Chapter 7 #2
I drum my fingers against the counter and send my best annoyed glare in the man’s direction. He glances at me, then nods to the agent. Good. We’re on the same wavelength. The old Ava would never do this, but the new me is proud. This Ava isn’t a pushover. She’s got an iron backbone.
Isleep for ten hours, order room service, take my shower, and return to Denver International Airport later that evening. Sleep has revived me. I’m able to think clearly again. My emotions have calmed down, but I’m still livid with Pacific Skyways.
As I arrive at the gate for Lisbon, I have quite a few problems I’m gonna have to tackle. One, I have no idea how I’m going to get from Portugal’s capital city to Madrid. I don’t even know how far apart they are. I was too tired to care last night. Or rather this morning.
Two, I need to get in touch with my original hotel and let them know I’m still coming but have been delayed. Three, I need to find an app that can help me learn a few words of Portuguese.
I search for a place to sit and start on my list. Ironically, I pass the same sleeping man in the red hoodie from last night lounging near the corner by the window. The headphones are still in place, but the hood has slipped back. There’s no mistaking the dark brown locks and sharp jaw.
I throw my head back and start to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all, receiving a few curious looks from passengers in the waiting area. “Well played, universe. Well played.”
Marching over to the man, I tap him on the shoulder. “Hi, Fernando.”
Slowly, he turns, peeling off his headphones. A smile pulls across his face, which is coated with a day’s worth of stubble. His eyes are red rimmed and bloodshot. “Ava.”
“Let me guess, you were on the canceled flight too?”
“Sí, I was.”
“I saw you sleeping stretched out on a couple of chairs this morning.” I sit down next to him as he removes a duffle bag from the seat beside him. “Have you been here the whole time?”
“Uh-huh.” He nods. “I’m like a cat. As long as I have my headphones and something to toss under my neck, I’m good to go. My friends used to make fun of me for it.”
I let out a small snort. “I’d consider it a superpower. I’d love to be able to sleep on demand, but I’m the total opposite of you, a light sleeper. Even my dog Max walking against the wooden floor wakes me up.”
He chuckles again.
“Why’d you pick to fly to Madrid instead of directly to Barcelona?”
“I was booked for Barcelona last Wednesday, but my flight got canceled when I got to the airport,” he says.
I wince. I’ve only been delayed a day. He’s been waiting over a week. I guess I’m lucky. It could be a heck of a lot worse. “Two canceled flights in a row?”
He nods. “Now I’m headed to Lisbon. Hopefully, third time’s the charm.”
“I’m headed there too.”
“That’s a happy coincidence.” Fernando tucks his headphones into his carry-on and glances at his watch. “Are you in the mood to grab some dinner before the flight? We have two hours.”
“I’d love to, except I’ll just be keeping you company.
I’m not in the mood to drop twenty-five bucks on something like a burger and fries.
I’ll eat on the plane.” Sure, the airline gave me a fifteen-dollar voucher last night, but I spent that on a water and magazine from one of the gift shops. It didn’t go very far.
“I don’t blame you. Airport food is a rip-off.
But I was thinking we could go to one of the airport lounges.
It’s too bad it was closed when the flight canceled.
I could’ve slept there, but at least we can get dinner.
Their food is free when we get inside. I haven’t flown much this year, but I still have platinum elite status with Pacific Skyways until the end of next month, and I’ve got two guest passes. It’s use them or lose them.”
I bite my lip. Free is one of my favorite prices. “If you’re sure, I’d be happy to join you.”
We stand and Fernando stretches. “Most of the time, it’s nothing to write home about, but Denver has a flagship lounge and it’s pretty great.”
I adjust my backpack and let him lead the way. I’ve flown out of Denver plenty of times, but lounges are a brand-new experience for me. “Besides food, what do they have?”
“Unlimited drinks, fast Wi-Fi, showers, and a masseuse.”
“A masseuse?” I sputter.
“Uh-huh. If you’re a platinum elite or flying first class, you can get a free twenty-minute massage. I take advantage of it every time I can.” He laughs.
I have a new theory. If Fernando flies so much, he must be a consultant.
I don’t know why I didn’t consider it earlier.
That would explain the travel. And if the head office is on the East Coast, it also explains why he’s up at the crack of dawn.
It all fits. I pat myself on the back for solving that mystery.
We follow the signs for the Pacific Rim Club and take an elevator up a level. As the doors open, two women sitting behind a large marble desk greet us.
“Welcome,” one of them says. “I can help you guys over here. Do you two have your boarding passes and IDs?”
Fernando approaches the counter. “We do.” He pulls out a fancy metallic card and hands it to the woman. She swipes it. “And I’d like to use one of my guest passes today.”
The woman’s cheeks color. “Oh sorry, Mr. Alvarez, but this lounge no longer accepts the guest passes. They were discontinued at the end of September. Unless your friend has a business-class or first-class ticket, she’ll have to pay the fifty-nine-dollar fee if she wants to enter.”
Fernando’s face falls. “I was told the passes were good through the end of the year.”
“It’s a, er, newer policy the airline implemented.”
Another nail in the coffin for Pacific Skyways.
“But I never received any notification.”
She hesitates as if there is something she wants to say, but thinks the better of it. I can tell she’s been put in a difficult position by her company. It’s one of the many reasons I’m grateful to be my own boss.
“Business-class ticket holders can use the lounge?” I ask.
The woman nods.
“I wish somebody had told me that earlier,” I mutter under my breath.
“They should’ve at check-in,” she says.
I keep my thoughts to myself and instead place my hand on Fernando’s arm. “I appreciate the trouble you’re going to for me, but I can use this.” I hand over my ticket and passport. “Here.”
Crisis averted, we enter the lounge and grab a table near the window overlooking one of the runways. It’s a larger place than I’d imagined. In some ways, it reminds me of a mall food court.
Chairs, tables, and a few private booths are spread out across the room. Taking up the entire far wall across from us are the kitchen and cafe area. I see a refrigerator stocked with soft drinks, a barista, two rows of steaming hot dishes, and a dessert bar.
“I’m so sorry about that, Ava, if I had known it would be so much trouble—”
I hold up my hand to interrupt him. “Don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal. I’ve never been inside a lounge before and didn’t know what I’d be missing. It’s more about spending some time with good company.”
My gaze travels up to a man in a business suit carrying a steaming plate of spaghetti and meatballs. I can smell the garlic and spices, causing my mouth to water. “But now that we’re here, how about giving me a tour. I’m curious about what else is in this place.”
“Of course.”
As we turn, someone tugs on my bag. “Ava, what are you doing here?” Dylan asks from a nearby table.