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I clear my throat, undoing my coat buttons before I sweat to death. “I’m a flight attendant.”
Caleb snickers, “That’s hilarious. How ironic, huh?” He elbows Theo in the ribs.
I tilt my head to the side, “What’s funny about being a flight attendant?”
“I’m sure you know Theo here is terrified of flying. When we were kids, this guy wouldn’t even climb up a six-foot ladder.”
“I can climb a ladder,” Theo interjects.
“You mean you pay someone to climb a ladder,” Caleb shoots back.
“If the occasion calls for it.”
“I’ll go buy a six-foot ladder right now…”
Theo rolls his eyes. “Well, that’s excessive.”
“…and give you a hundred bucks if you reach the top.”
“I can climb a ladder.” Theo mutters and rubs his forehead.
“I guess it’s safe for me to assume you didn’t meet my brother on one of your flights.” Caleb snickers.
I look at Theo as he crosses his arms across his broad chest. “I suppose that would be a safe assumption.”
“My fiancée was so stressed out,” Caleb continues, “thinking she wouldn’t be able to plan her dream wedding in Hawaii because Theo wouldn’t step foot on the airplane. Thankfully, he agreed to tough it out.”
“Wedding?” I ask, genuinely curious, recognizing too late, as Theo’s girlfriend I should probably already know about it.
Caleb stares at Theo, mouth agape. “You didn’t tell her about my wedding?”
Theo squirms in his seat. “Must have slipped my mind.”
“My fiancée, Sarah, and I are getting married next month. She loves Christmas and is originally from Hawaii, so I said, why not. Let’s get married during the holidays.”
“It sounds magical.” I add, but immediately wish I hadn’t. It’s like I’m not capable of having a normal conversation. I remind myself that this is not a normal situation, so I’m allowed to have some bouts of awkwardness.
“When Theo told us he was finally dating someone, I figured it was understood you were invited as his plus one. Honestly, I wish I had known you were a flight attendant sooner. Maybe we could have gotten discounts on tickets.” Caleb’s eyes are filled with an infectious lightheartedness that puts a smile on my face.
“Caleb,” Theo chastises.
“The whole family is excited to meet you, by the way.” Caleb kicks a leg up over his thigh.
“Oh, I uh…” I stutter like an idiot, hoping Theo will step in before I make a complete fool of myself.
“She might be working during the holidays, won’t you, sweetheart?” Theo stares at me intently, and I feel like he can almost see through me.
Caleb tsks. “Surely you can take the holidays off to meet the family, Cate?”
“Caleb.” Theo’s deep and warm voice sends a tingly sensation down my spine.
“Or do you already have plans with your family?”
Caleb asks an innocent and perfectly normal question that stabs me in the chest. It feels like I’ve been slapped across the face, and I suck in a breath to steady myself.
I clear my throat. “Uh no.”
“No plans?” Caleb seems to brighten until I open my mouth again.
