Molly Jo Realy
Tina bit her lip. “That storm is across the country. How is it affecting my flight here?”
The ticket agent offered false sympathy. “I’m sorry. We don’t control the weather, and the storm has decided to stall over Dallas. There are no flights east or west tonight. The best we can do is reroute you to Pittsburgh and see what tomorrow brings.”
She wasn’t completely devastated at possibly missing her cousin’s wedding and the ensuing “this should be you” looks. People never failed to mistake her corporate position for a shield from a personal life. She gave a curt nod and soon had a new boarding pass.
Tina stuffed the paper into her backpack and looked around the noisy, overcrowded airport. A young man—not too young, maybe a few years older than herself—stood and motioned. “Here.”
Tina shook her head but took three steps toward him.
“I insist.” He tucked his hands at the small of his back and gave an exaggerated stretch. “You’ll be doing me a favor. I’ve been sitting too long.”
She had to admit she was exhausted. These later flights challenged any sane being who navigated TSA checkpoints after a hard day at work. “Thank you.” She offered him a faint smile and settled into the seat.
“I’m Kyle.” He started to extend his hand but stopped and gave a goofy wave instead. “Sorry. Etiquette’s not my strong suit.” He looked at his still-moving hand. “I never know if I’m supposed to shake hands with a lady first or wait for her or—”
“Tina.” She gripped his hand. It was stronger than she anticipated. “Where you flying to, Kyle?”
He smiled. “Supposed to be Oregon but I guess my first stop’s in Pittsburgh.”
“Oh. Me too,” she said with enthusiasm. “Pittsburgh, I mean. Supposed to be Albuquerque.”
His eyes turned up and he mulled the word quietly. “Albuquerque. Now there’s a fun sound.”
She studied him as he found enjoyment in the syllables until he caught her glance. “Sorry. Hazard of the job.”
“Professional game show contestant?” She mused.
He grinned. “Linguistics professor and phonetics coach.” Her eyes widened as he continued. “I know. That’s a mouthful.”
Tina received his pun favorably. “I didn’t know you wordy types have a sense of humor.”
Kyle grinned. “I didn’t know you corporate types could be so attractive.”
She caught her breath. He pointed to her work badge still clipped to her hip pocket.
She unhooked the badge and turned it over in her hand. “Data analyst. I take information that others provide and I find patterns, rhythms. Things that others might not see.”
“Sounds useful.”
Tina licked her lips and looked around.
“I’m sorry,” Kyle took a half step back. “I don’t mean to pry.”
“Oh, no.” She didn’t want to admit he was the first non-work conversation she’d had in days, and short as it was, she was enjoying it. More than just talking with someone. There was something about this someone. “I guess we’re gonna be here for a while longer, and I skipped dinner thinking I’d eat on the plane.”
Kyle lightly jerked his chin. “Grab your bag.” But he was already reaching for it. He walked away, playfully glancing back to make sure she was following. She was.
They arched and scooched through comers and goers and those impatiently waiting in unkempt lines. After a few minutes the smell of garlic and roasted tomatoes greeted them.
Kyle tucked their bags under a table and asked her to guard them. “Pepperoni okay?” He inquired without waiting for the answer.
Tina watched him laugh and banter with the cashier. He had such an easy way about him. But he was corporate too, like her. Well, corporate in a different way. He got along with people. Strangers even.
He peered back and she blushed before turning away. She couldn’t hide that she’d been watching him. But it didn’t look like it bothered him.
They passed the minutes—more than an hour—enjoying each other’s company. Asking questions. Tina questioned herself, her feelings. She was almost first-date giddy.
Kyle wasn’t too standoffish either. When they both reached for the Parmesan cheese shaker at the same time, they laughed and joked about that iconic movie scene with the lovable dogs.
Was that them? Star-crossed puppy dog lovers? No. That wasn’t—
“Who said life should always be practical?” Kyle asked. He waited for her eyes to meet his. “I’m not a mind reader. You said it earlier. I’m a word nerd. But that doesn’t mean I don’t see other things.”
Tina nodded. “And I’m an analyst. But that doesn’t mean I make sense of everything.”
Kyle drummed on the table before sipping his water. “And how would you analyze this?”
Tina processed her thoughts before speaking. This was a chance encounter. A nice man offered his seat. A seat which by now is probably taken by someone else. No expectation of returning to that comfort.
Without the distant storm, he’d be going his way and she’d be going hers. Both headed west, yes, but different destinations. Yet here they were, enjoying conversation and pizza together. Enjoying being with another human being. “Sometimes things really are universally random.”
The PA announced their flight would be boarding soon, and Tina’s heart dropped. She put her hand on Kyle’s. “I don’t want to assume anything. But you’ve been nice, and I enjoy talking with you. Would you like to continue? Talking, I mean?”
He smiled broadly and they quickly exchanged numbers before returning to the gate. “What seat are you in, anyway?” he asked.
“I guess I better check.” Tina pulled out her boarding pass.
Kyle looked at his. “14C.”
“You’re joking.” Tina peered at his pass.
“No. Why?”
She showed him her pass. “14B.”
Kyle dropped an awkward arm around her shoulder. “I guess we can continue. Talking, I mean.”
She reached up, grabbed his hand, and smiled.
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