02

A man that tugged on some thread of familiarity in my mind despite hiding his face underneath a Boston Knights ball cap as he held his phone to his ear.

« Yeah, mom, we’re finally boarded and hopefully about to take off, so I’ve got to hang up. » He paused. « I love you, too. I’ll call you when we land if it’s not too late. »

The voice, the build—I couldn’t believe my luck could be that bad as to have my seatmate for the flight home be the guy I’d stumbled into hours before—but when he hung up the call and lifted his gaze, I knew it was him.

My teeth found my bottom lip as recognition flared in his eyes. A half smile kicked up on one side of his face as he stood, slipping his phone into the pocket of his trackpants. « I’m guessing you’ve got the window ? » he asked, lifting an eyebrow. I nodded. « You need help with that ? » he continued, pointing down to my suitcase when I neglected to give a verbal response.

« No. » I cleared my throat, feeling a blush coat my cheeks as I nodded. « I’ve got it, thanks though. »

« No problem. »

Taking a step back as I lifted the suitcase into the overhead compartment, he waited until I jammed my bag inside before motioning a bit overdramatically towards the seats.

« After you. »

Offering him a small smile, I sidestepped in and took my seat, trying to ignore the way our shoulders and thighs brushed as we dealt with our individual seatbelts and got settled. Or the way a warmth seemed to radiate off him despite the chilled air that circled the cabin. Instead, I attached my gaze to the window, scanning the lights of the tarmac, now much more visible given that the sky had darkened considerably since arriving earlier this afternoon. In the distance, I could see the runway as another plane geared up for takeoff, and felt marginally better knowing the metal tube we were currently inhabiting would be following momentarily.

« So, are you leaving or heading home ? »

My eyes flitted towards my seatmate, wondering who he was talking to, only to widen when I realized his head was turned towards me. « Oh, » I started, not at all accustomed to starting up conversations with strangers while traveling alone, « I’m, uh, headed home. I just flew out to visit my parents for the holidays. » When he nodded in response, leaving me an avenue to bring the conversation to a halt if I wanted, I followed up. « And I’m guessing you’re the same ? You know, because of the phone call with your mom. »

« Yeah, » he replied, a lick of amusement at the fact I’d listened in on his conversation. « A short trip, but worth it to see her and the rest of my family. » He quirked a brow. « What about you ? Ready to get out of California ? »

« You mean if we ever actually get in the air ? » I mused, all too aware they had yet to shut the door of the plane despite every seat being occupied. « But yeah, is it lame that I’m missing Boston ? » I asked. « Like, I miss the daily spectacle of going into work and hanging out with my friends, though I’ve got to admit, I don’t miss the weather. »

A deep chuckle escaped his lips. « Not lame, because I feel the same. You get used to going about your day-to-day life, and then when you take a break from routine, no matter how short, everything suddenly feels off balance. »

« Exactly. »

As I met his understanding eyes, there was a familiarity in his features that I couldn’t quite place. And it wasn’t just from the moment in the airport, it was something more. Like I’d met him or had seen his face somewhere before. He seemed to be around my age, likely a few years older, but with a quick rake through my mind, I couldn’t put my finger on it.

« Though I’ve got to say, » he carried on, « I’d rather the Boston weather right now. Since moving to the north east, celebrating the holidays when the temperature is above freezing and there’s no snow on the ground just seems wrong. »

« Well then, we can just agree to disagree on that front. »

« Fair enough, » he said, relaxing back into his seat. « So, why the desire to fly out on New Year’s Eve of all days ? »

I raised an eyebrow. « Says the guy who’s also flying home on New Year’s Eve. »

« In my defense, I booked this flight because it was meant to land in Boston early enough so I could attend a friend’s party, though it looks like that won’t be happening. » He glanced down at the watch on his wrist. « Plus, I’m meant to be working tomorrow. »

« On a stat ? »

« Not everyone’s lucky enough to work a job that gives you holidays off. » He shrugged. « It was hard enough to scrape together the last three days in a row, and that was only because I had business out here anyways. »

I was about to ask what it was he did when something clicked into place for me. Where I recognized my seat mate from. I’d seen him countless times over the past three years, skating on television whenever I tuned into a Boston Knights game. Which meant the hat he was wearing wasn’t just a piece of memorabilia he was wearing as a fan. No. He was showing off the pride he had for the team he played for.

I was sitting next to Derrick Wellsley, a winger for Boston’s professional hockey team. I was keeping up a conversation with Derrick Wellsley. I was flirting with Derrick Wellsley.

What a wild turn of events.

Schooling my emotions, I hoped the way the dots connected in my mind didn’t show outwardly, though before I could verbalize anything, I was cut off by a voice echoing throughout the cabin.

« Attention passengers on board Flight 534—«  I perked up slightly, peering over the seat in front of me to see the flight attendant at the front of the plane hold the intercom to her lips as she spoke. « —I want to formally apologize to all of you. The pilots have just received word that the all clear to fly they were previously given has been rescinded. This flight has officially been canceled. »

I saw the flight attendant visibly wince as nearly every passenger on the plane burst out in a fury of anger—swearing up, right, and center—wondering why the hell we’d boarded in the first place. Which, truthfully, I couldn’t help but think as well.

Around me, children cried, parents protested, and the rest of the flight attendants tried to present a united front as they gave instructions for deplaning, but I barely heard a word.

Nothing except from the man who sat beside me.

« Well… it looks like we’ll be spending another night on the west coast. »

« Dude, I can’t believe you’re stuck in San Francisco, » my roommate, Nyberg, said over the phone as I stepped into the small airport hotel room I’d been given for the night and dropped my carry-on bag. « You’re going to miss an epic midnight barbecue at Coach’s house. »

« I know, » I said with a dejected sigh. « But it’s not really my choice, man. I didn’t ask to have my flight canceled. » After tossing my baseball cap onto a side table, I took a couple steps forward to open the curtains. While there’d definitely been better views over the years of away games and tournaments, the fifth floor of the Hyatt was far from the worst. The night a darkened backdrop to the lights and bustling city below. « But Coach was the first one I called back in the airport. I told him I managed to get a seat on the second flight out tomorrow morning, so hopefully I’ll be able to make it for pre-game warmups. »

Luckily, our game against Washington wasn’t until eight ‘o’clock tomorrow night, so barring any major delays, I’d be there with time to spare.

« Let’s hope that’s the case, » he said, pausing as I heard him fumble around for something. « Are you at least back at your parents’ place for the night ? »

I shook my head despite knowing he couldn’t see it. « Nope, » I replied, sitting down on the edge of the bed. « It wouldn’t have made sense to trek all the way back to Santa Clara only to come back super early tomorrow. Plus, I don’t want to put a damper on everyone else’s New Year’s Eve. »

« So you’re ringing in the new year by yourself ? » Nyberg asked, clearly astonished at the turn my night had taken.

« Yeah. »