Once Upon a Plane Flight

Chapter Three

I had no idea what to do with this new information. No idea how to approach the new situation that has been placed upon me. I just didn't know what to do. Should I just ask him? Or should I just wait until Emily picks us up and either act like I had no idea that this was going to happen or act like I don't know Lyle?

I still haven't responded to her texts, how could I? I didn't know she knew Lyle, or knew of him anyway. Even if Emily didn't know him, mom did.

I knew I had to text her back sometime and I might as well do it now before my mind becomes even more befuddled.

Me: Yes, I have met Lyle. Wondering if you could tell me why you are picking him up too. Text me later.

I sent the message and threw myself to the back of my chair, relieved to have texted her back and sounded normal in the text—not confused like I actually am.

We are still at the airport in Virginia waiting for the lay over flight to come. Lyle is sleeping at my right, head lolled to the side closest to me—I was surprised and glad that I didn't accidentally hit him when I threw myself backwards. He looked extremely uncomfortable so I gently moved his head so it was resting on my shoulder instead of it looking like a bobble head in front of him.

He looked so innocent sleeping, but looks can be deceiving. That's why I am wondering how he knows my mother and why my sister is picking him up along with me. Could he be her groom-to-be (is that a thing?) and she is just claiming that mom said it to throw me off. Emily doesn't want anyone, except mom and dad, to know who her groom is until the week of the wedding, in chance that someone might steal him from her—it has happened before. I know she is just being careful, possibly paranoid, but I think that the groom should have some will power not to have an affair when he is the one who proposed to her—it just seems like common sense to me. If you didn't really love the person you're marrying then don't marry them, but I digress. It is her life after all.

The intercom came on announcing the lay over plane arrival and that the passengers—us—can now start boarding the plane. Everyone stands up at once while I try to coax Lyle back to consciousness. It takes several tries but I eventually get him to wake up, until he lifts his head, mumbles 'five more minutes mom', and cuddles back into my shoulder. I decide to take a new approach. I stand up and Lyle falls down so he is practically lying across my seat. I grab his hand with both of mine and pull him until he falls to the floor. He is awake enough to, just barely, stand up and I take what I can get. I pull him along, shoving my cell phone into my pocket and grabbing our bags along the way. We teeter past the gate and I place him into his seat while I place our bags in the upper compartment. Once I finish, I take the window seat and brace myself for take-off. At the last minute, I remember what Lyle said about gum. I decide to bother the lady in the aisle seat rather than reach my hands into his pockets.

"Excuse me, miss," she turns her head to face me, "do you have two pieces of gum we could use?" I ask motioning between Lyle and me.

"Of course." She says as she rummages through her purse to find them. She holds out the individually wrapped pieces while she says, "That's one sleepy boyfriend you got there."

I take the pieces gratefully and reply, "Thanks, but he's not my boyfriend." But of course as luck would have it, Lyle decides it would be the perfect time to lean against me and whisper 'I love you' loud enough for her to hear. She hums in response, not believing me for a second. All I do is place the gum in his mouth advising him to chew—to which he does without hesitation (obviously not sleeping), before placing one in my own, trying to will myself not to blush at his comment.

As we start to take-off, I take ahold of his hand in a steel grasp and I don't let go.

~~~~~

At some point during the flight I must have dosed off, because the next thing I know is that I'm being poked to death by none other than Lyle Jacobs.