Page 7 of The Mission

Conrad looked up to see him in the seat opposite.

“Where are you sitting?” David pulled the boarding card out of Conrad’s book. Bang went his bookmark. “Oh, next to me. Great!”

What!Fuck, fuck, fuck!Conrad took the slip of paper from David’s fingers and put it in his passport. He wondered if there was any chance of changing his seat, then thought how that would look and knew he wouldn’t. Much as he dreaded two hours of David, he didn’t want to hurt his feelings because he knew how he’d feel if someone did that to him.

“Good afternoon. Welcome to this British Airways flight to Salzburg.”

Conrad looked up when he heard the announcement.

“Would the following passengers please make their way to the desk. Jennifer Shannon. Eli Wiseman. Conrad Hamilton.”

“Oh, what did you do?” Mark asked. “Make a joke about a B.O.M.B?”

You are such a fuckwit.Conrad wished Mark had said that louder and been hauled off by security. What had he ever seen in this idiot? Well, he knew what he’d seen. Someone who could have had anyone but had wanted him. Being wanted was the key. Conrad had never been wanted. But Mark had love-bombed him until he was hooked. It hadn’t taken long. Conrad didn’t blame himself for that. Of course, he’d reacted to Mark’s flattery.And they’d been good for a while, Conrad wasn’t going to deny that. They’d had fun, made each other laugh, enjoyed each other’s company. For a while. Except how long had thatwhileactually lasted?

He went to the desk and waited his turn. He half-hoped the clerk wanted to tell him that the plane was full and he could go home. Back to pathetic Conrad already?He offered her his passport and boarding card.

“We’re moving you to Business,” she said with a smile.

Conrad gaped at her. Was this a joke? For one horrible moment, he wondered if Mark had set him up and that everyone was sniggering behind him. But she took his boarding card, printed off another and handed it to him.Bloody hell!

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Enjoy the flight.”

Conrad didn’t say anything when he got back to his seat. Mark was the type to go and demand that he and the twink were upgraded too, and he’d do it in such a way that it would probably happen. Maybe they were already in Business, though Conrad wasn’t sure how Mark would explain that to the others, especially to the clients.

“What did they want?” David asked.

“A mix-up with the boarding card. Apparently, I was sitting on the wing. They’ve moved me inside.”

At least a few of the group laughed.

Mark had his arm around Ernesto again.Not my type.He was too skinny, too wide-eyed and his arse was too big.I am such a bitch.Maybe Ernesto was a nice guy. After he and Mark had broken up, Conrad had still occasionally met up with the group because he didn’t see why he had to drop out. Mark hadn’t always been there when they got together. But gradually, Conrad had realised that he didn’t much like any of them. After this trip, he’d not be joining them again. It was time he made his own friends.

Passengers in Business were invited to board first, but Conrad hung back. He had this image of himself turning left on the plane right in front of Mark and relishing the shock on his face. Then Conrad wanted to smack himself around the head for being so childish. Though he still hoped Mark was behind him when he boarded.

General boarding started just after Mark had gone off to the toilets and Conrad found himself standing next to Ernesto in the queue.Be nice.

“Looking forward to skiing?” Conrad asked.

“Yeah.”

“Have you been before?”

“Yeah.”

“To Kitzbühel?”

“Nah.”

Well, Mark probably didn’t want him for his scintillating conversation.

“Where have you skied?” Conrad asked.

“America.”

“I’ve been there a couple of times. The snow was great.”

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