Page 4 of Shared By the Pilots

“I’m a sucker for Cuban shrimp. I can eat an entire plate of them without slowing down.”

He picked up the tray of food and went back into the cockpit. Captain Hendricks was a nice man; hard to read sometimes, but then again, most pilots were. He returned a moment later.

“Are there any of those fresh baked cookies left? I’ve got a sweet tooth.”

I smiled. “I have two still sitting in the warming tray. But you’d better leave one for me. Need a drink with that?”

“Two double scotches,” he replied.

It took me a moment to realize he was joking.

“Just kidding,” he said with the barest hint of a smile. “I don’t drink on the job.” A pause. “Anymore.” Another pause. “Not since theincident.”

The deadpan delivery had me cackling by the end. “Careful making jokes like that,” I whispered. “Or the passengers will think you’re serious.”

“A ginger ale, just the can, if you don’t mind,” he said. I handed it to him, and he lingered there in the forward cabin a few moments longer. “If you’ve got a craving for clams, I got a tip about the best raw bar in Miami. I’m heading there an hour or two after we land, if you want to join me.”

Reflexively, I said, “Sorry, I’ve already got plans. But you’ll have to let me know how it is on the return flight tomorrow.”

He nodded politely. “I’ll be sure to take notes.” And then he ducked back into the cockpit and locked the door.

As I returned the drink cart to its normal position, I thought about what had just happened. I had already broken my deal with Dex without even thinking about it. But I had a strict policy about not dating pilots. There were plenty of flight attendants who did, and let’s just say they got a reputation around the airlines.

I’ll say yes to the first three non-pilots who ask me out, I thought as I began collecting meal trays from the business class passengers.

The rest of the flight was smooth, aside from a little turbulence on our descent to Miami. We stood in the forward cabin and said goodbye to every passenger as they left the plane. Captain Hendricks and his co-pilot hung in the cockpit door and did the same.

When everyone was gone, he turned to me and said, “If you change your mind about the invite, the raw bar is called Benicio’s.” He tipped his pilot cap to me, then headed up the bridgeway to the terminal.

“Excuse me?” Dex hissed. “Did Luke ask you out?”

“Captain Hendricks mentioned a seafood place,” I replied. “I don’t think it was a date invitation.”

He glared at me until I relented.

“I don’t date pilots!” I said defensively. I glanced down the plane aisle; Adam was tidying up in the cabin, out of hearing range. “I don’t want to get a reputation.”

“I don’t believe you,” he said.

“Come on,” I argued. “I told you my rule about pilots.”

“You just want to be unhappy forever,” Dex said, retrieving his carry-on from storage. “Well, if you won’t at leasttryto find your soulmate, then I don’t care. But you can find someone else to complain to about it.”

He stormed away, leaving me standing there.

3

Veronica

I walked to the baggage claim alone with my thoughts. Usually I only brought a carry-on unless I was going somewhere for an extended stay, but I had checked a larger bag today so I could bring back that special Miami Mezcal. While I waited in the baggage area, I glanced through the windows into the pick-up area outside. Dex and Adam were in the pickup zone, waiting for an Uber to our hotel. Usually we shared one together, but I guess he didn’t want to wait for me.

I’ve never seen him that mad. Not even after watching the CATS movie.

As the bags moved around the carousel, the number of waiting passengers from my flight dwindled. Eventually, I was the only one left and my bag was nowhere to be found. Just my luck.

After a ten minute wait at the lost baggage counter, I learned that my bag had been mistakenly delivered to the private aircraft terminal. “I don’t know how that could have happened!” the flustered airport employee told me.

A shuttle ride later and I was standing in the tiny terminal where all the private planes arrived into Miami. Compared to the bustle and activity of the main terminals, it was strangely calm here. Through the window I could see the tarmac, where a vintage looking seaplane stood ready to depart.

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