Page 9 of Forever Fallen

“Sophie – drink,” he ordered bluntly, and looked up at the stewardess. “Can we get two more - for each of us? Please? It’s urgent.”

“Sir, it’s a criminal offense to get drunk on an airplane,” the stewardess said quietly in a hushed voice – and Sophie felt mortified.

“I’m sorry. It’s because of something I said. We don’t need the drinks…” Sophie began tearfully, looking at the stewardess. The poor woman in uniform looked like she wasn’t quite sure what to say or do.

“I certainly do…” Ryan blurted out firmly. “I’ll take two more – one for each of us. If my ‘seat neighbor’ doesn’t drink hers, then I’ll see how I feel before I get completely toasted… this might be worth the jail time if I end up sloshed.”

The stewardess walked off to get the alcohol and Sophie felt like she needed to calm the man beside her down before he got into deep trouble. Every plane had an air-marshal on it, didn’t they? What if they arrested Ryan for public intoxication… because of her?

“Ryan – I’m sorry. I’m not meaning you, you know! We’re strangers… and I wouldnevermarry you,” she sputtered nervously.

“And why on earthnot?”he asked bluntly, looking distinctly offended.

This drew Sophie up in surprise.

Why would he be offended?

“I’d marry you –ifI was looking for a wife,” Ryan sputtered in indignation. “Your half-way pleasant looking, and if the lights were off then Imightbe able to… you know…”

“And you are an absolutetroll,” she hissed in disbelief and disgust.

So, the man wouldn’t even bother because he thought she was mildly nice looking? Maybe she wasn’t his cup of tea, but most guys wouldn’t turn her down. In fact, she turned them down usually – because of attitudes like this! How dare he?

“I certainly wouldn’t marry you – nor would I f…”

“Whoa there –language…?” he blurted out, cutting her off as his eyebrows shot upwards in shock. “That’s not very lady-like, Miss Sophie. Drink your booze and let’s talk. Marriage, huh? There has got to be an interesting story behind whatever self-destructive mess you have going on… and I could use a really good laugh.”

Sophie put the cup to her lips and gulped several times without stopping until it was empty, feeling it burn down her esophagus, before setting it down.

Ryan looked at her, stunned.

“Which of us is the alcoholic again?” he uttered in disbelief – and downed his glass just as the stewardess returned with two more cups of ice, cokes, and tiny bottles of rum.

“That will be eighteen dollars…” she replied.

“Best money I’ve ever spent,” he muttered under his breath, causing Sophie to roll her eyes and sigh heavily, once again thinking that he was such a troll. “Did you bring her pillow?”

“I’ll be right back with it, sir… I’m sorry. I forgot,” the stewardess apologized immediately.

“It’s fine. I just might need it…”

“Of course. I won’t be but just a moment, sir.”

“People make mistakes, you know? Don’t be rude to the poor woman, unless you arethattired?” Sophie asked pointedly as the stewardess walked away.

“Nope – it’s to smother you,” he replied evenly in that flat tone, causing her to look up immediately at him. “I’m only joking, Sophie. Relax.”

“Well, it’s not funny,” she mumbled, feeling a tear fall as it landed on her blouse. “None of this is, and I don’t know how much more I can handle. Nothing ever rattles my cage. I can normally handle almost anything, argue with the best of them, and find any loophole… but I am well-and-truly stuck this time.”

Ryan poured their cups and handed her one.

“Drink slowly this time,” he ordered softly, “And talk to me. What’s going on? Pretend you are talking to your brother, best friend, or simply a very kind neighbor that you just met on a plane.”

“A brother? I don’t have one – or maybe he would have been the one trapped and dealing with this disaster,” Sophie breathed, taking another sip and feeling her head spin slightly before shivering at the bitter taste of the alcohol. “Did you make them stronger? I feel woozy…”

“Shhh…” Ryan hissed softly, glancing over his shoulder quickly. “If you didn’t down your first drink so fast, you might not be feeling it. Just keep your voice low and slowly sip this one. Don’t get us caught, Soph…”

“Aye, aye captain,” she mocked abrasively.

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