Page 78 of The Best Wild Idea
“Good morning,” she says, stiffly, avoiding my eyes.
“What’s that look for?” I ask. “You doing alright?”
“Fine,” she says, exhaling loudly. She crosses her legs one direction, then the other. Then side-eyes me for a split second, before snapping her attention forward again.
I eyeball her back. “You sure?”
“Silas, I said I’m fine,” she says, widening her eyes, once again crossing her legs the other way.
“Did something happen with Andy to make you upset back there?”
“No, what would happen with Andy?” she answers quickly. Her voice has risen an octave. Then she adds, “Why, what did you hear? Can you hear anything from here?”
“What was there to hear?” I ask, studying her harder, swallowing a laugh. She looks panicked in a very guilty kind of way.
“Flight attendants, please buckle up.” Carl’s voice suddenly courses through the speaker, causing Jules to jump.
“Little jumpy there?” I ask, now fully amused. “What are you afraid I’d hear in the back while you were sleeping?”
“Nothing.”
“It had nothing to do with you dreaming about me, did it?” I guess, smiling in her direction. I watch her face to see if it’ll give her away, clueless whether or not I’m right.
She twists herself toward me then glances toward the kitchen galley where Andy is probably buckled up behind the wall. “Who said I was dreaming about you?” she asks, a bit too breathlessly. “Could you hear me or something?” She blinks, way too innocently, then shifts again in her chair.
Christ.
“No one said you were dreaming about me. But your face just did,” I say, laughing.
“Shut up,” she says, staring forward again. “I wasn’t.”
“Happens to the best of us,” I assure her. “Were you pushing me from the plane again or is that just inmydream?”
“Definitely not,” she answers, forcing a frown to cover up her smile. Her face says it all. Whatever this dream was, it’s not one she wants to talk about. “And if I was, it’s not like I could help it.”
“Okay.” I settle back into the seat, wishing I knew what it was about.
“Sorry I took up the only bed the whole flight. You probably could have used some shut-eye, too,” she says, changing the subject.
“Was it a good dream at least?” I press again, not willing to let it go.
“No,” she says, too quickly to stop herself.
I chuckle and nod. “Yeah, mine never were that great about you, either.”
She swallows but the look on her face is priceless. “You’re welcome to take the bedroom now,” she tells me, probably hoping I’ll go and leave her alone.
“Can’t,” I tell her, feigning disappointment.
“Why not?”
“Seatbelt sign is on.” I tap the illuminated sign above us. “I do plan to take a shower though as soon as it turns off.”
She crosses her legs the other direction again.
“Unless you need one first?” I smirk. “A real cold one, maybe?”
“No,” she answers, again too quickly.
