~ ♥ ~
“Good evening passengers, this is your captain…”
My eyes opened and I had to blink against the harsh lights that had come on in the cabin. I lifted my head off Graeme’s shoulder, relieved to see I hadn’t drooled on him this time, and the wet mark from before had dried invisibly. As I leaned away from him, he took a deep breath and stretched his arms overhead, pressing his fingers against the low ceiling above us.
“Hey,” he said sleepily as the announcement that we were starting our descent into New York wrapped up. “We’re almost there.”
I pushed up the window shade and looked down at the twinkling lights of New York City as we approached. My heart twisted in my chest; while I was excited to get off the plane after so many cramped hours, as soon as I did, this would all be over.
Ask him for his number, my brain urged. But something told me if I tried to extend whatever this was beyond the gate, he was going to tell me he had a girlfriend, or worse, he’d give me a confused look, telling me I’d imagined something between us that wasn’t there. Maybe he was just being chivalrous by letting me sleep and drool on him. Maybe he was just that guy.
Or…Maybe he’d ask me for my number. Not that I had one yet, but I’d tell him to give me his and I’d text him as soon as I got a new phone. Hell, I could probably get one in the airport while I waited for my trunk at the baggage carousel.
Please ask me for my number, please ask me for my number, I chanted inside my head. But as the whispers in the cabin turned to excited chatter as people got ready to land, he didn’t let on that he was going to ask.
As my throat tightened involuntarily (and I heartily berated myself for getting upset over a guy I’d known for literally hours) I pulled out my backpack and tucked my eye mask and earphones into one of the pockets.
He might still ask, I reasoned with myself as I stuffed the backpack back under the seat to prepare for landing. Though I could feel him watching me and he had every opportunity. But still nothing,
Then the flight attendant was back to collect our garbage and I handed her our cups.
I thanked her and leaned back in my seat.
Ask now.
Now would be the perfect time.
Please. Please. Please.
“So,” he said.
“Yeah?” I asked, probably way too eager for whatever it was he was about to say.
“Have you been to New York before?”
I nodded. “Yeah, with my family a couple of years ago.”
“I don’t suppose you know where the good nightclubs are?”
I shook my head. “I’m not old enough to go to clubs now.”
“Right. Stupid question. Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I said with a shrug.
Ask me now. Even though you’re only here for a meeting and I’ll probably never see you again, please ask for my phone number. I didn’t even know why it was so important, I just knew that it was and that at that moment, I’d never wanted anything more.
We sort of looked at each other for a few awkward moments until I couldn’t stand it any longer. I reached for the Sky Mall magazine again and flipped through the pages while we descended into JFK and he ignored all my telepathic pleas.
Finally, we were on the ground.
Maybe he’s waiting until he can turn his phone on.
But as we taxied into the gate and everyone lit up their phones, he looked down at his but didn’t say anything.
Maybe he’ll ask at the baggage carousel.
As the plane stopped moving, everyone jumped out of their seats and started collecting their things.
“Do you mind waiting a bit?” Graeme asked. “I’m too tired to fight the crowd.”
Thrilled to have a few more minutes with him (so he could JUST ASK ALREADY) I shook my head. “No, I don’t mind.”
*awkward silence*
*more awkward silence*
Then, when most of the people were off the plane, he smiled at me. “Do you have a bag I can get for you?”
I nodded and grabbed my back