I’ve already texted Lottie “good luck to the flight staff in removing me from this plane.”
Oh, and the staff. They call me Miss Gardner and they had my favorite seltzer on hand that I of course indulged in. As well as these fresh-from-the-freaking-airplane-oven cookies. I had three.
THREE!
And we’re talking the size of my fist. Three large, chocolatey cookies that tasted like success.
Needless to say, I’ve been enjoying myself despite the brooding, in-a-constant-state-of-annoyance, JP.
He didn’t speak to me when we arrived at the hangar. He didn’t say anything when we both sat down, and when the flight attendant asked him if he wanted a cookie, he said no but added another “finger” of Scotch to his drink.
His loss, because these cookies are phenomenal.
“Can I get you anything else, Mr. Cane?” Ronda, the lovely flight attendant, asks.
“I’m good,” he says, staring out the window.
She then turns to me. “Miss Gardner, can I grab you another cookie?” She winks, as if we both know I really want another one.
And I do, but three is pushing it. Four is out of line.
I press my palm to my stomach and say, “I don’t think I should.”
She gently rests her hand on my shoulder and says, “How about this? I’ll pack some up in a bag for you to take with you.”
Don’t mind if I do.
“You’re an absolute angel, Ronda.”
She gives me a pat and then retreats to the back of the airplane.
I glance over at JP and watch him casually lift his glass to his lips. Even though there was a seat right across from me, he chose to sit on the other side of the plane. If his outrage in the conference room didn’t clue me in on his displeasure with this trip, then his obvious seat choice has.
“You know . . . you could be a little nicer to Ronda,” I say, because why not poke the bear even more?
“I’m perfectly pleasant to her,” he says, keeping his eyes on the window.
“I haven’t heard any pleases or thank yous from you. Politeness goes a long way, JP.”
“Are you the polite police now?”
“No, but I do think we need to hold each other accountable for our actions and, frankly, I don’t think you’re being very kind at the moment.”
He slowly moves his head to the side so he’s looking at me through his dark-framed aviators. “Have I told her to fuck off? Have I tripped her on purpose? Did I punch her at any point in time?” When I don’t answer, he continues. “Didn’t think so. Now, get off my back.”
God, he’s being so . . . nasty. What’s his deal?
“Well, you could stand to be nicer to me, that’s for sure. You know, we have to spend two weeks together.”
“I’m well aware of my sentencing.”
“Sentencing?” I say with a gasp. “That’s what this is to you? A sentencing? Because, to me, it seems like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help restore a building to its glory days while making it modern and sustainable.”
JP smooths his hand over his jaw and says, “Of course you’d put some sort of fairy-tale spin on it.”
“It’s not a fairy tale. This is a huge opportunity.”
“I’ll tell you what this trip is going to be, Kelsey. We’re going to have to share a penthouse for two weeks, which I know won’t be big enough to stay out of each other’s hair. You’ll follow me around to different meetings, I’ll get to hear you say the same spiel repeatedly about how using bamboo organizers are so much healthier for the earth than the plastic ones, and you’ll get all excited about everyone else’s excitement. Meanwhile, I’m counting down the minutes until I can return to my normal life in LA.”
When he turns back to the window, I say, “Or you can use it as a chance to get to know me better. You know, the option to be a friend is still there.”
“Why the fuck would you want to be my friend?” he asks.
“Why wouldn’t I?” I ask, feeling affronted all of a sudden.
“I’m an obnoxious asshole in your opinion. You think I’m some sort of sycophant who preys on women when they’re at their lowest. Why would you want to be my friend?”
“When have I ever said that?”
“You didn’t have to,” he answers.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
His eyes shoot to mine and he says, “The night of the gala. You assumed I was trying to take you to bed. Couldn’t have been further from the truth.”