Flying
I feel like an imposter as I find my seat in first class.
Logan quickly gets settled into the wide window seat and I'm grateful to have the aisle. It's weird not to be wedged into a tiny seat, keeping my elbows tucked to my sides as I try and get situated. I spot the massive rock the woman across from me is sporting as she tucks her Louis Vuitton bag under the seat in front of her and I quickly kick my knockoff further under the seat out of view. I flit my eyes to Logan as I ask, "Do you normally fly first class? You seem too tall to fit properly in those seats back there."
He shrugs, "Depends on where I am going and how much more it is than a coach ticket. What about you?"
I shake my head, "No, this is my first time."
"A lot of firsts happening for you today it seems," he says as he slides a packet of gummy worms out of his backpack and drops it in his lap. Another thing that seems so on-brand for him. "Are you doing okay?" He asks as he rips open the package. I watch as he grabs a handful of gummies and then selects one to drop into his mouth like he's a Roman goddess eating grapes. I take a deep breath and answer, "I can definitely already feel the vodka, so we'll see what happens when we're in the air."
"Are you someone who needs silence while dealing with a panic attack or does talking help?" He asks as he drops another gummy into his mouth. He holds his hand out to offer me one but I shake my head. Sugary sour worms are so not a part of my in-flight routine.
"Depends, the last time I had a panic attack was with my sister on our way to Spain. We still had eight hours left so she distracted me with a movie because there is no way my sister could talk about anything for eight hours." A flight attendant interrupts us by offering water bottles but I don't want to dilute the alcohol, so instead I ask for a vodka soda for Logan and me.
"It's weird to be offered a drink before we take off," I mutter to Logan as the flight attendant moves to the row behind us and Logan drops his head back against the spacious seat, looking completely at ease.
"When did you go to Spain?" He asks before selecting another colorful worm.
"Three years ago. My sister Emma wanted one last adventure before she started trying to get pregnant. So, we cruised along the Spanish coast until we got to Portugal," I tell him as I remember how fun it was to have her with me as we explored multiple Spanish cities for two weeks. Since she's had Madison, she doesn't have time to come on adventures and I am back to traveling the world alone.
"Nice, I went to Barcelona after I graduated college. I'm trying to make it back there at some point."
I nod, "Didn't Chase go with you on that trip? I feel like I've heard some Barcelona yacht story that involved the both of you."
Logan grins and even though he doesn't have the dimple like Chase does, I notice his smirk is still hot. I wonder if the alcohol is hitting me more than I thought.
"Chase has been on most of my trips. Or maybe it's the other way around. He has his parent's money to spend when he travels, so he's usually the one planning things." I know Chase comes from money, and I also know first class is his usual form of traveling because I have booked his plane tickets.
I realize I will be sitting next to one of Chase's best friends for three hours, who has a wealth of knowledge on my favorite subject. He also may have an opinion on Ainslee and we are alone with no eavesdroppers. A golden opportunity may have just fallen into my lap and he's already started drinking. I might be able to weasel intel out of him, but I can't seem too interested and he becomes suspicious.
Our drinks are dropped in front of us and I take a generous sip, hoping to ease my anxiety and gain some liquid courage.
"What's Chase like when he travels?" I ask innocently as I drop my drink down on the tray. "Is he as meticulous about things as he is about event planning?"
"Do you mean is he a Type-A pain in the ass when we're abroad?" Logan asks and a laugh escapes me as I nod. "Yes, he is. I left a wet pool towel on the end of our bed once when we were in Austin and he threw a shit fit. Brought me right back to our dorm days."
"You two lived together?" I ask in shock as I do not see Logan's easy way of living meshing well with Chase.
Logan nods, "For three years. If I had wanted to leave Boulder after college, we probably would have found a house together in Denver after we graduated."
"Don't take this the wrong way," I start and he winces, bracing for what's coming. "But, you and Chase seem so opposite. How did you two not kill each other?" He laughs and for some reason, I feel it in my stomach. Do I think Logan Swensen is attractive all of a sudden? Do those green eyes and wide smile do something for me now?
The captain announces our departure and I clench my armrest as I feel the plane move. Logan must notice my anxiousness because he leans into me and distracts me again by replying, "I balance Chase out and he forces me to get my shit together. Chase needs someone fun and easygoing in his life. I think that's why he fell for Ainslee."
Even with the alcohol, her name stings. I wanted to talk about Chase, not her, not yet at least.
"Oh yeah, Ainslee mentioned you guys all hanging out. She is pretty cool, right?" I lie. We are now speeding into the air and I try to ignore everything going on around me to keep me calm.
Logan shrugs as he polishes off his gummy worms.
"Eh, she's cool I guess. I was worried she was a gold digger when we first met with how fast they were moving, but...she seems good for Chase." I swallow my annoyance and he adds, "He needs someone like her. Adventurous, laid back, living in the moment."
"Gorgeous," I chime in and am surprised when he winces, "She's kinda cute, Honestly, he's had hotter." This conversation is not going the way I had hoped. So I pivot, "Were you surprised when he proposed? I know I was stunned."
He lets out a loud "Ha!" as he shakes his head, "The most awkward proposal ever. Yeah, I thought they were kidding around until he went out and bought the ring."
