Page 4 of Someday You Learn

They serve as yet another reminder that most humans don’t even understand the concept of love, even when it’s right in front of them.

Unfortunately, I know that firsthand and refuse to be made a fool of ever again.

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“Why does it take people so long to get on an airplane?” I grumble to myself as I stand in the aisle, waiting for a few people up ahead to stop arguing about who has the window seat and just fucking sit down already. Luckily, they figure things out, finally allowing me to take the few steps to my seat. I stash my carry-on suitcase in the overhead compartment and plop down into the seat below me.

“More people die in car accidents than plane crashes, Cashlynn. Just remember that.” My head snaps to the woman on my right, who’s staring out the small window at the asphalt below, muttering to herself.

Jesus. Of course I get seated next to the woman who’s talking to herself.

“Although our luck seems to be subpar anyway, which means we could be the one that increases the statistic. Oh God, this is how we’re going to die…”

Fuck. This woman is afraid of flying. And even though it’s none of my business, if she keeps narrating her death in the third person, I’m not going to be able to ignore her.

The last thing I wanted to do on this flight was strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to me. I was actually looking forward to binge-watching the second season ofBridgerton. Hazel, my younger sister, is watching it too, and we are planning on talking about it tonight on the phone once I get settled into my hotel.

But now, I feel an obligation to calm this woman. She’s obviously afraid, and the last thing I want is for her to have a fucking panic attack mid-flight. Then someone might call out for a doctor, and I’ll be put in that uncomfortable position where—yes—Iama doctor, just not for people. And then I’ll have to explain why I didn’t just help her in the first place and look like an asshole who saves puppies but lets humans freak the fuck out.

“You’re not going to die,” I say, debating placing my hand on her shoulder and deciding against it.

She pushes her hair away from her face but keeps her gaze locked outside, her hands continuing to fidget in her lap. “I’m just trying to remind myself that the likelihood of me plummeting to my death in this plane is fairly low.” She clears her throat. “Sorry if I disturbed you.”

I remove my hand from the armrest and start to fasten my seat belt. “The worst part is taking off and landing, in my opinion. Once you’re in the air, there’s not much to worry about.” I snap the belt in place, feeling slightly less irritated now that I’ve tried to comfort her. But then she blows out a breath and turns to face me just as I lift my head. When our eyes meet, it’s like someone just punched me in the chest.

Holy shit. This woman is fucking gorgeous.

Silky blonde hair. Amber eyes that practically glow. Soft, full pink lips.

But her eyebrows are drawn together, every ounce of her fear etched in the lines of her face. My chest does some weird tightening thing and I want to reach out and touch her again.

Fuck.

This woman is exactly the type I should stay the hell away from—the kind that makes me feel something other than just horny. Although my dick definitely has some thoughts about our seat neighbor. Too bad he’s not running the show today.

“I just don’t do it that often, so when I do, my anxiety builds up, you know?” she says, pulling me back to reality. “For instance, I couldn’t sleep at all the last three nights just knowing I had to take this flight today.”

“Three nights?” I shove my laptop bag under the seat in front of me, hoping my heart rate will calm the fuck down before I look back at her.

“Yeah, which means I’ll at least sleep well tonight when my head hits the pillow.”

“That’s true.” We stare at each other for another moment, my mind and body at war before I finally remember my manners and extend my hand to her. “I’m Parker, by the way.”

“Cashlynn.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Sorry you had to hear me rambling about dying,” she says with a chuckle.

Suddenly, our conversation isn’t so irritating anymore. “It’s okay. Flying is a legitimate fear.”

“I know, but I don’t want to be that annoying person you sit next to on the plane and tell your friends about later,” she says, just as there’s a sudden bang from beneath us. Her eyes widen instantly. “Oh my God! What was that?”

I glance around the cabin, expecting to see something out of the ordinary. “What?”

“That noise!”

My brain catches up to speed. “Oh, they’re just closing the luggage compartments.” Cashlynn closes her eyes and breathes deeply, in and out through her nose. “Are you going to freak out about every sound on this flight?”

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