Page 8 of No One Wants That (Blitzen Bay)

“Like you don’t flirt. Come on, Kit, you’re gorgeous, and with that body,” she says, pointing at my chest, “you know guys are falling all over you.”

“I didn’t say I don’t flirt. I just don’t do it innocently. I flirt with guys who have a chance.”

Her mouth drops open as her hand flies to her chest. “Who says Mitch doesn’t have a chance?”

“Stop,” I say, shoving her leg. “You’re only flirting with him to keep the wine and chocolate cake flowing.”

She smiles. “There are worse reasons to flirt.”

“I’m not saying you’re wrong, but what does he get out of it? You know? What does he think’s going to come out of flirting with you right now? Like he’s going to get a blow job in the airplane bathroom or something?”

Chloe spits out a little of her cake as Mitch circles back to top off our wine glasses.

“Are you okay? I can give you the Heimlich maneuver if you’re choking,” Mitch says.

“I’m fine,” Chloe says, winking at him, “but thanks for looking out for me.”

“Someone needs to,” Mitch says as he walks away. “And I’m more than happy to be that person.”

“You’re a tease—like Elle. No judgment, though. I’ve been a benefactor of her flirting for decades and now I’m benefiting from yours.”

I hold up my cake-filled fork to toast her. She clinks her fork with mine.

“I’m not a tease,” she says, “but so we’re clear, Mitch isn’t getting head in the bathroom or anywhere else—not from me, anyway. I hope he’s getting it from someone. He seems nice.”

“Exactly. So what’s he getting out of the flirting?”

“He feels good about himself.” She takes another bite of cake and chases it with a long drink of wine. “What is Mitch—like fifty years old? There’s no way he thinks he’s going to land a twenty-one-year-old woman. He’s having fun. You know, passing the time. You should try it. Flirting is good for the soul.”

“Mitch isn’t fifty. He’s thirty-five tops. And I’ve never been a casual flirt. I’m too old to start now.”

“You’re twenty-five,” she says, scowling at me. “And I thought you said change was good.”

“Shut up, Chloe. Don’t use my words against me.”

“I will not shut up. We have at least ten more hours of this flight and we’re going to solve every one of your problems in that time.”

“Leave me alone. How did you even get this seat? I thought it would be empty when I made Matty stay at home.”

She throws her hands in the air and shakes her head. “How do you think? We’ve already covered this, Kit.”

“Oh my God, you flirted your way into an upgrade, didn’t you?”

“Duh,” she says. “The guy at the check-in desk is like my best friend now.”

“What would you have done if it was a woman?”

“I would have flirted with her, too,” she says. “I don’t discriminate.”

Mitch makes it back down the aisle and holds up the wine bottle.

“Mitch, seriously,” I say, looking up at him. “I’ll have an enormous hangover tomorrow. Ease up on the refills.”

“Don’t listen to her, Mitch,” Chloe says. “She’s on vacation. Keep the wine flowing.”

“Where are you headed on vacation?” Mitch stops pouring when I hold up my hand.

“The mountains outside of L.A.”

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