Page 21 of Shared By the Pilots

After we landed in Houston, I went to the baggage claim to collect my suitcase full of Mezcal. Dex swung by to give me a hug and say goodbye, and to wish me luck on my date that evening. A few minutes later, as the bags began rolling onto the conveyor belt, Adam came sauntering into the baggage area.

“Do you like music?” he asked.

“Of course,” I replied. “Who doesn’t?”

His smile deepened. “Then I know just the place. I’ll text you the address. See you there in… oh, two hours? Does that give you enough time to freshen up?”

I looked down at myself. “I was planning on wearing my Gulf Airlines uniform. But if that’s too weird, I suppose I can change into something else.”

Adam’s laugh put a smile on my face. “I like you. You’re feisty. See you then.”

After collecting my bag—and verifying that none of the bottles had broken in transit—I went home and changed into a summer dress. Then I tossed the dress aside and put on jeans and a T-shirt. The address Adam gave me was to a public square that had a little pavilion surrounded by bars and restaurants, so I didn’t knowexactlywhere he was taking me, which made it hard to plan what to wear. I could have texted him and asked, but I didn’t want to seem difficult.

My phone buzzed, and I quickly grabbed it thinking it might be Adam giving me fashion guidance. But it wasn’t him.

Luke: Veronica, I’m sorry about what happened.

Me: You’re sorry about what? Because I’m still kind of confused about what happened. You left suddenly in the middle of the night, and you won’t tell me why. Can’t you see how that’s a red flag?

Me: Like, a HUGE red flag, the kind that waves above a used car dealership.

Luke: Can we meet tonight so I can explain it better?

Me: You can explain it right now on the phone.

Luke: I would rather do this in person.

Me: Sorry, I have plans tonight.

The three little dots appeared to show he was typing a response. I put my phone down on the bathroom counter and continued doing my makeup. When I checked again a few minutes later, there was no response.

“Yeah,” I said to my reflection in the mirror. “He’s probably married.”

The sting of that realization was replaced by my excitement for tonight’s date with Adam. I took an Uber to the address because I wasn’t sure how much I would be drinking. It was a pleasant September evening and the pavilion area was crowded with people. A man with a guitar sat on the edge of a large fountain, playing music for tips. Was that what Adam meant when he asked if I liked music?

“I have to admit,” his voice suddenly said behind me, “I’m disappointed you’re not wearing your Gulf Airlines uniform.”

He was standing behind me, hands shoved into the pockets of his designer jeans. He was wearing a well-tailored button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal his forearms. He looked like a freaking model.

“I’ll wear it next time,” I said, then immediately cringed. It felt like bad form to discuss a second date before the first one had even begun. “You’re looking sharp.”

“Why thank you.” He gently put a hand on my back and pointed across the pavilion. “I’m thinking we get drinks at the dueling piano bar. Unless you think dueling pianos is too cheesy.”

“It’s the perfect amount of cheesy!” I replied. “And even if it wasn’t, it’s not like I’m lactose intolerant.”

Adam continued smiling, but narrowed his eyes. “Okay, nowthatwas too cheesy.”

“I realized it as soon as the words left my mouth.”

“I can pretend I didn’t hear.” He put a guiding hand on my back. “Come on, let’s get some good seats.”

The sound of piano music bombarded us as soon as we walked into the building. There was a stage down at the front, with a pair of pianos facing each other—both were occupied, but only one player was currently playing a cover of a Katy Perry song. Two bars flanked either side of the stage, and the space in the middle was full of tables and chairs. We were given a two-person table a few rows back from the stage, which was nice because it meant we wouldn’t get singled out by the performers.

A waitress came by to take our drink orders. “I’ll have a…” Adam grinned while reading the menu. “Sex in the Driveway.”

“You’re getting a what?” I asked, skimming the menu.

He leaned close to me and pointed. “Peach schnapps, blue curacao, vodka, and lemon lime soda.”

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