~ ♥ ~
“Good evening passengers, this is your captain…”
My eyes opened and I had to blink against the harsh lights that had come on in the cabin. I lifted my head off Graeme’s shoulder, relieved to see I hadn’t drooled on him this time, and the wet mark from before had dried invisibly. As I leaned away from him, he took a deep breath and stretched his arms overhead, pressing his fingers against the low ceiling above us.
“Hey,” he said sleepily as the announcement that we were starting our descent into New York wrapped up. “We’re almost there.”
I pushed up the window shade and looked down at the twinkling lights of New York City as we approached. My heart twisted in my chest; while I was excited to get off the plane after so many cramped hours, as soon as I did, this would all be over.
Ask him for his number, my brain urged. But something told me if I tried to extend whatever this was beyond the gate, he was going to tell me he had a girlfriend, or worse, he’d give me a confused look, telling me I’d imagined something between us that wasn’t there. Maybe he was just being chivalrous by letting me sleep and drool on him. Maybe he was just that guy.
Or…Maybe he’d ask me for my number. Not that I had one yet, but I’d tell him to give me his and I’d text him as soon as I got a new phone. Hell, I could probably get one in the airport while I waited for my trunk at the baggage carousel.
Please ask me for my number, please ask me for my number, I chanted inside my head. But as the whispers in the cabin turned to excited chatter as people got ready to land, he didn’t let on that he was going to ask.
As my throat tightened involuntarily (and I heartily berated myself for getting upset over a guy I’d known for literally hours) I pulled out my backpack and tucked my eye mask and earphones into one of the pockets.
He might still ask, I reasoned with myself as I stuffed the backpack back under the seat to prepare for landing. Though I could feel him watching me and he had every opportunity. But still nothing,
Then the flight attendant was back to collect our garbage and I handed her our cups.
I thanked her and leaned back in my seat.
Ask now.
Now would be the perfect time.
Please. Please. Please.
“So,” he said.
“Yeah?” I asked, probably way too eager for whatever it was he was about to say.
“Have you been to New York before?”
I nodded. “Yeah, with my family a couple of years ago.”
“I don’t suppose you know where the good nightclubs are?”
I shook my head. “I’m not old enough to go to clubs now.”
“Right. Stupid question. Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I said with a shrug.
Ask me now. Even though you’re only here for a meeting and I’ll probably never see you again, please ask for my phone number. I didn’t even know why it was so important, I just knew that it was and that at that moment, I’d never wanted anything more.
We sort of looked at each other for a few awkward moments until I couldn’t stand it any longer. I reached for the Sky Mall magazine again and flipped through the pages while we descended into JFK and he ignored all my telepathic pleas.
Finally, we were on the ground.
Maybe he’s waiting until he can turn his phone on.
But as we taxied into the gate and everyone lit up their phones, he looked down at his but didn’t say anything.
Maybe he’ll ask at the baggage carousel.
As the plane stopped moving, everyone jumped out of their seats and started collecting their things.
“Do you mind waiting a bit?” Graeme asked. “I’m too tired to fight the crowd.”
Thrilled to have a few more minutes with him (so he could JUST ASK ALREADY) I shook my head. “No, I don’t mind.”
*awkward silence*
*more awkward silence*
Then, when most of the people were off the plane, he smiled at me. “Do you have a bag I can get for you?”
I nodded and grabbed my backpack as I followed him out into the aisle. I pointed up to my spinner in the overhead bin, which he pulled down for me. He grabbed his own and waved for me to precede him down the aisle.
We’ll go together to the carousel and he’ll ask me there. Or if he doesn’t, I’ll ask him, I told myself. My heart pounded at this plan, but I tried to look normal as I slowed down at the gate so he could catch up with me.
“Baggage claim is this way,” I said as we got out into the terminal.
“I don’t have any. I’m just here for a couple of days, so…” he shrugged as he smiled at me.
“Oh,” I said, my stomach twisting as I realized this was it. “Um, well…”
He gave me a quick hug which was kind of awkward because of the backpack over my shoulders. “It was great flying with you, Brooklyn,” he said.
“You, too, Graeme. Uh…”
“Okay, well, I won’t keep you. Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome,” I said as I totally chickened out.
He turned then and walked away toward the exit as I helplessly stood there. I watched him walk away and not turn back. And then he was gone, disappearing into the crowd without my phone number or any way to get a hold of me or even my last name, fake as it was.
I would never see him again.
And I realized in that moment that my whole life had been a series of moments like this one where I let things pass me by. I was a casual observer in my own boring life and if I wanted to be the kind of girl who guys ask for their phone numbers, I had to do something more than just watch guys walk away in terminals while I stood there like a mute idiot.
I was going to be that girl who guys ask for their phone number. Starting right now.
I was going to make a change and be the girl I wanted to be.
I now had the perfect opportunity to reinvent myself. Graeme had been right about that. It was going to be brilliant. I would make sure of it.
With renewed purpose, I took a deep breath and held my head high as I made my way to the baggage claim.
~ ♥ ~
Find out what happens next to Brooklyn – Download Taking the Reins for free!
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The Complete Rosewoods Series
FRESH START (Series Prequel)
TAKING THE REINS
MASQUERADE
PLAYING THE PART
READING BETWEEN THE LINES
I’LL NEVER FORGET (Short Story)
THIS POINT FORWARD
RISKING IT ALL (Short Story)
MAKING RIPPLES
ACTING OUT
HITTING THE TARGET
TURNING THE PAGE
CROSSING THE LINE
Find me online at https://katrinaabbott.com, follow me on Twitter @abbottkatrina and come check out my Pinterest board to see some of the inspirations behind the characters (girls and guys!), the costumes for MASQUERADE and some of the inspirations for Celia’s carving.
xoxo
Katrina Abbott
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