Steve stepped out of the small American Eagle plane on onto the jetbridge, his nose instinctively turning up at the musty smell. Humid, he thought, but not as bad as home. He tried to ignore the flutter in his belly and the heat shooting down to his ankles, sucking on his teeth to remove any stray pieces, knowing full well there weren't any. The mirror check, re-check, and the re-check of the re-check during the flight up confirmed he'd gotten everything after he ate.
He muttered a curse as his rollboard slipped out of his hands, its wheels catching a bump in the gray jetbridge carpet. As he picked the case up, it twisted in his hands, and a small backup of impatient travelers formed as Steve righted the wheels and went on his way. I really hate turning into one of those people I can't stand being behind, he laughed to himself, still trying, with little success, to ignore the butterflies relentlessly tickling his gut.
After a quick pitstop, where he checked out his hair, and his teeth of course, Steve snaked his way through the hallways to his connecting gate. He noticed a wide blue arrow painted on the wall pointing in the direction of the LIRR platform. Hmmm, he thought, I wonder if that's how she got here? I wonder if she IS here?
The gate for the London flight seemed a mile away as Steve searched for the correct gate number down the long expanse of the corridor. As he made his way, weaving in and out amongst the other travelers scurrying either to their connections or their rides home, he quickly realized the gate was at the very end. Figures, but hey, it's worth the walk, he thought, sucking in his breath but unable to exhale.
He spotted her immediately despite the crowd of people waiting to board. More people than places to sit. Babies and small children sat on their parents' laps, college students about embark on some exchange experience were sitting in a circle on the floor, laughing at an article in the latest Cosmo, and business travelers who were milling about trying to look important chatted through their Bluetooth earpieces. In the middle of it all she sat next to the only seat not occupied by a person, the seat where she'd piled her purse and her carryon bag.
Awww, saved me a seat, Steve thought, smiling to himself. Before making his way over, he took her in, realizing having only seen pictures that he would have never seen her move before. He noticed her blonde hair cascading about her shoulders and down her back. She brushed one side of it off her face while throwing the rest behind her with a long-perfected twirl of her head.
Steve tried to get a glimpse of her eyes, bright and Bahama ocean blue. She wore a black short-sleeved sweater made of light wool, not too tight but still showing off the curves of her slender body. A short skirt ended just above her legs, which Steve watched her uncross and cross again with a lick of his lips and a gulp of his throat. He swore he could sense the sweet fragrance of body lotion that had to have been hers.
This is it, he thought, inching his way toward her as she worried herself over a smudge on her fingernail.
As he started to wave, she looked up. Nervous. Her forehead burrowed, she frowned, cocking her head sideways as if to beg him off. Steve missed the cue, finding an opening among the crowd and beelining a path toward her.
"This seat taken?" he said with a broad smile. He extended his hand and started to introduce himself.
"Uh, no. Hold on," she answered. She exhaled, slightly irritated and unsure where reposition her things. She dragged the bulky blue carryon to the floor and began pulling it in front of her, its weight resisting her efforts.
"I can help you with that," Steve said.
"It's OK," she replied. She turned to Steve and nodded her head, affirming it was OK, but as she grabbed her pocketbook she quickly turned away, lowering her voice. "But just sit there and act like you don't know me."
"Well, technically I don't," he answered in an equally low voice.
"Just, I don't know, pull out your laptop or something and keep looking down."
"I could email you," he tried to joke.
She didn't answer him, the nervous look returning to her face.
He went on, still somewhat clueless to what might be concerning her, which annoyed her. He struck her as a fairly sensitive person. "Thanks for saving me..."
She turned to glare at him and cut him off as an older gentleman walked toward her.
"Lorelei, you didn't save my seat," the man said to her.
"Oh, I'm very sorry," Steve said, trying to hide his confusion and disappointment. "I can move."
"Don't bother," the man said, smiling and waving him off. His eyes twinkled as he turned to Lorelei. "I'm on another flight, but it's not every day I run into one of my favorite people here."
"I'm sure," Steve said, finally getting it as he opened up his computer to power it on.
