I’m not going to promise to go to the gym more often—that never works, and I’m not going to promise to eat healthier foods. McDonald’s is my go-to comfort food and I’m never giving up those greasy fries. (Or those crispy nuggets.)
This year, I’m focusing on the things I actually want. The things I’ve been holding myself back from. Starting with number one: “Dump Adrian’s ass.”
I write that one down twice, and I almost make it my ‘number eleven,’ but I don’t want to waste such a special honor on him.
“First class passengers may now board the plane.” The gate agent calls over the speakers.
I scribble a few more notes, writing the first few things that come to mind.
Before I can read over it and see if everything is exactly how it should be, my zone is called. My seat is listed as “To Be Determined,” so I’m pretty sure that means I’ll be sitting in the worst possible spot. Right next to the restroom.
Annoyed, I hand my ticket over to the agent.
“Did you not want to sit in first class, Miss Weston?” He raises his eyebrow.
“What? What are you talking about?”
He points at his screen. “You have a first class seat for this flight.”
I look at him in absolute shock. I’ve never flown first class before.
“Is that a yes or would you like to graciously give up your seat to a—”
“Nope.” I tell him thank you and anxiously take my spot in the boarding line.
Maybe this runaway trip won’t be a complete bust after all.
With just two passengers left in front of me, my phone rings.
It’s London.
“Yes?” I try to sound normal.
“Did you forget about me picking you up today? Where are you?”
“I’m—” I want to tell her the truth, but I know she won’t understand.
She’s been married to her college sweetheart since she was twenty-one and she’s the epitome of what it means to be a “fairytale chaser.” In fact, when I told her that Adrian wasn’t the man I thought he was and that I wanted to break up with him, she cried.
She said, “Prince Charming doesn’t always wear his shining armor. He has his faults. You shouldn’t break up with him just because things have been rough for a few months. Especially not when years of eternal happiness are right around the corner!”
That was the biggest line of bull that I’d ever heard, and that was also two years ago.
“I guess I just lost track of time,” I say. “Can I meet you?”
“Sure! Meet me at Sweet Falls Country Club, back by the pool, okay? We can eat dinner together! It’s going to be so much fun! Just you and me!”
I shake my head at her terrible inability to lie. “I’ll see you soon.”
She squeals as she ends the call.
Finally stepping onto the plane, I find my row and take the aisle seat—silently hoping that the pilot will forego protocol and take off right away.
Adrian’s latest text is going to make me vomit: “Hey, babe. Remember to look shocked at first, but not too shocked. Save your best face for when you SEE the ring. If you need an example, check out this video on YouTube. This woman nails it perfectly. Can you also pick up some beer on your way here, too? Keep it in your sister’s trunk. The guys are coming over to celebrate with us later.”
I delete his text, and I’m tempted to throw my phone down the aisle.
Please hurry the hell up and get this plane into the sky.
More passengers walk past me, and I nervously bite my nails. I look at my watch and realize that the main doors are about to close. Since it seems as if everyone scheduled for this flight is already on board, I unbuckle my seatbelt and move to the window seat.
“Strawberries and champagne, Miss?” A flight attendant holds out a tray.
“No, thanks. I don’t have any cash on me.”
“No, Miss.” She laughs. “First class passengers get unlimited refreshments before takeoff and throughout the flight. Since it’s a little after the holidays, you can have complimentary champagne as well. The only thing you have to pay for is alcohol.”
My eyes widen and I happily take the food away from her, stuffing down everything within seconds.
“Ladies and gentlemen aboard flight number 743, the main flight doors will be closing in sixty seconds,” an attendant speaks into a mic. “We now ask that you stow away all portable electronic devices.”
I let out a sigh of relief and lean back in my chair, slipping a pair of shades over my eyes. I’ve turned off my phone, and I sincerely hope that Adrian’s embarrassment at my absence will be as brutal as he deserves it to be.
Before I can drift into dreams of him getting hit by a bus, a deep voice sounds to my left.
“You’re in my seat,” it says.
“Am I?” I don’t look over at him. “Or are you just saying that because you almost missed this flight and want to sit in first class?”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ve tried sneaking into first class before, but just so you know, it doesn’t work. They’re going to put you out once they realize you don’t belong.”
He laughs and settles into the seat next to me. “Very cute.”
“Ladies and gentlemen—” The flight attendant begins her safety demonstration. “Please sit back and enjoy the flight.”
My heart starts to race as the plane picks up speed on the runway, as it launches into the sky.
I’m crossing my fingers and my toes, hoping that nothing will ruin this moment—that I won’t wake up seconds from now and realize that this is all a dream.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you are now permitted to retrieve your personal electronic devices,” a voice says over the intercom. “You are also free to move about the cabin.”
Thank God! It’s not a dream!
With my eyes shut, I reach up and twist the air nozzle above my seat—directing it away from me, but I feel a warm hand grabbing mine.
Annoyed, I use my other hand to slide the shades off my face. I prepare my best scowl and get ready to tell this asshole to keep his hands to his side of the seat, but no words come out.
Oh. My. Fucking. God.
I feel my mouth dropping open and try to close it, but I can’t.
The man sitting next to me is utter perfection. Period.
He’s dressed in a flawlessly tailored black suit with sparkling silver cufflinks, a silk tie that’s worth my entire year’s salary, and I’m pretty sure his shoes are custom made.
His deep green eyes are currently piercing through mine—gleaming in the light. And his pearly white smile is devastatingly lethal. As he tilts his head to the side, I notice that his jet-black hair is slightly curly, that his full lips are beyond tempting.
“Were you about to say something to me?” He smiles.
“Yes.” I manage to regain control of my mouth. “Can you let go of my hand, please?”
“Can you admit that you’re in my seat?”
“Would you like it back?”
“No, but I think you can turn the air valve off instead of making it blow on me. That’s a bit rude, don’t you think?”
“Sorry.” I switch it off and he lets my hand go.