"Huh?" I ask in confusion. "Didn't he do it at a Rockies game? In front of all his friends?" Logan finishes his drink which entices me to do the same. I am feeling buzzed and it's helped me relax and be conversational. My routine would have me sucked into a magazine or a book at this point, definitely not chatting with the person next to me.
Logan chews on a piece of ice, and it reminds me of all the other annoying things he did last year, slightly altering his new hotness back to where it was before I took shots with him at the bar.
"They were so shit-faced. Someone proposed on the jumbotron during the game and Ainslee was telling us how cringe that is. Chase asked her if he proposed like that if she'd say no. She told him she'd say hell no, and then off he went, so drunk, to find how to propose on the jumbotron. He ended up figuring it out, his proposal came up during the last inning and we were all so stunned. She said yes, I think just to fuck with him, but then after the game he was calling an Uber to go buy a ring. It was fucking crazy."
I blink in shock unsure how to respond. That was so not the story he told the office on that Monday morning. He just said he proposed on a whim at the Rockies game and was relieved when Ainslee said yes.
"Damn, that is crazy," I mutter and glance at my empty drink. We just became stable in the air and I am ready to order another one.
"I know, it was so unlike Chase that I didn't believe it until they announced they were engaged on Facebook. I was like holy shit the family knows. And then he called me up to ask me to be a groomsman and I was like sure, and then he was like in Mexico. In six weeks."
"What's the rush?" I ask and it's the very question I have been dying to ask Chase. Why the sudden proposal? And the sudden wedding? I know Ainslee isn't pregnant because she drinks every time I am around her.
Logan shrugs, "I guess if you know, you know. They're ready to start the next phase of their lives." I want to roll my eyes. That response is almost exactly the same as the one Eloise gave me when I asked her that question. "What about you? Is there any man you are daring to propose to you?"
This time I let out a "Ha!" before aggressively shaking my head no.
"I am very happy being single at the moment. I'm too busy with work to try and handle a relationship" Logan eyes me suspiciously, and it's not the first time I have had to prove that I am happy being single. "I'm serious. My last boyfriend did not understand the demands of my job. He would mope because I would work every weekend and holiday and I just couldn't stand fighting while working."
"How long were you together?"
"Three years. We were together right when Chase poached me to come work at Havicore. I loved moving up in my job and taking on more responsibility but it meant I was at home less and physically unavailable." I don't add that I fell for Chase almost immediately after I started working for him and I became conflicted with my feelings. I felt like I was emotionally cheating on Brian and I was the one to end things. Shortly after, Chase started dating Georgia whom he met online and I was left waiting in the wings.
"I knew you were a workhorse," Logan says with a grin. "Am I your least favorite client?" If I hadn't had three vodkas, I may have lied and told him he was a great client. But the alcohol is making me brazen.
"Not my least favorite," I joke and he laughs.
"I knew you wanted to throttle me. I swear I could see your eye twitching every time you had to deal with me. I remember your dreaded look every time I would show up in your office."
"Oh, was I that obvious?" I joke. "You were just..." I ponder on what exactly I should say here, he is still Chase's best friend and I do not want to offend him. "A bit scatterbrained. I kind of thought since you were an engineer you'd be more methodical...organized."
"I'm a mechanical engineer. I basically was a stoner who was just mega-productive. Definitely not organized."
"Now that fits," I say with a grin.
"I was just scared shitless," Logan admits and I tilt my head in confusion. "I was launching my own company and I just kept waiting for something to stop me. I never actually thought it would all come together."
"Why?"
He shrugs and adjusts in his seat so he's closer to me as he says, "I lacked the confidence. I had a great product and early investors, I just thought something was going to come in and say, just kidding! Go find a regular nine-to-five, you schmuck."
"You created an electric bike, right? You had a start-up. That's what your company does?" I ask even though I clearly remember setting up the bikes all over the brewery we did his launch at.
"Yeah, it's kinda cool. We just signed a deal with the city of Seattle. Our bikes are going to be dropped all over the city, kinda like those Lime scooters that you see everywhere are."
I'm incredibly impressed. It's the same reaction I had last year when I was given a debrief of his company. He doesn't seem like the kind of person who can create something and run a successful company. Maybe he has an assistant now.
"Damn, that's amazing. Congrats," I tell him in awe and something flickers across his face before he gives me a small smile. I'm not sure what got to him, but he suddenly turns to look out the window.
The alcohol is definitely kicking in, and honestly, it's helping. Yesterday, when I learned I'd be sitting next to Logan for three hours, I was irritated. But now? I'm starting to appreciate how easy he is to talk to. He's been great at keeping me distracted, and I can already see how having someone friendly in my corner this week might save me from feeling like the odd one out.
Then the turbulence hits. The plane jolts, and I instinctively tense, gripping the armrest so hard my knuckles turn white. I shut my eyes tight and press my head back into the seat, trying to block out the shaking.
I feel Logan's hand slide over mine. My eyes snap open, and he tilts his head toward me, his voice calm. "You good?"
"I hate flying," I mutter, clenching my eyes shut again as another wave of turbulence rattles the cabin.
Logan doesn't move his hand and it's enough to ground me. It's strange, but I find myself liking the warmth of his hand over mine. It's unexpected, yet oddly comforting.
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