E

did me a favor or not. Russian Guy doe

y stomach flips dangerously. I'm immed

ing. The seat back in front of me is empty. No in-flight magazi

Mind over matter

first-in-command. It isn't even second. My stomach is i

lf, I stand up and rus

flight attendant from before scold

her seatbelt like she means to stand up an

towards my seat. "I'm sorry. I'm a nervous flier and t

ht is on, you need to

t of turbulence knocks the plane sideways. The f

in the lap of S

lf. "I'm so sorry. I didn't

s me up like I weigh nothi

cy. I finally look up a

cover of a men's magazine, lead of

ith unreadable emotion. His jaw is clenche

ry to reel me back to where I b

agining all the dirty things that voice of his

ifferent reason. Then more turbulence shakes the

nting at the empty seat

at isn't my-My

gently grips my waist again, helping me

nger a nuisance, the attendant huffs away. I'm left

to throw up." My face flames with

k I would, but I didn't. I'm a nervo

ladies need to

e door behind me, drop to my knees,

, the feeling in my

for not throwing up. There's a first time for ever

iss, you cannot be in there. This door shou

was a few moments ago. My heart is pounding and t

my hands before I finally open the doo

o sit down,

at isn't my-My

gently grips my waist again, helping m

nger a nuisance, the attendant huffs away. I'm left

barrassment. "I mean, I didn't. Didn't get sick, that is. I did think

allowed to be this attractive. Or this cool under pressure. I thought I was going to die, and he looks as relaxed

asks. There's no detectable accent.

and then wince. "I d

en the seats and removes a hospital blue

look there. I figured the bags wo

me in fir

y on point. I nod. "Yeah. I got bumped up. I think the attendan

she take pi

a bachelor party back there. They were being pretty loud, an

k in his seat. "Sitting a pretty woman near a

here's plenty of space for both of us, his warm ski

rain snags on "pretty woman." Like a dumb teenager t

ly is. "I don't know if that's why. I have been stressed. I'm on a work trip

you don't thin

n to him. He's looking at me again,

on. "I don't-I wasn't saying-You can't

gs. "Wh

t's... unc

able. I called you beautiful, and you

ett

ns. "Ex

said I was prett

ays coolly. "Beaut

ntersections and direct traffic. I'm flaming w

u uncomfortable

maybe 'uncomfortable' was the wro

irks up in a

don't kno

e a legit pig. I duck my face, but the man reaches

o hear yo

w or if he just wants to hear me say he

rand prize on a game show. "You're quite handsome and clearly successful and very much in your element.

was an anomal

being around someone like you is a lot for me to handle. I'm worried I'm going to make a fool o

"You haven't made

groan. "You're clearly only sa

yourself, I'll give you one thing: you

m n

ath smells like peppermint. "Because I a

p in my mind. I want to ask him what that was about. Maybe he's having a b

doub

ells me he'

ice to me," I