"I suppose I had better be off anyway, Lorelei," the man said. "You have a fantastic trip, sounds great. I'll give those guys a call on Monday like you suggested and I'll see you when you're back."
"OK," Lorelei said, turning her head to the side as the man leaned down to peck her on the cheek. She raised her eyebrows at Steve as he did and then briefly clutched the man's hand before he walked off, his eyes already searching for his gate.
"Big donor to the school," Lorelei said. "He just loves me, too," she said with a laugh.
"What's not to love? Sorry 'bout that. I see now why you motioning to me with your head."
"Oh, I thought maybe you just didn't see me. It's OK. No harm done."
"So what did you tell him about your trip?"
"Just let me worry about that."
"And what did you..."
"Just let me worry about that, too. We're the only two people in the world, remember?" Lorelei looked at Steve and smiled a pensive smile.
"It's nice to finally meet you," Steve said. The butterflies started to churn again, this time more excited than nervous. Not sure what to say he blurted out, "Well, sorry I'm not better looking."
She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "You'll do." She reached over and touched his arm lightly, sending a jolt right up Steve's shoulder. He thought he'd jumped an inch in his seat.
"I guess the coast is proverbially clear then?" he asked.
"I think so," Lorelei said. "But let's at least try to be somewhat cool."
"Easier said than done."
"You got that right."
"You look plenty cool to me."
Lorelei let out a long breath and looked back at Steve, looking for some understanding. "I don't think so," she said. "I've never done anything remotely like this. Ever."
Steve nodded his head slowly. He left over and squeezed her arm gently. No electricity, only the warmth and softness of her skin. He bit his lower lip and whispered, "I'm glad you're here. And I'm so glad to finally be with you in person after all this time."
"I'll be fine once we're on that plane," Lorelei said. Leaning over, she whispered into his ear, sending a chill down Steve's spine. "So am I, baby. I'm really glad I am, too."
********************
"You want the window?"
"Doesn't matter. Nothing to see. Gonna be dark the whole flight anyway."
"That's right." Lorelei looked back at Steve, who just shook his head. "What?"
"Unbelievable."
"What is?"
"This."
"It is what it is. And here we are."
"Yes, that we are." They both settled in their seats. As Steve went to strap himself in, he realized Lorelei was sitting on his buckle. She realized it before he had to ask for it. Or fetch it himself.
"I think this is yours," she said.
"Uhhh, yeah, thanks." Steve looked at her and smirked. "You know..."
"What?" Lorelei asked, half expecting what was next.
"You're even more beautiful in person." Lorelei had guessed right. She gave him a big smile, brushing her hair behind her ear just as she had at the gate.
"Thanks." She was about to say something when the flight attendant stuck a tray under their noses.
"Juice, water, or champagne?"
"Water's fine with me, thanks," Steve said.
"Me, too," said Lorelei.
"You were going to say something?" Steve asked her.
"Never mind." Steve smiled and shook his head again. "What now?"
"Nothing. I feel as though I have so much to say to you but we're kinda stuck here in small talk."
"Beats that uncomfortable silence, ha ha!"
"Thank you, Mia Wallace and no, I'm not going to ask you why Tony Rocky Horror got thrown out of that window."
Lorelei eyed him, whacking her foot against the side of Steve's leg. "It was the foot massage."
"I'm pretty good at those by the way." Affecting a very bad Sam Jackson accent he went on, "And I don't tickle or nothin'."
"We'll have to see about that. Looks like we're about to take off." Lorelei put her head back in her chair, staring straight forward, slowly beginning to relax. Without looking back at Steve she asked, "You taking that Ambien you're always talking about?"
"No." Steve said. "Not this time."
"But you said you're going straight into a meeting in the morning. Won't it be morning when we get there?"
"I'll be fine."
"If you say so," Lorelei said, smiling to herself.
********************
The lights in the 777 dimmed in the cabin once the last sounds of the flight attendants clearing the dinner trays ended. Steve stuffed the bottled water he'd just been handed into the magazine slot in front of him as the passengers around him and Lorelei all leaned back, some with blinders and blankets, settling in for the next five hours.
Steve turned his head, surveying the cabin. "What are you looking for?" Lorelei asked.
