Page 10 of Shared By the Pilots

Luke chuckled and bit off the head of another shrimp. He had ordered an entire plate of them, and was almost done polishing them off. “I’m beginning to see why you enjoy being alone.”

“Being alone is great! It takes a lot of confidence to do an activity by yourself.”

“That’s more or less what I said when you first sat down and said I looked pathetic by myself.”

“It’s different for men and women,” I argued. “If a woman is by herself, people think she’s sad and lonely. If a man is by himself, he’s a cool bachelor.”

“This is true,” he admitted.

“I love eating dinner alone. If Dex has a date, I’ll find a nice restaurant and order the tasting menu all for myself. One of my favorite things to do is take a book to a brewery and read while nursing my beer.”

“Movies are my activity of choice,” Luke said. “When did society decide youhadto go to the movies with a date? It’s quiet and dark. By definition, that is an ideal activity to partake without company.”

I snapped my fingers. “And concerts! You can relax and enjoy the music without looking over and making sure the person you’re with is having a good time.”

“You sound like you’re referencing a specific event.”

“It was two months ago, and I’m still annoyed,” I said with a groan. “I took a guy to see Tenacious D.”

“Jack Black’s band?”

“YES! They’re amazing! But the guy I brought didn’t reallyget it. He just stood there, watching the show while everyone around him sang along and cheered. He was the perfect guy otherwise, but I couldn’t get over it.” I lowered my voice and muttered, “Dex thought I was being too picky.”

“I don’t know how someone can listen toFuck Her Gentlyand not be moved to tears,” Luke said.

“Right?”

“Going to a concert by yourself also means you can bail early if you want,” he added. “Fifteen years ago, I went to a show with a bunch of friends. It wasbad. Genuinely cringe-worthy. As in, my face was contorted in a painful cringe the entire show. I wanted to leave, but my buddy drove, so I was stuck there.”

“What show?” I asked.

“My Chemical Romance.”

I almost spat out my drink. “You went to an MCR show?”

“I was a rebellious teenager,” he said defensively. “Hence the reason I joined the Air Force rather than climb the corporate ladder in the hospitality industry.”

“So you’re happy being alone. Does that mean you’ll never settle down?”

Luke shook his head. “Never is a very long time. I’ll settle down if the right person comes along. But it’s nice knowing that even if they don’t, I’ll live a happy life.”

“And who is therightperson?”

“Hell if I know,” he said. “I’ll let you know if I find them.”

“Are you worried about being unfulfilled?”

“Not really. Are you?”

I hesitated. “Maybe?”

“Maybe?” he repeated.

“I don’t know. From a young age, women are told what they’re supposed to want. A husband. A big house with a white picket fence. Two-point-five children.”

“The point-five part is tough,” Luke said. “Top half, or bottom half?”

“Easy. Top half. My college roommate has two boys, and they’re always running off whenever she turns her back. If I ever had kids, I would want them to be stationary for as long as possible. Not to mention: top half means no diapers to change.”

---