“Where are you headed?” he asks.
I don’t answer. I’m still entranced; I’ve never seen anyone who looks this good in person.
Okay, this might be a dream.
“Are you partially deaf?” He raises his eyebrow and leans forward, talking into my right ear. “Where are you headed?”
“The same place you’re headed.” I manage.
“You don’t look like you’re dressed for a Washington winter.”
“You know,” I say, slowly coming back to my senses, “just because we’re sitting next to each other, doesn’t mean we have to talk for the entire flight.” I point at the magazine in his lap. “I’m sure that Forbes is just begging to be read. That fiscal crisis headline looks fascinating.”
“I’ve already read it.”
“And your iPod?” I point at the white earbuds peaking from underneath his coat pocket. “Surely you have something to listen to right now.”
“It died on my last flight.” He smiles again, temporarily rendering me speechless with his eyes. “I think you and I should talk for the entire flight.”
I shake my head. I’ve seen this scenario in one too many Law and Order episodes: Girl meets hot stranger. Hot stranger charms girl. Girl starts talking about her life and finds herself revealing personal information. Then hot stranger leads her into a dark alley and strangles her to death. Cue theme music.
“No, thanks.” I pull my iPod out of my pocket. “My music is fully charged, so feel free to talk to yourself during this flight, but—”
“You seem tense.” He lifts the iPod from my hands. “Why is that?”
“Did you just take my iPod?”
“I did.”
“Okay.” I roll my eyes and hold out my hand. “I don’t know if you’re from this country or not, but we consider taking other people’s property stealing, so I highly suggest that you give that back before I make a scene.”
Still smiling, he tucks my iPod into his jacket. “If you’d like, we can go into the restroom and make a scene together.”
“Would either of you like something to drink?” The flight attendant interrupts us with a beverage cart.
Neither of us says a word. We simply stare at one another—him with a devilish look in his eyes, me with an annoyed one.
“I’ll have a Sprite.” I sigh. “And another glass of champagne, please. Actually, make it two.”
“The same,” Hot Stranger says. “And two gin and tonics.”
She nods and makes our drinks within seconds. She waits for us to pull down our trays, and then she whispers, “Happy New Year” before walking to the next row.
I quickly toss back my drinks and regret not asking for more. I have the sudden feeling that this is going to be a long flight. I’m also sure that I’m going to have to put this man in his place before we land.
“I think you need one of these.” The sound of his voice makes me look at him again.
“What?”
“You need a drink.” He holds it out for me. “A real drink.”
“No, thanks.” I push it away. “I don’t trust where that’s been.”
“Excuse me?”
“I didn’t stutter. I. Don’t. Trust. Where. That’s. Been.”
“You think I did something to this drink?”
“No, but I’ve watched enough Law & Order episodes to know that you could have.”
“Law & what?”
“Law & Order.” I cross my arms. “It’s a TV show, and it deals with people like you. People who are nice to strangers, just so they can satisfy their murder addictions and kill them. ”
“I look like a murderer to you?” He’s smirking.
“No, but since I took my eyes off of you for five seconds, you could’ve used that time to drug my drink.”
“You’ve only been able to take your eyes off of me for five seconds?”
“Were you listening to anything else I said?”
“Not a word.” He presses the call button above his seat.
“Yes, sir?” A different flight attendant immediately appears by his side, making a failed attempt to hide her flushed cheeks.
“Can I have two more gin and tonics, please? And could you hand them directly to my friend to ensure that I don’t slip any drugs into them?”
She nods and scurries away, quickly returning. After she hands them to me, she looks my seatmate up and down, and murmurs, “Damn.”
“Is that better?” He looks at me and offers his hand. “I’m Blake.”
“I’m not interested, but I appreciate the drinks. I’ll pay you back when we land.”
“I can’t know your name?”
“Yes, if you give me back my iPod.”
“I’d rather not.” He leans forward and squints at the necklace I’m wearing. It’s a bouquet of roses with the letter “P” at the center. Then he gently touches my wrist, where my bracelet of red hearts and an Eiffel Tower charm are dangling. “Is your name Paris?”
My eyes widen. “No. Nice try, though.”
“If you show me your ticket and that’s not your name, I’ll give you your iPod and leave you alone for the rest of this flight.”
“And if it is?”
“We get to know each other a little better. Is that not your name?”
My cheeks turn red and I know it’s pointless to lie.
“I thought so. Where are you really headed, Paris?”
“Florida.”
He raises his eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“Yes. That is very so. That’s why I’m not dressed for the winter.”
“Hmmm.” His lips curve into a smile. “I hope you enjoy Florida whenever you get there.”
“I will. Where are you headed?”
“Washington. This is my final flight for the day.”
“Interesting.” I can’t take my eyes off him.
“Are you traveling to Florida to see your boyfriend?”
“To get away from him.”
He looks confused. “First-time break up?”
“Hundredth. But this time, it’s over.”
“I hope so,” he says, and I realize that his lips are a lot closer to mine than they were seconds ago.
I pull away and clear my throat. “What about you? Are you coming back from seeing your girlfriend?”
“I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Please. I don’t believe that.” I roll my eyes.
“Why not?”
Pick up a mirror. “I just don’t.”
“If I had a girlfriend, I wouldn’t be telling you that you have the most fuck-able lips I’ve ever seen.”
“What?” I gasp. “What did you just say?”
“Do you want me to say it a little louder?”
“No, but you shouldn’t say things like that to strangers.”
“You’re not a stranger. I’m getting to know you better.” He looks directly into my eyes. “How long were you with your boyfriend?”
“Six years.”