The Exception(2)

“WAIT!” I shouted breathlessly as I handed the attendant my boarding pass.

“You’re lucky. You made it just in time.”

Stepping onto the packed plane, I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the person who was in the seat next to mine.

“Ah, shit,” I silently spoke to myself. This was definitely my punishment. Dark hair, business suit, face of a god punishment.

Taking in a deep breath, I opened the overhead and he looked up at me, his dark brown eyes locked on mine through my sunglasses.

“I don’t think there’s any room up there.”

“I can see that,” I spoke as I shut the overhead.

Suddenly, a flight attendant approached me and took my carry-on from my hand.

“I’ll find a space for it. Just sit down. We’re taking off now.”

“Thank you. Can I get a glass of wine, please?”

“As soon as we’re up in the air, I’ll bring you one.” She gently smiled.

The man sitting next to me stood up so I could get to my seat with ease. Removing the pillow and the blanket, I sat down and took in a deep breath.

“Are you a nervous flier?” he asked.

Slowly turning my head, I looked at him through the sunglasses that I was still wearing.

“No.”

“Well, just the way you wanted a glass of wine before you even sat down led me to believe you were.”

Seriously? What business was it of his if I wanted a glass of wine?

“It’s just been a really shitty day,” I spoke as I looked out the window.

“I’m sorry to hear that. I hope it gets better for you.” He politely smiled and then went back to looking at his phone.

As the plane lifted off the ground, I stared at the life I was leaving behind. A life that was never truly mine to begin with. My heart started racing and my skin became heated. Reaching up, I twisted the knob to the air vent as the rush of cool air poured down on me and I let out a breath.

“I thought you weren’t a nervous flier,” the man spoke.

“It’s not the flight.” I laid my head against the window.





Chapter Two


Jillian



“Here you go, miss,” the flight attendant spoke as she handed me my wine.

“Thank you.”

I didn’t waste any time gulping down half the glass. I needed it more than I thought I did. Realizing that I still had my sunglasses on, I removed them and set them in my purse.

“You’ve been crying,” the man who was all too f*cking nosey, but seriously hot as f*ck, especially with that light stubble across his jaw, spoke.

“How do you know that?” I asked with an attitude.

“Your makeup.” He swept his finger under his eye.

Sighing, I took out the compact from my purse and opened it. Ugh. He was right. I looked like a raccoon. So much for the waterproof mascara Giorgio put on me. I got up from my seat and went to the bathroom. After cleaning myself up and reapplying my eyeliner and mascara, I sat down in my seat and looked at him.

“Better?” I spoke sarcastically.

He gave me a small but incredible smile. “I didn’t think it looked bad before.”

Looking down, my heart skipped a beat. This was the last thing I needed; to sit next to a sexy man who was trying to flirt with me just hours after I left my entire life behind and my fiancé standing at the altar.

“So, where are you traveling to?” he asked as I stared out the window.

“Hawaii,” I replied.

“Me too. Are you traveling alone?”

“Yeah.” I sighed. “Listen, I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but I’m really not in a talkative mood.”

“I understand. Sorry. After all, you did have a shitty day and I know when I have a shitty day, I’m not in the mood to talk either.”

“Good. I’m happy you understand.” I sighed.

I signaled for the flight attendant and asked her for another glass of wine. Bringing my knees up, I placed the pillow against the window and leaned my head against it. I was exhausted, both physically and mentally. My mind couldn’t help but wonder what was happening back in Seattle. The look on my mother’s face when she found I was gone. The embarrassment on Grant’s face when I never walked down the aisle. The whispers of the guests who gave up their time to attend a wedding that never happened. A tear ran down my cheek, and not because I was sad about what I’d done. I wasn’t entirely sure why the tear fell from my eye. Maybe it was because I wasn’t a robot anymore, looking at my life from the outside. I no longer had to pretend to be happy, and every smile that crossed my lips from now on would be real and genuine.

“Here.” The man handed me a tissue.

Taking it from him, I wiped my eyes.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. I wouldn’t want your mascara to run again.” He smirked.

A smile fell upon my face. A real smile. A smile that made me feel good inside.

“Here’s your wine.” The flight attendant handed me my glass. “May I get you anything else?”

“Is there a meal service on this flight?”

“No. I’m sorry. Light snacks only, but there will be a meal served on your connecting flight from LAX.”