Chapter 3
THREE
With all of the people milling around the airport, Cora was shocked that they were able to find some food that didn't take hours on end. A small premade deli was the answer to their prayers. They both found something to eat in the chilled refrigerator shelves. Cora picked out a couple of packs of pepperoni and cheese slices and Vince picked out a sealed pack of premade club sandwich halves. A quick flash of a debit card and they were off to find a place to sit.
It didn't take long for them to find a bench with enough room to sit down and not be squished in like sardines.
"What?"
"Hmm?" She looked at Vince and was surprised to see how closely he was watching her.
"You had this look on your face that looked... sour? Like you didn’t like the way the drink tasted?"
His voice raised up at the end as if he was worried about it.
Cora looked down at the drink in her hands and realized what he might have thought. She felt her cheeks heat up and so she lifted her gaze to meet his. "No, no... the drink is great, thanks." She grinned at him. "I've never had one of these, but now I think I might have to go over there in the future." She shook her head. "I was thinking about how we were lucky to find a bench to sit on where we have room and not squished in like sardines. And that's why I made that face. I'm not a big fan of sardines."
"Ah."
She heard the understanding in his voice.
"What were you looking forward to the most about your visit to Portland?"
He looked down at the cup in his hands and she saw the melancholy look that took over his own expression.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
He shook his head. "You didn't. It's not your fault that there's a storm."
Vince looked down and then snapped his head back up to give her a humorous stare, almost as if he was playing a comical villain. "Unless it is your fault!"
She laughed out loud and shook her head. "DUN DUN DUN. Nope. That's not me. I'm not all powerful! If I was I would have found you an alternate flight plan to get you around the storm and safely home."
"Oh," he shook his head and took a sip of his drink, "Chicago is home. Portland, Maine is where I grew up. My mom and grandmother are there. They're cooking up a storm for the holiday and all I had to do was bring my empty stomach."
"Ah." She nodded her head in understanding. "It's kind of the same way for me on this trip, but I don't think my brother is cooking. He's got a friend who just fell in love with a local girl and her family is putting on quite the spread. Apparently they're cooking the turkey in some kind of green egg? I'm not sure about the particulars, but it's apparently a big thing over there and her family is inviting his whole team to the bowling alley they run for a day of food and fun. I get to come along."
"Bowling, huh?"
She hesitated a little and then gave him a tentative look. "I know it's not everyone's cup of tea," she chuckled softly, but I like it. I'm not good at it, but I like the fun. You can cheer for the strikes and the turkey and then cheer just as hard for the players who just manage to keep the ball on the alley and out of the gutter. It's fun for everyone. And now I'm yammering on and on like I'm selling you on the sport and I don't even know if you like it."
He laughed, but it wasn't a harsh laugh as if he was making fun of her. No, his laugh shook his shoulders and he touched a hand to his middle as he answered her unspoken question. "I've done it a few times as a kid. I think once was a birthday party, but I thought it was fun!"
She was sure she saw something in his expression that said there was more to the story so she asked him about it. "But..."
"But, all the kid-sizes balls were funky neon colors. I wasn't then and I'm not now a big fan of neon."
Cora nodded as her own smile deepened at his admission. "Ahhh... So I shouldn't take you to any 80s themed parties?"
His expression changed. His eyes narrowed almost comically and a brow arched. "Do they have 80s themed parties in Chicago?"
She shrugged. "Not that I know of them, but I'm sure it would be lots of fun. Cyndi Lauper songs."
He nodded. "Guns N' Roses."
She nodded back. "The Bangles!"
Vince thought for a moment. "Bon Jovi!"
Cora gave him a grudging smile. "Jon is a total hunk."
Vince folded his arms across his chest. "Are we talking music or good looks?"
"Can't we have both?" Her smile brightened. "Then we'd be talking about Culture Club and A-Ha."
He shrugged and came back with. "Blondie and Heart... Ann Wilson," he put his hand over his heart, "she was everything."
"So I guess the 80s wasn't all neon, lace, and bustier tops-"
He held up that hand that had been over his heart. "Wait... I have nothing against those tops."
They both laughed and she only stopped when her sides started to hurt. "I guess our likes aren't that different."
Vince shook his head. "Nope. I guess not."
"Hmm... I guess we could hang out," she gestured at the world around them, "outside of the airport."
His expression changed just a little. How, she couldn't quite understand. It was something in his eyes and maybe in his smile, too. When he spoke, she thought she might just understand what it meant. "I'd like that."
Her heart swelled in her chest and she had a feeling that her cheeks were pinking up in a giddy rush of color. "Me, too."
They both took sips of their drinks and while she was enjoying all of the amazing chocolate in hers, her thoughts were going miles and miles a minute. She knew the reality of the reports that were coming in even as she was searching for other flights.
Still, she could hope for him.
And if she was honest, herself, too.
