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“Jeez,” I muttered. “You don’t have to be such a killjoy.”
Alicia pouted and tossed her hair in that way that made me want her—and want to toss her out of the window at the same time. What had happened to the sweet, friendly, happy girl I’d recruited to CAA almost two months ago?
“Just forget about it,” I said. “Why don’t we sit in silence until Sam gets here, if we can’t be civil, that is …”
“It’s not like I can’t be civil,” retorted Alicia. “After all, it’s not like I sat on a plane for a week and refused to speak out of sheer social embarrassment.”
“I wasn’t embarrassed,” I said. “I’ve never had to handle that kind of situation before.”
“Oh really?” said Alicia. “Because the way you brushed me off after … after it happened, makes me pretty sure you’re an expert in—”
“In what?” I said, a little aggressively. She was really starting to piss me off.
“In screwing your flight attendants,” Alicia spat.
“You know,” I said, “maybe if you’d approached the situation a little more sensitively—you know, rather than just blurting it out in the cabin—then I’d have been able to handle it better.”
“Well, if I’m such an issue for you, why don’t you just fire me?” snarled Alicia.
We stared in silence for a while, realizing that our heated conversation was drawing the attention of people at the table next to us. I sighed and leaned back in my chair.
“You know I’d never do that,” I said. “Besides, Sam’s so happy to see you back in the air. And don’t lie to me, Alicia. Before things went wrong, you were having the time of your life.”
Alicia looked away. In the candlelight, it was hard to see her face as she did. The booth was bathed in shadow. Was … was her lower lip trembling a little?
Alicia made a sound. At first, I thought she was laughing at me, maybe making fun of me, and I was filled with anger. But then I realized she’d sobbed.
“Are … Are you okay?”
“Oh, go to hell!” she replied. I could see the tears forming in her eyes.
Alicia was crying.
“Oh, for god’s sake,” I said. I couldn’t stand a display of emotion like this. It was embarrassing. And Sam would be here soon. “What’s the matter?” I asked.
“It’s fine for you,” she said. “You’re happy with the way things turned out. But me … I …”
“What?” I said.
“Hey guys,” said Sam, behind me.
Oh crap.I turned around and tried to look like I hadn’t just been duking it out with his little sister. “Sorry, it took so long. I was busy filling out some stuff for FAA. It’s that time of year again. Damn, Jake! This place hasn’t changed at all! Since like, 1950!”
I grinned and stood up, putting on a good show. “Sam! How are you doing, buddy?” Alicia smiled too. In the atmospheric candlelight, you couldn’t see she’d been crying easily.
“I’m gonna go to the bar,” said Sam. “Who wants a beer?”
“Let me go,” I said. I was desperate to get away from Alicia, even if I was worried that Sam would see she’d been crying and start asking questions.
“Nuh-uh. You’re always paying for everything. The first round is most definitely on me. I’ll be back in a minute.”
He dropped his coat down next to Alicia and turned around to go to the bar.
“So, what is it?” I said, exasperated, to Alicia, who’d resumed her pouty expression. “What could it possibly be that’s making you act so tense and wound up? Can’t we just relax and try to forget about what happened?”
“Jake,” said Alicia, “you don’t understand. I’m late,” she whispered, meaningfully.
I wondered what she could possibly mean by that cryptic response.Late for what?
