Page 6 of Forever Fallen

“Row 13A… that’s my seat.”

The man actually looked up at her, his face immobile as a statue, and she couldn’t see his eyes through his dark sunglasses. He leaned forward and to her utter disbelief – he pointed at the sign above the aisle in the most arrogant and irritating manner.

“Aaaay… and Beeee…” he drawled bluntly and went back to reading his magazine, snapping it in front of him as if to emphasize his point.

Sophie felt her face flame with embarrassment and understanding of her mistake. She was so tired that she read the display wrong, and others had heard him. There were several people muttering at her dawdling in the aisle – and commenting on the rude man who had spoken to her.

Sit down, Sophie, and ignore him. A seat was a seat!

Quickly sitting down, she pulled her bottle of water from her purse, the ibuprofen, and Reese’s, putting them in the mesh panel on the back of the seat in front of her.

Putting her phone on Airplane Mode, she slid it into the pocket along with her other things. Zipping her purse, she shoved it under the seat and let out a shaky breath, before reaching up to turn on the air… which didn’t work. She twisted the knob several times, needing something to keep her from feeling so out of sorts.

“Won’t come on until we are off the ground,” the man muttered, not looking up.

“I knew that,” she uttered automatically and winced.

She actually had no idea that the air didn’t come on until they were aloft and was only hoping that some fresh air could help with her headache.

“Then why are you reaching for it?” he said quietly in an even voice that was grating. It was the single arched dark eyebrow that lifted on his forehead above his dark glasses that made her see red.

“So, you can get a good whiff of my Secret Baby Powder Deodorant…” she snapped in frustration and heard him chuckle as he turned the page in the magazine without a care.

Without a word or acknowledging her, he reached up and pushed the ‘Call Attendant’ light.

Sophie realized he was probably going to ask for another seat because of her mouth and attitude. She’d been rude – and knew it.

“I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” he said coolly, scanning the magazine like it was completely fascinating, yet his expression looked almost bored. “I’m certainly not expecting one.”

“I’m just really tired and have a killer headache,” she continued quietly, hoping he understood and didn’t try to get her thrown off the plane.

She’d seen several videos online that showed disgruntled or irrational travelers being physically removed from airplanes… and that couldn’t be her. Not now! She needed to get home as soon as possible to get things arranged. She would befriend anyone if it kept her on the plane right now.

“You better take that ibuprofen then quickly,” he replied candidly, “because the pressure will feel much worse once we take off until we level out the cabin.”

Was he not going to ask her to be removed?She wondered idly, stunned at the advice he was giving her. Perhaps she’d been wrong?

“How do you know all that? The vents, the cabin pressure… are you a pilot or something?” she asked in an almost confrontational manner, wanting to catch the guy exaggerating or something just so she could take him down a peg or two.

“Or something,” he said evasively – and there was the smallest smirk on the corner of his lips that made her think for a moment he was teasing or making fun of her.

“May I help you, sir?” the attendant asked politely, interrupting them before she could ask what ‘or something’ meant.

“I’ll have a rum and coke – and she needs a pillow. How long before we taxi forward?”

“We should have the doors closed in fifteen minutes, sir.”

“You realize it’s ten in the morning…” Sophie began, gawking in surprise and stunned that he bothered to ask for a pillow for her as well, and was a little touched.

It was actually… nice.

“For you, it is…” he replied, unmoving.

Turning to the stewardess, Sophie cleared her throat nervously, realizing she could use a stiff drink, too – and maybe that would help her sleep during the flight or at least relax. Her anxiety was through the roof right now just thinking of the number of details and things to handle she would soon have to face.

“Can you make that two rum and cokes?” she asked

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