She wanted to spend a little time with him. It wasn't all that easy to meet someone living in Chicago. It wasn't just the town. She worked hard. She worked long hours and rarely went out unless it was after a shift to a place where she could get a bite to eat and not have people pressing in on her, needing something. She was used to catering to the needs of others, so it was nice to take some time to just be herself. To just enjoy her time.
Just like she was doing at the moment.
Sitting with Vince was crazy. Enjoying her time with him gave her a thrill, but she also felt like she was withholding information from him.
Both of their phones chimed, and while Cora avoided looking at her screen, Vince looked at his.
His expression fell a little more. "Another notice from the weather service."
The drink she was enjoying seemed to sour in her belly. The food that they picked up was left untouched at her side.
"The storm looks like it might stick around for a bit."
"So," she took a moment to figure out what exactly to ask him, "do you have any idea of what you'll do if you can't get back home for the holiday?"
He let out a sigh and she hated that she'd put a negative thought into his head, but she hoped that she could give him some options if he didn't already have back-up plans.
"I know that they're going to put out a decent spread at the mess hall for Turkey day. And I think a few of the guys are going to watch a game. There might be a sports bar or six around the base with the game on."
"Are you big on football?" She smiled, hoping that he'd enjoy that at the very least.
Vince shook his head. "Not really. I mean, don't tell the men I work with that I'm not a huge football fan, but while I was good at sports, I was more of a soccer player than football. I did go to the football games in high school, but that was more because of the-"
"Cheerleaders?"
As soon as she spoke, she wished she hadn't.
"That's a little judgy, sorry."
He shook his head. "Hey, whatever you're into is great with me."
They both chuckled at his words.
"But I went to the games because the band was crazy good. They had these dances they'd do in the stands and I had a cousin who was a tuba player. I got a kick out of watching him heft that thing across the field during halftime performances. He was good at it and it was fun to be a part of the school stuff that wasn't something I had to actively do, like JROTC and Flag Ceremonies."
"That sounds like fun. So I'm guessing that you're going to watch the football games for the half-time shows?"
He shrugged again. "Maybe I'll head out on the lake. I have a few friends with boats that always want an extra hand on deck."
"So, Navy, huh?"
"Navy." He nodded. "Is that okay?"
She rolled her eyes. "Of course it is! Just because my big brother is in the Marines doesn't mean I have to avoid you. It's not like the Sharks and the Jets."
His brow furrowed and his gaze looked off across the wide hall. "Why does that sound familiar?"
"Sharks and Jets," she laughed softly. "West Side Story."
"Ah," he nodded and took a sip of his drink. "We don't have that kind of a rivalry as far as I know."
"At least I only know about some football games that get crazy like that." She swirled her drink around in the cup, wanting to prolong the moment. "Although the more I think about it, I wouldn't mind seeing you and Cam facing off in a dancing contest like the characters in The Umbrella Academy ."
She saw his blank expression and felt like a dork.
"They did a dance off to the theme from Footloose ."
He nodded. "The original? Or the newer version?"
She looked at him in mock horror. "The original of course!"
He replied almost immediately.
"Of course."
They both started to laugh again.
"Thanks," she added, her voice a little softer than she'd intended.
"You're welcome. I'm just not sure what for."
"For talking to me. For laughing. I've seen a lot of people in your position get angry. It's really nice getting to know you and seeing that you're... a really great guy."
Vince cleared his throat and wet his lips before he looked back up at her. "I'm sorry that people get mad like that."
She opened her mouth to explain but he shook his head in a short decided shake.
"You don't have to excuse it, Cora. People can be assholes. Especially when a good time or an important work trip is on the line."
She couldn't argue with that.
"But you didn't. You've kept your cool." She lifted her drink and smiled. "Got me a sweet drink. And now we're sitting here with food and good conversation. If there wasn't a storm looming outside I'd say this was almost a great-"
She stopped mid-sentence, but her thoughts completed the words.
"A great first date?"
Her eyes widened at his words and when his gaze fixed on hers, she felt something move in her chest. Something like her heart kicking against her ribs. "Yeah," she nodded. "Just like that."
Was it this easy?
Cora felt her heart squeeze tight and then swell behind her ribs.
She'd never felt like this before.
She'd certainly never had such an easy time talking to a guy that she was attracted to.
Normally she was all tongue-tied or just confused in one crazy way or another.
Sitting there with Vince, they were just talking and smiling and laughing.
Was it just this easy because of the situation?
Or because of the guy?
Leaning a little closer to him, she felt her cheeks warm and her skin tingle.
Maybe it was both?
Yes, she decided, both .
Her phone chimed, but Vince's phone remained silent.
Dreading what she'd read, she knew she couldn't put it off for long.
As much as she was enjoying this time with Vince, she knew that the message was going to make a difference to him.
Picking up her phone from its place beside her, she looked at the screen.