Overshare some more, why don’t you, she thought.Make the man uncomfortable.God, she would have kicked herself if her feet weren’t throbbing.
‘So, do you live in Kerry or…?’ he asked politely, because what the hell do you say after someone makes a joke about their dead mother.
‘Weekend with some old friends,’ she responded. ‘Should be fun… God, I’m sorry, that mother thing was misjudged, my mouth just runs away with me sometimes.’
He shook his head. ‘Please don’t be. I’ve lost both of my parents. Sometimes humour is the only way to cope. Besides, I’ll take misjudged over the usual humdrum small talk people swap at airports any day.’
* * *
Forty very enjoyable minutes later, Alex heard their flight being called over the tannoy.
‘I’ll walk with you if that’s OK,’ he said, picking up his backpack. ‘I think I’ve done enough following for one day.’
‘Agreed,’ she said. ‘At least this way I’ll know where you are.’
Thankfully for Alex’s feet, the walk to their gate was short, but she still felt sad that their time together had come to an end. Meeting Aiden had been unexpected to say the least but the most fun she’d had in ages.
‘Well, I have to make a quick phone call,’ he said, ‘but have a nice flight! It’s been really great meeting you. Surprising.’
‘You too,’ she replied. Would it be weird to give him a hug?Of course it would, you loser, he has a girlfriend, just say goodbye.‘Hope everything goes well with the family!’
Alex got in line for boarding while Aiden walked to the side to make his phone call.
Surprising. She smiled. What an excellent way to describe it.
Once on board, Alex took her seat by the window and slid her shoes halfway off. Instant relief. All that feminine click-clacking was starting to take its toll but rather than unleash her trotters on unsuspecting passengers, half-off meant she was being socially responsible in keeping her sweaty feet to herself. People shared that kind of thing online. Viral photos of passengers with their feet on display being torn to shreds by a comments section baying for blood. The last thing she wanted was to be foot shamed and cancelled by the time they touched down in Kerry. She sat back in her seat and giggled to herself.Foot shamed. Becky wouldn’t have cared about that. Becky and her need to be at one with the ground would have been nude-footed by now, her little blue anklet jingling as she pranced around.
As the rest of the passengers boarded, she lifted the inflight magazine from the seat pouch.Maybe I should bring something for Erin, she thought while flicking through. Some Ray-Bans or perhaps some all-purpose skin cream that was featured inVoguebecause nothing saidsorry your husband diedquite like a tax-free overpriced moisturiser and—
‘This is getting ridiculous.’
Alex turned to see Aiden, placing his bag in the overhead compartment, right next to hers.
‘You’re kidding?’ she said, watching him reach to the back of the storage area while simultaneously making a bold effort not to stare at the flash of toned stomach which appeared every time he stretched. Didn’t they have longer T-shirts across the pond? High-waisted jeans? Onesies?
‘I swear, I’ll show you my ticket,’ he said, continuing to struggle with his carry-on bag. ‘I’m just as surprised as you are.’
Finally, he closed the compartment and sat in the aisle seat, placing his water bottle in the seat pouch in front.
‘Is it weird that I’m happy about this?’ he asked. ‘Like it’s weird as hell but also strangely brilliant. I usually get stuck next to middle-aged men with perspiration problems. Gum?’
His hand reached across the empty middle seat, holding a packet of chewing gum. So far, no one had taken the seat between them. She hoped it wouldn’t be the tattooed man from the bar.
‘I’m good,’ she replied. ‘But thanks.’
‘My ears pop, It’s very annoying.’
‘Yeah, it must be,’ she replied, her eyes still scanning the magazine. Would Erin like a box of airplane Pringles? Everyone liked Pringles.
‘Although, probably not as annoying as the American who keeps showing up and making silly conversation, right?’
American. Not Canadian. Noted.
Alex smirked. Normally he would be correct. Like most women, she hated it when men just inserted themselves into her space uninvited. The truth was in this case, she feared that if she looked directly at him for too long, she might drool.
‘Sorry,’ she replied, flipping over the magazine, ‘I was just a little distracted, but please, continue with the silly conversation, I can’t get enough of it.’
He glanced at the magazine. ‘Ah yes. Duty-free: the attention killer. Anything good?’
She shook her head. ‘Just wondering if bereavement warrants some new sunglasses or—’
The sudden, loud roar of the engine surprised Alex, cutting the rest of her mumbled sentence off. She hadn’t even noticed they’d started moving.
‘Any last words,’ she said as the cabin began to shake. ‘You know, just in case we explode mid-air?’
‘Yeah,’ he replied. ‘I really like your shoes.’
I knew it, she thought as the plane took off.See! These shoes are fucking magical.
