Page 21 of Sparks
I brought my hand to my face just in time to hide an amused snort. Those smart asses! And there was their commanding officer, watching me with a small grin, not saying a word, but his eyes showed he was clearly as amused by his troops’ antics as I was. Proud, even. Other passengers were turned around watching them as well.
Now came the part I’d been dreading. The humiliating life jacket. I put it over my head and followed every direction Marcelle said over the speaker. I buckled the strap around my waist and pretended to pull the strap.
“In the event that your jacket does not inflate, you can manually inflate the jacket by blowing into the—”
“Yeah!” A raucous of cheers erupted when I put that stupid, phallic rubber tube near my mouth. Good Lord, I felt like a pervert standing there holding that thing up to my reddening face like I was about to blow it. Marcelle had to stop her spiel at the thunderous applause. My teacher mannerisms kicked in, and I put a hand on my hip, wagging a finger as I gave the soldiers a reprimanding glare.
Shawn held a hand up and said, “Okay, too far. Y’all, shut up now.” All of the civilians laughed and the soldiers groaned.
My cheeks were hot as we finished, and I reluctantly made my way down the middle aisle, checking to be sure each row was clear of items and everyone was buckled. I felt Shawn’s energy as I neared him, overly aware of exactly where he was in relation to me. When I got to him, I met his eyes and he looked worried.
“Sorry,” he said. “They were out of line.”
I waved it off. “I’m not offended. They were just teasing.”
“Nope.” He shook his head, his jaw tight. “Not okay.”
I glanced at everyone around him and they all looked like puppies who’d been scolded for getting carried away while playing and peeing on the carpet a little. Without thinking, I patted his shoulder, causing him to stiffen, so I pulled my hand back to my side.
“Really, it’s fine.”
I finished my rounds as the plane taxied to the runway. Takeoff was smooth. Outside the window, everything was blanketed in cottony white. From up here you couldn’t make out the gross dirt in the piles. It all looked peaceful and beautiful. The cabin was quiet as everyone stared out.
Marcelle got up, and I joined her. The beverage and snack service went quick. Nobody on the plane ordered alcohol today. I kept my cool when I gave Shawn his ice water, doing my best not to look in his eyes.
And then Silas came on the overhead speakers, talking about the temps and weather and how it was smooth sailing with no expected turbulence.
“And I apologize to anyone who is disappointed that flight attendant Robinson will not fall into their lap this afternoon.”
Everyone laughed or groaned with mock sadness, and I gave a curtsy with a tight smile. Very funny, Silas.Verrryfunny. I patted Jerome’s shoulder as I passed, and he gave me a nod. When I came up on Shawn I stared at the side of his neck, wanting to trace my fingers up that skin and over the shell of his cute ear.
What a weird urge. His ear? Why was his ear cute to me? Ugh! I passed and wasn’t going to look back but couldn’t help myself. I peeked over my shoulder and caught him staring directly at my ass. His eyes quickly flicked up to my face and he froze, caught.
“Do you need something, sir?” I asked sweetly.
“Uh…” Oh, my gosh, the look of panic on his face was so adorable, and then I realized how my words could be misconstrued as an innuendo and I felt my face heat. I hadn’t been offering up my ass!
“Okay, then,” I said, and hurried back down the aisle. If I could stop making a fool of myself that would be great.
At the back of the plane I picked up the receiver and called the cockpit.
“Yell-oh,” Silas answered.
“Hi, Mr. Comedian,” I said. “Can I get y’all anything?”
He chuckled. “Just water for me.” He asked the pilot. “And a Diet Coke.”
I drew a happy face on the napkin for the pilot, and a face with the tongue sticking out for Silas, then brought them their drinks.
The rest of the flight went by quickly. I made my way through the cabin to pick up trash, and when I turned around I nearly jumped out of my skin. Shawn was standing super close.
“Didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, pointing to the lavatory door.
“Oh, yes.” I moved aside for him to go in.
I opened the trash bin, trying to shove the bag in at super speed so I could get back down the aisle, but Shawn was too fast. When he came out, he smiled at me and I smiled back, pulling out a sanitizer wipe for my hands.
“I enjoyed talking to you,” he said. “A lot.”
