Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Adalyn
Carly drove me to the airport and hugged me tightly goodbye, acting like it would be the last time we’d see each other.
“You better come back in one piece,” she said.
“I’ll be fine, and I’ll be back before you know it.”
“I don’t know, Adalyn. At least in Seattle, Daniel and I can keep an eye on you. You’ll be all alone in a strange city that you’ve never been to before with that ring. I’m worried.”
“I thought you really didn’t believe what Lori said.”
“I didn’t at first until Daniel and I started talking about it in bed. She was right. Ever since you found that ring and put it on your finger, your life literally went to hell. Bad luck followed you back from Antigua, and I don’t believe it’s a random coincidence.”
“That is why I will find the owner of the ring and give it back to her. It’s the right thing to do, Carly. I truly believe it in my heart. The ring is too beautiful just to be thrown back into the ocean. If I find her and she doesn’t want it back, that’s not my problem. Then she can get rid of it herself. I have to go check-in. I’ll call you when I land.”
“Please be careful,” she spoke as she hugged me one last time.
I walked into the airport and up to the check-in counter, handing the overly tall man my driver’s license. After typing away on his keyboard, he smiled at me.
“Congratulations, Miss Banks. You have been upgraded to first class for free.”
“Seriously? You’re not joking around, are you? Because the way my life has been going the last few weeks, I wouldn’t find it funny.”
“No, ma’am. I’m not.”
“Well then, thank you very much.” I grinned.
I stared at my ticket as I waited to go through security. Maybe my luck was turning around now that I was going to find Mary to give her the ring back. I boarded the plane and took my comfy seat in first class. I’d never been in first class before, and this was a treat.
“May I get you a drink?” The flight attendant asked with a smile.
“As in alcohol?” I raised my brow at her.
“Yes. Or we have coffee, water, and soft drinks. Anything you want.”
“Is the alcohol free of charge?”
“Yes.” She smiled.
“Then I’ll have a glass of white wine.”
Wow, I couldn’t believe this. I had so much room up here compared to when I flew economy, where we were all practically smashed on top of each other. After the flight attendant handed me my wine, I took a sip as I stretched out my legs and leaned my seat back slightly. A man sat down next to me as I was in the glory of being in first class. A man with the worst body odor. It smelled like he hadn’t showered, ever! He glanced over at me with a smile and extended his hand.
“Hi, I’m Ethan. And you are?”
I looked down at his hand and lightly shook it. I didn’t want to be rude.
“Adalyn.”
“Nice to meet you, Adalyn. I have some rules I’d like to go over with you.”
“Excuse me?”
He set his carry-on bag on the floor between us.
“My bag is the dividing line. This over here,” he motioned with his hands, “is my space and the other side of the bag is yours. If you take a nap or something, make sure you do it on your side. I don’t need your head falling on my shoulder. And if you’re going to listen to music, make sure I can’t hear it through your headphones.”
I sat there with my head cocked and stared at him in disbelief. This guy smelled like total shit, and he had the nerve to talk to me about his rules? I could see that my luck hadn’t changed at all.
“Are we good?” he asked.
“No, Ethan. We are not good. You’re an absolute idiot! Who does that? Listen. You don’t have to worry about me even coming close to you because you smell like you haven’t showered in weeks or maybe months. Who the hell knows.”
“Wow, you’re rude,” he said.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m rude.” I pointed to myself. “You sit down and act like you own the plane with your rules and shit. You sit there and mind your own business, and I’ll sit here and mind mine. Excuse me,” I spoke to the flight attendant. “I need another glass of wine. In fact, keep them coming.”
My God, that seemed like the longest flight of my life. I quickly exited the plane and headed to baggage claim to retrieve my luggage. As I was standing there watching the carousel come around and everybody grabbing their bags, I had a sinking feeling in my stomach.
“Hope I don’t run into you in the city,” Ethan said as he grabbed his black and burgundy suitcase.
“The feeling is mutual.” I shot him a look.
Everybody on the flight grabbed their luggage, and they left me standing there alone. I took in a deep breath as I walked up to one of the airport workers and told him my luggage was missing. After forty-five minutes of waiting, he informed me that my suitcase accidentally got put on another flight, a flight to Texas. Of course, it did. The man I dealt with, Lawrence, was accommodating and told me that as soon as my luggage arrived in a few hours, they would have it sent to the hotel free of charge. I left him all my information and hailed a cab to the Holiday Inn in the Flatiron District.
“Oh my God, seriously?” I spoke as I gripped the seat and held on for dear life.
“First time in New York?” The cab driver smirked as he looked at me through his rearview mirror.
“Yes, and so far, I’m not impressed. Can you please get me to my hotel alive?”
I heard him snicker. Pulling out my phone, I called Carly.
“Hey, did you make it there in one piece?”
“To New York, yes. To the hotel, maybe not.”
She let out a laugh. “Yeah, the cab drivers there are crazy. Maybe you should take an Uber from now on.”
“My luggage got sent to Texas. Out of all the people on that flight, only mine got put on another plane. And I had this guy sitting next to me who smelled and tried to give me some rules about sitting next to him.”
“What?” She laughed. “I’m sorry about your luggage, but I’m not surprised. Adalyn, you need to get rid of that ring fast.”
“I’m going to the jeweler first thing in the morning. It’s already seven o’clock here, and they’re closed.”
“Then do me a favor and stay in your hotel room. Don’t go out and explore New York and take any chances.”
“I’m starving, Carly.”
“Then eat in the hotel restaurant or order room service.”
“Listen, I have to go. I just arrived at the hotel.”
“For the love of God, stay safe.”
I paid the driver his fare, grabbed my carry-on bag and purse, and walked into the hotel lobby.