I arrived at the airport early. I found a seat next to the gate with a steaming cup of coffee in my hand. I read about a Texas spa with hot springs and meditation classes. I always wanted to go but never had time between the small online business I ran and maintaining a household. My husband was on yet another business trip, this one for three weeks. It was the perfect opportunity for me to take care of my needs.
I took small sips of hot coffee and alternated between watching the empty tarmac behind me and the people congregating to wait for the plane. In the past, trips to the airport had me dressed in sweatpants and flip-flops. Comfort and ease in getting through security have always been the most important thing. Today I wore a flirty yellow spaghetti-strapped sundress that ended right above my knees with white strappy heels. The outfit showed off my suntanned legs in a way that I was proud of.
Crossing my legs, I sipped from my cup, my eyes moving through the new arrivals at the gate. I was looking for the one I knew, the one that inspired me to take this trip. I watched as a woman with a large suitcase sat next to a cranky old man. She was talking on the phone loudly and he gave her several pointed looks before getting up and moving away. A family of three hurriedly sat four chairs down from me. The father was looking through their luggage for a pacifier to quiet their small child. A whirl of action behind me dragged my attention to my plane landing. Men on the ground quickly jumped into action, opening the belly of the plane and pulling out luggage.
The intercom called out the departure of a neighboring flight. I sat erect, making small glances down to my cleavage to make sure it was on point. The dress had the perfect support to push my large breast up without a bra. Taking another drink of coffee, I watched two men, one in jeans and cowboy boots, the other in a business suit, sit next to each other deep in conversation. I smiled as delicious scenarios played out in my mind.
The doors next to me opened and a stream of passengers walked out and dispersed to the exit or other gates to catch connecting flights.
An older couple arrived and sat perpendicular to me, the man’s back turned away talking quietly to his wife. Then a man around thirty strolled next to me and sat one seat down doing something on his phone.
I had always thought it would be fun to join the mile-high club. My husband is too prudish for me even to try to ask. It became something I pushed away as a fantasy, not something I would ever get to do. Then, the stranger that has since become a friend through text, mentioned he would be going to Boston. The flight had a stop in Dallas and my plans were formulated. Our game was one of anonymity, so I sat without reacting, knowing a dream of mine was about to come true. He was here.
I watched the new luggage trains approach the plane and being loaded. Finally, the first call of the flight rang over the intercom. “Onboarding of flight 2319 to Dallas and on to Boston. All passengers with seats one through twenty-five, please line up.” I stood and got in line with my ticket for an aisle seat, number nineteen. The guy who sat next to me now stood before me with his ticket number seventeen.
Entering the plane, I stowed my one small carry-on close to the pilot’s cabin. Finding my seat, I tucked my purse into the seat pocket. At the window, the man next to me was already seated. He was attractive with dark hair artfully slicked back, a well-fitting button-up shirt, and casual jeans. He smiled at me as I sat, then continued on his phone. I buckled in and looking nonchalant watched the other passengers board. Excitement bubbled into goosebumps across my skin.
As the others entered the cabin, I first saw the woman on the phone earlier as she took the aisle in the row behind me on the opposite side. The harassed old man huffed as he took the middle seat next to her. Laughing to myself, I watched the family trying to maneuver onto the plane. The dad was holding three large bags and the mom was trying to hold on tight to a wiggling kid. Next came the older couple, the man swiftly stowing away their luggage as his wife searched for their seats behind me. He placed the first bag above the seat in front of me, the second above my head. When he was done he looked down and smiled before walking back to his wife. The cowboy and businessman came last. The businessman passed quickly, but the cowboy gave me a wink and a smile before continuing.
The flight attendants gave instructions, indicating what to do in an emergency, and the plane was off. The crew made their way around to take drink orders. The guy next to me ordered a vodka cranberry. He looked at me and I ordered the same. He paid for both our drinks and then went back to his phone. Apparently, he was using the airplane internet.
Drinks were delivered with small bags of peanuts. I handed the guy next to me my nuts because, well, peanuts are gross. He held his plastic cup to me in a toast. Small talk ensued and the hairs at the back of my neck stood.