Page 23 of Once Bitten

Chapter Nine

Present Day

The plane lights flickered back on. I’d sunk deep into my seat during the 10 seconds of darkness and the light now illuminated my hand clutching at Finn’s arm.

“Um, sorry,” I mumbled and immediately let his arm go.

He pulled his arm back and patted it with his other hand. I wondered if I’d accidentally hurt him by squeezing too hard.

An announcement over the speakers saved us the issue of the awkward silence.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We apologize for the small issue with the lights. Just as a precaution, we are going to detour for a landing in Dublin. We are in contact with the ground crew there and will be beginning our descent shortly. We apologize for any inconvenience and will update you with any news shortly.”

I could feel him watching me as I made a show of putting my laptop away and fastening my seat belt. My face burned hot with...not anger, not embarrassment, just an overwhelming rush of emotion at being confronted by my own feelings. I had never thought about forgiveness before, I just knew that in that moment, I couldn’t imagine ever forgiving and forgetting what he’d said and done to me.

“Kara.” I heard him say softly.

“I’m sorry, sir,” a flight attendant spoke before I had a chance to, “I’m going to have to ask for you to return to your original seat. We should be preparing our descent soon.”

“Just a minute, please.”

“I’m very, very sorry, sir, I’m going to have to insist.”

“Kara.” He said my name a little more firmly. But I wasn’t ready to face him yet. I felt him sigh and collect his things and follow the FA to his first class cabin.

Somehow he managed to take all the air with him, and I felt dizzy, light headed. Closing my eyes and leaning my head back on the headrest, I breathed in deep. I could hear his voice in my mind, sighing my name, ‘Kara’. It was the most intoxicating sound I’d ever heard. And I wondered how I’d managed to forget it over the last 15 years. For survival, that’s how, I told myself. 15 years on and I was still the one watching him leave.

I felt him move in the seat next to me, “Finn?” I said hopefully, opening my eyes.

It wasn’t him.

“Oh, sorry, it’s just me,” said my original seat neighbor, “they had us move back to our seats. Which was such a shame! The first class seat was amazing!”

I smiled at her, “so I’ve heard.”

“But I think you’re actually the lucky one! Wooooweeeee that guy who swapped seats with me was HOT! I would’ve given up the first class seat to sit next to him any day!”

I plastered a smile on my face, not wanting to quell her excitement, then went back to resting with my eyes closed.

What would I give up to not have to spend the next week with him? I asked myself.