smegetting teased for enjoying what I do.”
“Am I usually a grump?” I asked.
“You’re not a grump. Professional,” she decided on. “You’re always professional.”
“So, I’m a grump,” I laughed.
The third member of our flight crew—Kent—rushed to the rear of the plane. There wasn’t really room in the back galley for all three of us, but we made it work.
“I’m taking First Class back,” Kent announced.
I paused in my drink construction. “What? Why?”
“Didn’t you see who’s seated in 2A?” he asked.
I tried to jog my brain. Second row, window seat. 2A. I would have served them after I’d taken drink orders from the woman in 3B. I was drawing a blank. Had I even finished beverage service? Or had I rushed straight back to the rear galley to make a cranberry, splash of seltzer? I couldn’t remember.
“Uh …” I struggled.
“Oh, you wouldn’t even know her,” Kent huffed. “She’s only like the most famous makeup tutorial person on the internet.”
“Is she really?” Gemma gushed. She craned her neck and stood on her tiptoes as if to get a better view, but we were over thirty rows away from the front of the plane and could only see the backs of passengers’ heads.
I blinked a few times. “Is that a thing? Getting famous for doing your makeup?”
Kent laid a sympathetic hand on my shoulder. “Oh, honey. Next you’ll be telling me you’ve never heard of TikTok.”
“Be nice. Alice is having a good day,” Gemma protested.
“Which drink is hers?” Kent asked.
“Who?” I asked.
