Page 3 of The Situation
“No.”
“Ror—”
“He wasn’t my type!”
She groans. “Hot cowboys are everyone’s type.”
“Not true.Darlin’is cute once or twice. He would’ve been much hotter if he had stopped talking.”
“Do you know what your problem is?” she asks. “It’s that you don’t appreciate God’s gifts. You’re a beautiful woman with a body I’d do anything but run for, and a personality that’s good enough to make you my best friend, and you don’t appreciate any of it.”
My giggle turns into a full-out laugh.
“What do you want?” she asks. “What are we looking for? A professional? A man riding a motorcycle who’s running from the law? Or do you want a sexy co-ed fresh out of a history lecture? The opportunities are endless, my friend.”
“I don’t want anyone too young. I don’t want to be their mommy.” I notice the woman sitting across the aisle side-eyeing me, so I twist away from her in my seat and lower my voice again. “I’m 100 percent sure I’m going to be on some kind of watch list after today.”
I glance up as the flight attendant pauses beside me.
“Can I get you something to drink before we take off?” she asks.
“Oh.”That’s a thing?“Water would be nice. Thank you.”
She nods and turns to Ms. Eavesdropper.
“I can get used to first class,” I say. “You get wide seatsanddrinks before takeoff. Can it get any better?”
“In my next life, I’m getting a fancy job that wants to fly me to events first class and pay for hotel suites.”
“Let’s hope it continues to be amazing. I’ve only worked here for two months. There’s still time for it to go to shit.”
“You say that from your comfy seat in the front of the plane.” She sighs dramatically. “I’m going to call my mom and tell her she was wrong. Cheerleading could’ve paid off for me big time. I mean, all that math and science crap didn’t get me anywhere. I do hair for a living.”
“You’re doing just fine for yourself, Miss Salon of the Year for six straight years.”
“Yeah, but I could be flying to Columbus, drinking champagne, and wearing cute clothes while schmoozing on someone else’s dime.”
“Well, when you put it like that …”
“Face it. I’m never wrong.” She yawns. “I gotta go. Maddie will arrive soon, and I must mentally prepare for her drama.”
“Have fun.”
“You have fun. Be safe. Drink your water. And call me when you land.”
“Yes, Mom.”
She laughs. “Love you, Ror.”
“Love you. Bye.”
“Bye.”
I end the call and pull out my earbuds.
The sky is much brighter, and the rain is more of a mist than a shower. Steam rises from the tarmac below.
A spark of excitement flickers inside me. I sit with it, holding my book on my lap, and enjoy the peace in my body. Finally, I can breathe without wincing. I can hope without it feeling pointless. I’m able to look towardmyfuture and dream about the possibilities.
