Page 73 of Truth, Lies, and Second Dates
Sherry, fake sighing, held it out as Ava put her sunglasses on. “Once again you’ve drawn me into one of your dark schemes.”
“Oh, please. Like anyone has ever drawn you anywhere you didn’t want to go. Tell it like it is: we’re copranksters who occasionally team up when all the astrological signs align.” She let Sherry take her elbow and began tap-tap-tapping her way to gate C34. “There’s no way you can pin this on me. Well, not entirely. This prank literally doesn’t work unless you’re in. And you’re always in.”
Meanwhile, various passengers were staring at Ava’s uniform and the white cane and looking degrees of shocked, worried, flabbergasted, freaked, amazed, dumbfounded.
“Wait, she’s—”
“Is that a—”
“Oh my God.”
“Yeah, but… she’s a flight attendant. Right? I mean, it’s still weird, but at least she’s notflyingthe—”
Sherry giggled. “You’re a cruel fuck, Captain Capp.”
“Again: back atcha. Three gates to go.”
“This is literally the blind leading the blind. Except for the part where you have twenty-twenty vision. Did I just hear two people smack into each other because they were so busy staring at you?”
“Us. They’re staring at us.” She raised her voice. “I’m so excited about my first flight!” Tap-tap-tap. “The simulator was great but nothing compares to the real thing.”
“Hell. Straight to hell for you, no waiting.”
“Us, Sherry. We’ll burn together.”
“Again with this, you sick idiots?” Before she could turn, G.B. gave her a light smack on the back of her head. For a large man, he moved like a cat in socks. “What is wrong with you? That’s not rhetorical, by the way. I’m genuinely wondering what the hell your damage is. And Sherry! Complicitagain! I’m disgusted by both of you, but you, Sherry… Ava’s hopeless, but you’re better than this.”
“She’s really not.”
“I’m really not,” Sherry agreed.
“I can barelylookat you.”
“I feel the same way,” Sherry deadpanned.
“Oh my God, this is hell.” He moaned.
“Pretty sure we’re all going to hell,” Ava observed, handing back Sherry’s cane and taking off her sunglasses to the relieved sighs of various onlookers.
“Yeah, you’ve got a point.” He focused on Sherry. “Are you getting off in Minnesota or going all the way to L.A.?”
“The latter.”
“Want to get a drink after we land? I’ve got nothing on at LAX until 0500 tomorrow.”
“Are you going to pay this time?”
“This timeandnext time.”
Sherry shrugged. “Sure.”
“Yes!”
“He just did an actual fist pump, Sherry. In front of God and everybody. I’m appalled. Jeez, G.B. Play it cool.” The way she wasn’t with Tom. Hopefully G.B. wouldn’t pick up on the hypocrisy.
“Why? It’s Sherry!”
Sherry Lupe didn’t wear sunglasses and her eyes were the color of whiskey; she handled her cane like a ninja, and anyone who tried to fuck with her was in for an unpleasant day. Blinded at age ten, confident with or without the cane, a lawyer (per gossip from G.B., several defense attorneys were terrified of her) who did the BOS/LAX hop twice a week, long black hair, tip-tilted eyes, designer suit, killerheels, and if you didn’t know she was blind, you wouldn’t know.
