Page 96 of Truth, Lies, and Second Dates

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“Great. Now we—” She froze suddenly, eyes widening in realization, and Tom immediately tensed up.

“Ava? What is it?”

“Oh, shit!” She stared at him, horrified. “We forgot about Becka’s intervention!”

Forty-Seven

TBMD: My uncle is on the spectrum.

CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: Thanks for the update, Hannah.

TBMD: Hmmm.

CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: See? I’m smart, too! Sometimes. Does Tom know you’ve scored his phone?

TBMD: I’m not using his phone.

CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: I sense trouble coming your way. Or at least a lecture.

TBMD: You already knew.

CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: What? That he’s blunt and adorably clumsy and doesn’t worry himself to death over social niceties and has a strong sense of justice? I guessed and I don’t give a sh… out.

TBMD: You don’t give a shout?

CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: That’s right! Not a single shout. Also, this is a conversation I should be having with Tom or no one. You’re super-cute, now butt out.

TBMD: Acknowledged.

CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: Also I’m a little afraid of you.

TBMD:

Forty-Eight

THE LIST

Apologize to Becka

Return G.B.’s and India’s calls

Pick up dessert for Abe’s BBQ

SPF 40 lotion for same

Condoms

“You thoughtwhat?”

“I’m really sorry,” Ava explained. Though she was still grounded, she’d set up a meet with a number of her crew at MSP before they went their separate ways. “I was being paranoid, which wasn’t fair to you. But some of your questions were, um, off-putting.”

“Like what?” Becka’s eyes had gone very wide and she sounded equal parts crushed and horrified, and Ava hoped like hell she wasn’t going to cry. She felt bad enough she’d assumed the worst, then stood the poor woman up in favor of devirginizing Tom.

“Well. You were saying some pretty odd things like how you’re only here because of me…”

“It’s true! You’re the reason I’m a flight attendant.”

“But… why? You don’t know me. We’ve never met. Also, I’m not a flight attendant.”

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