Something In Between: Sequel to On The Edge of Tomorrow

Chapter 4

"First time in first-class?" The man asked before I could turn away again.

"Is it that obvious?" I let my hand drop with the earbud.

"I'm Sam." He stretched a hand out to me.

He had a comfortable, natural smile that eased me to him and from the isolation of my earbuds.

"I'm Lily," I shook his outstretched hand as I spoke.

"So, Lily, why are you heading to Chicago?" He had the perfect level of attractiveness that was alluring but also approachable. His chocolate brown hair matched his gentle eyes.

"I'm actually headed to Duluth."

"Oh, Duluth. Huh, why are you headed there?"

"Visiting a friend. Why are you headed to Chicago?"

"Work. Otherwise, I'd be sitting much further back in the plane." He gave me a wink as the flight attendant returned with our drinks. "Cheers," he offered as we tapped our glasses together with a pleasant ting.

"What do you do?" I asked after my sip. 

He didn't look much older than me, and I suddenly wanted to pump him for every detail of his current career path. I resisted the urge to pull a notepad out and take notes.

"I'm an application trainer for a software company."

"Oh, what did you major in?" He didn't seem taken aback by my questions.

He let out a laugh, "communications. I spent a fair amount of time drinking in college. It worked out, though. I get to travel and meet people, people like you." He gave another wink, and it was unmistakable that he was flirting. "What about you? What's your story?"

"I'm heading into my final year at USM, and then, who knows?" I tried to exhale out my nerves but wasn't successful.

"Well, if I could give you some advice, I'd tell you to start applying for jobs in the winter. The interview processes can take forever; especially for entry-level roles."

"I'll keep that in mind," I smiled as I took another swig of my drink.

"So, Lily, any chance you're single?"

His forwardness mixed with the bubbles of the champagne and made me giggle. "Umm," I stalled as my mind drifted to Billy.

I was single; it was a simple fact-based question with an obvious answer. Billy was with Ella, but still, I couldn't say it.

"If you have to think that hard, the answer is no." He still had a gentle smile. "Too bad, meeting a girl on a plane is a good cocktail story."

"Well, I think I'd prefer to choose my relationships with more facts than a meet-cute moment," I teased.

"Fair," he finished his drink and set it down on his tray. "So, are you from Portland, or did you head there for school?"

"From the Portland area, I grew up in Ashland."

"Really? I grew up in Kingston. We were major rivals." He huddled closer as he spoke, as though the rivalry was a secret.

"Oh, I know. We use to burn a Kingston Knight at our Homecoming bonfire."

"I love Portland. I mean, I love that I get to travel, but Portland will always be my home. I figure I'll do this job for another year or so and then hopefully transfer to another division, so I don't have to travel as much. It seemed exciting at first, but it's getting old already, and it's only been a year."

"Probably a contributing factor to the lack of a girlfriend," I added.

"How do you know I'm single?" He cocked an eyebrow at me.

"I just assumed you asked if I was single because..." I could feel the flush burn my cheeks.

"I'm just kidding. I'm single. And yes, the travel doesn't make a relationship any easier." There was a wistful look on his face. It was clear he didn't care for his single status.

"Okay, so you're from Kingston. What are your best of the best in Portland?" I changed the subject to an easier topic. 

"Oh, wow, great question. So, I don't cook that much, meaning I get a lot of takeout. Pom Thai and Bahn Appetite are definitely in a heavy rotation."

"So good," I agreed. "Have you tried Nura? It's the brick-and-mortar offshoot of The Falafel Mafia truck."

"Have I tried Nura? Of course, I have."

"Okay, okay. What about Karmasouptra?" I continued.

"Seriously? Nothing is better in the winter than their sweet potato corn chowder."

"I respectfully disagree," I smiled.

"What?" His eyes grew wide with surprise. "It's hands-down their best soup."

"Nope; their best is half sweet potato corn chowder and half jalapeno beer and cheddar."

"Wait, you can do that?"

"Yeah, you just ask. I'm also a fan of the loaded baked potato mixed with the jalapeno beer and cheddar, but I'd have to say it's just barely second place."

"That's genius." He sat back in his oversized seat. "Too bad you may or may not have a boyfriend because I think you might be the perfect woman."

"I don't have a boyfriend," I clarified.

"But," he had a cheeky half-grin on his face.

"But I'm not really over my ex," I admitted. "I'm actually going to visit him right now."

"Oh, so you two are getting back together," he knowingly nodded.

"No, he has a new girlfriend. We're trying to be friends."

"You can't be friends with your ex." His comment was quick and definitive.

"That's not true; you can definitely be friends with your ex."

"Okay," but his smugness didn't match his words.

"You can. He has a girlfriend. We're purely platonic friends," I argued.

"Okay, so even if you could be friends with your ex, you definitely can't be friends with your ex if you aren't over him. If you were both over each other, then maybe, but it's doubtful."

"You have to start somewhere. People don't get over each other at the same pace."

"Well, he must be an idiot for leaving you." He gave the nod to the flight attendant for a refill as he spoke.

"Actually, I broke up with him."

"Wait, you broke up with him, but you're still hung up on him, and he has a new girl?"

"It's complicated," I sighed and sat back as the flight attendant refilled our glasses.

"Lucky for us, we have a few more hours in the air." He hunkered in for the whole story.

It was nice to talk to someone anonymous about it all. Sam didn't know Billy or me. I obscured the specifics of Billy's work, but Sam understood the travel pieces. He seemed to understand everything I said, even the fact that I still couldn't get over Billy. I'd grown so comfortable with Sam during the few hours in the air that I was bummed when we landed.

"Well, good luck with the whole friends thing," Sam winked as we exited the plane. "Maybe I'll see you around Portland."

"Yeah, thanks for helping me through my inaugural first-class experience." I waved as we parted to our different destinations.