Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Ashley
I sat on Riva’s couch, my phone face down on the coffee table where I’d left it all morning.
A week had passed since I walked out on Troy, and he hadn’t reached out once.
No calls, no texts, not even a late-night drunk dial to say he was sorry.
It hurt, a dull ache that sat in my chest, but I wasn’t going to let it stop me.
My first flight was tomorrow, and I had to keep moving.
I’d been staring at the same blank TV screen for an hour when Riva burst through the door, her flight attendant badge still clipped to her jacket.
“Guess what?” she said, tossing her bag by the door and kicking it shut with her heel. “I checked the schedule. We’re on the same flight tomorrow. Dallas and back. How’s that for a lucky break?”
“No way,” I said, sitting up, a grin tugging at my lips. “You’re serious?”
“Completely,” she said, peeling off her shoes and tossing them toward the corner. “You’re stuck with me for your big day. First flight, and you’ve got me riding shotgun. Nervous?”
“Kind of,” I said, leaning forward. “Okay, yeah, a lot. But it’s awesome we’re together. Makes it feel less like I’m jumping off a cliff.”
“Good,” she said, dropping onto the couch next to me. “You’ll be fine. You’ve got the training down, and I’ll be there to nudge you if you blank on the safety demo. No sweat.”
I laughed, shoving her shoulder. “Thanks. I’d probably knock over a cart without you.”
“Definitely,” she said, smirking. “But listen, we’ve got the rest of today free. Let’s hit the mall. Get yourself pampered for tomorrow. Nails, hair, the works. My treat.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m okay.”
“You’re not okay,” she said, giving me a sharp look. “You’ve been crashing here, staring at that phone like it’s gonna grow legs and run off. We’re celebrating your first flight, and you’re not talking me out of it. Grab your purse, let’s go.”
“Fine, you win,” I said, standing up and stretching. “But I’m buying coffee later. That’s my rule.”
“Fair,” she said, already halfway to the door. “Move it, rookie.”
We piled into her car, the radio humming low as we pulled out of her driveway.
The mall wasn’t far, just a quick drive through town, and we found a spot near the entrance despite the packed lot.
Inside, the place was alive with chatter and footsteps, the air thick with the smell of cinnamon pretzels and department store perfume.
Riva dragged me straight to a nail salon, plopping into a chair and waving me over.
“Pick a color,” she said, holding up a bright red polish. “This one’s bold. Fits you.”
I squinted at it, tilting my head. “I don’t know. What about blue? It’s calmer.”
“Blue’s fine,” she said, setting the red down with a shrug. “But tomorrow’s not about calm. It’s about owning it. Go big or go home.”
“Alright, red then,” I said, laughing as I sat down. “You’re so bossy.”
“Only when I’m right,” she said, picking a pale pink for herself and settling in. “You’re gonna look killer in that uniform. First days are a vibe.”
The nail tech started on my hands, brushing on the red in smooth strokes.
I watched it dry, shiny, and loud, and it felt good, like a little piece of confidence I could carry with me.
Riva leaned over, chatting with her tech about a passenger who’d tried to sneak an extra bag onboard last week, and I let their voices fill the space.
It was nice, normal, a break from the quiet I’d been stuck in.
After nails, we headed to a hair salon a few shops down.
Nothing major, just trims to keep us looking sharp.
Riva got her ends evened out, and I let them take an inch off mine, the scissors snipping away split ends.
“Your hair’s got bounce,” my stylist said, running a comb through it. “Perfect for a busy day.”
“Thanks,” I said, watching the strands hit the floor. “Hope it holds up after a full shift on a plane.”
“You’ll be golden,” Riva called from her chair. “Hair spray’s your best friend. I’ll hook you up tomorrow morning.”
“See? I’m covered,” I said, catching her eye in the mirror. She stuck her tongue out, and I laughed, the tension in my shoulders easing. She’d been keeping me sane all week, filling the gaps Troy left with her loud, steady presence.
We grabbed pretzels next, settling on a bench by the food court with a pile of napkins. I tore off a piece, dipping it in warm cheese. “This is good,” I said, leaning back. “Thanks for dragging me out. I needed it.”
