Page 8 of Girls Will Be Girls
“It is.” He says through a sheepish grin.
“No.” Like me saying it makes it real.
He just grins at me.
“Fine.” I sigh. “Doesn’t mean we have to talk.” I take another step forward in the queue.
“We don’t have to…” He says, following me. “But we can.”
I stare him down. “Are you always so insistent?”
He shrugs. “Not always.”
“Look.” I turn to him and square my shoulders. “I’m sure you’re perfectly nice and an alright person to talk to when you’re not laughing at my expense, but I’ve had a shitty morning and all I want to do is get through this trip so I can shower for, let’s face it, probably multiple hours at this point, and get the stench ofeverythingoff of me. I’m already dreading sitting in my tiny seat in economy with so many liquids seeping into my skin, not to mention the sweat.” I wipe at my already clammy again brow. “So can we please, just…” I gesture for silence with my hands like Ross Geller.
He instantly replies. “Okay.”
“Okay?” I confirm, irritated still.
He nods slowly. “Okay.” Then he grabs my elbow.
I instinctively try to pull away. “What are you doing?”
“Trust me.” He whispers, tightening his grip and pulling me to the now available check-in desk.
“Good morning, how are ya?” He starts, like some charming politician. “Me and my girlfriend- oh, sorry myfiancée,” he looks down at me adoringly. “Well, we’re not sitting together on this flight, and we were wondering if it was at all possible if we could get some seats together?”
I nearly give myself whiplash with the speed my neck whips to look at him. The last thing I want is to sit with him right now.
“You’re newly engaged?” The middle-aged woman behind the counter beams at us.
“Yes ma’am, we are.” He smiles. “Just last night. I was supposed to do it on this trip, but I couldn’t bear waiting any longer.” His laugh is nothing like the one I heard earlier. It’s so fake in comparison. “It would mean so much if we could sit together.” He smiles, and I swear his teeth glint in the fluorescent lights.
“Let me see what I can do for you two.” She smiles back.
I rise onto my toes, leaning towards him so the check-in lady can’t hear me. “What are you doing?”
“Helping you.” He whispers back. “Sweetie.” He says louder for her to hear.
I try to suppress an eye roll and sip my drink instead.
“You know what.” She starts again. “We have some first-class seats free, and I would love to upgrade you, just our way of saying congratulations.”
My mouth falls open. There is no way this works in real life.
He starts his charade again. “Oh wow. That issogenerous…“ He checks her name tag. “Brenda. Truly, Brenda, thank you.”
I stand there like I’ve seen a ghost.
“Isn’t that amazing, honey?” He turns down to look at me.
I look up at him, then over to a beaming Brenda. “Yes. Amazing.” I get out.
“You know, my son just got engaged too. There must be something in the air.” She grins. “So, how did it happen?” She leans over the counter, ready for our gabfest.
“Oh.” My cheeks redden as I stutter, blurting out the first thing I can think of. “At a ballgame.”
Lou drops his grinning face to mine, looking unbelievably amused, clearly judging my choice of proposal venue.
