Page 84 of Forever Fickle

“Thanks.”

“What are you doing?” Karen whispered in a hushed voice the moment the flight attendant was out of sight.

“Getting us something to celebrate with?” Jace replied.

“You know she thinks that it’s for you and her… right?”

“Noooo…” he drawled and then looked at her. “You think so?”

“I don’t think she thinks it’s for you and me,” she countered, realizing that he truly had no idea that the woman was about to be in for a shock. It was written all over Jace’s face too when she returned with two champagne flutes – sat down across the aisle from Jace.

He quickly plucked the other one out of her stunned hand and smiled.

“Thanks, Leslie,” he said politely. “We are celebrating, and you are making this special for us. We really appreciate it.”

Karen leaned forward and waved.

“I’ll be sure to brag on social media about how wonderful you were and how you made a long-awaited flight simply marvelous, Leslie,” Karen smiled happily.

She saw Leslie nod awkwardly, as she got up to allow other passengers to move forward, taking their seats, and went back to her duties. For a few moments, Karen just sat there as Jace held his flute in his hands, looking lost in thought.

“Are you okay?” she whispered, hesitating.

“Yeah, but my timing is terrible, and I just realized it…” he said nervously. “Can you hold this? I’ll be right back.”

Before she could say anything, Jace had shoved the champagne flute in her hand and got up.

He walked towards the front of the plane where the flight attendants were standing and she saw him smiling, nodding, and talking with them… before pointing back at her and making his way back to his seat.

“I’ll be right back, hon… bathroom,” he whispered, heading to the back of the plane quickly.

If you will take your seats please, we are getting ready to leave the gate…

Karen looked back to see that Jace indeed had disappeared into the lavatory, and she was still sitting there, stupidly holding the champagne flutes, waiting. The attendants began to go through the safety checks, and she felt the plane lurch slightly, realizing they were backing away from the gate.

“Ma’am, we are going to have to ask you to turn those over,” one of the stewardess’ said as they were coming through to check the seatbelts. Karen took a sip nervously, feeling it tickle her nose, and felt bad handing both flutes back.

Curious, she looked for Jace… and saw him talking with one of the attendants at the back of the plane. He was smiling, ran his hand through his hair, and pointing up front… before nodding.

He turned towards Karen, gave a little shy smile before waving, and continued speaking to the woman – who looked at her. Karen’s eyes widened in surprise, making her realize that he wasn’t flirting with the flight attendant…

They were talking and Jace had acknowledged he was with Karen.

She heard the engines start to get louder as she sat in her seat, waiting, and felt Jace nearly plop into his, right beside her.

“Where’d the champagne go?”

“They took it for lift off,” she told him. “You know, I’veneverseen anyone get champagne before they are up in the air. The flight attendants just don’t do that. You must be pretty slick, flyboy, to get your way all the time with the ladies.”

“Not all the time,” he replied. “I remember a certain lady telling me ‘no’ quite a bit.”

“Oh just buckle up, Jace,” Karen smiled, remembering the first time he’d asked her to dinner.

“Ahhh. Okay,” he replied, quickly buckling before holding up a thumb to acknowledge he was buckled.

Cross check. Cabin is ready…

One of the attendants said into the phone – and she knew it was for the pilots’ benefit. Had Jace been holding them up from departing? This was certainly turning out to be the weirdest flight ever.

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