“Told you,” she said, biting into hers. “You’ve been cooped up too long. Tomorrow’s huge. First flights are wild, in a good way.”
“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “I’m pumped. Just don’t want to screw up.”
“You won’t,” she said, wiping her hands on a napkin. “You’re a natural. Plus, I’ll be there. We’ll run that plane like pros.”
I grinned, chewing another bite. The mall buzzed around us, kids darting past with balloons, shoppers juggling bags.
It was a distraction, a good one, but there was still this thing nagging at me, and it slipped out while we sat there.
“I’m scared about telling Mom,” I said, staring at my pretzel. “About me and Troy breaking up.”
Riva paused, setting her food down. “Yeah? What’s freaking you out?”
“I don’t know,” I said, shrugging. “She was so happy when we got engaged. She loves him. With her being sick, I don’t want to hit her with this. What if it messes her up?”
“She’s tough,” Riva said, turning to face me. “Your mom’s been through worse. She’ll take it.”
“Maybe,” I said, picking at the dough. “But it’s gonna be rough. She’ll want to know why, and I’ll have to tell her about the drinking and the fights. I don’t want her thinking I bailed too quickly.”
“You didn’t bail,” she said, her tone sharp. “Troy’s the one who started acting like an ass. Coming home drunk every night? That’s his mess, not yours.”
“I know,” I said, sighing. “But she’ll still be bummed. She was all about the wedding, picking colors and stuff. I wanted that too, until it crashed.”
“She’ll get over it,” Riva said, squeezing my arm. “You’re not the bad guy here. And she’ll be stoked about your flight tomorrow. That’s the win right now.”
“I hope so,” I said, managing a small smile. “I just don’t know how to say it. ‘Hey, Mom, I dumped Troy, but I’m flying to Dallas tomorrow? ’
“Exactly,” she said, laughing. “Just blurt it out. She’ll roll with it. And if she doesn’t, I’ll come with you. We’ll tag-team it.”
“You’d do that?” I asked, looking at her.
“Duh,” she said, nodding. “I’m not letting you deal with that solo. We’re in this together now. Same flight, same chaos.”
“Thanks,” I said, the knot in my chest loosening a bit. “You’re the best.”
“Obviously,” she said, smirking. “Now eat up. We’ve got one more stop.”
“Where?” I said, finishing off my pretzel.
“Shoes,” she said, standing and brushing crumbs off her jeans. “You need something comfy for tomorrow. No sore feet on my watch.”
“Fine,” I said, getting up. “But nothing wild. I’m not rocking heels on a plane.”
“Just flats,” she said, leading the way. “Cute ones. Trust me.”
We wandered to a shoe store near the mall’s west end, racks lined with every style imaginable. I tried on a few pairs, landing on some black flats with decent cushion. “This work?” I asked, walking a circle in them.
“Perfect,” Riva said, tossing me a pair of socks. “Add these for backup. Blisters suck mid-flight.”
“Smart,” I said, grabbing them. We paid and headed out, bags swinging as we crossed the parking lot. The sun was dipping low, painting the sky orange, and I felt lighter than I had all week.
“Better now?” she asked, unlocking the car.
“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “Still stings, but I’m good. Tomorrow’s the real deal.”
“Hell yeah,” she said, sliding into the driver’s seat. “You’re gonna kill it. Troy can kick rocks.”
I laughed, buckling in. “Yeah, he can. Let’s just get through tomorrow.”
“We’ve got this,” she said, pulling out of the lot. “You and me. First flight crew.”
“First flight crew,” I echoed, settling back. The ride home was quiet, the radio soft, and I let the day sink in. No word from Troy, but I had Riva, my job, and a new chapter. It wasn’t everything, but it was enough.
Back at her place, I laid my uniform out on the couch, smoothing the creases. Riva flopped beside me, propping her feet up. “Ready?” she asked.
“As ready as I’ll get,” I said, eyeing the badge with my name on it. “Thanks for today. It helped.”
“Anytime,” she said, yawning. “Now crash. We’ve got a plane to catch.”
I nodded, heading to the bathroom to get ready for bed. The red nails caught my eye in the mirror as I brushed my teeth, a little spark of something new. Tomorrow was mine, Mom and all, and with Riva there, I could face it.