She pointed around him.
“You don’t know me.”
The man raised both hands.
“I’m going back to my beer.”
“Give me your information.”
“No.”
“I’m paying you back.”
“Keep it.”
“I am not taking charity from you.”
“Then donate sixty dollars somewhere.”
Cassandra tried to move around Daniel.
He blocked her.
“Enough.”
“Get away from me.”
“Enough.”
“I’m trying to pay him.”
“He doesn’t want it.”
“That’s not his decision.”
Daniel stared.
“It is absolutely his decision.”
Cassandra looked toward the gate.
FINAL BOARDING.
Her face went pale.
“No.”
She grabbed her suitcase handle.
Daniel raised one hand.
“Stop.”
“The bill is paid.”
“Yes.”
“So I’m leaving.”
“Not yet.”
“What now?”
Angela spoke.
“We’re determining whether the restaurant wants you trespassed because of your behavior.”
Cassandra slowly turned.
“Trespassed?”
Mark looked uncomfortable.
But Lena spoke first.
“Yes.”
Cassandra stared at her.
“You’re banning me from a restaurant?”
“From this location.”
“You work at an airport bar.”
“Yes.”
“You think I care?”
“Apparently.”
Cassandra took a breath.
“I’m going to board.”
Angela shook her head.
“You need to wait while the trespass notice is completed.”
“My flight is closing.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
Cassandra’s entire body tightened.
“You’re doing this intentionally.”
“No.”
“You waited.”
“No.”
“You could have done this earlier.”
“You were given time to resolve the bill.”
“The bill is resolved!”
“Because a stranger paid it.”
“That does not matter.”
Mark said quietly, “We’re still trespassing her.”
Angela nodded.
Cassandra looked toward C17.
The gate agent closed the boarding door.
The departure screen changed.
GATE CLOSED.
Cassandra stared.
For several seconds, she made no sound.
Then she whispered, “No.”
Daniel watched her.
Cassandra walked toward the gate.
Angela stopped her.
“No.”
“My luggage is on that plane.”
“The airline will handle it.”
“No.”
“You cannot board.”
“You made me miss it.”
“No.”
“You made me miss my flight.”
“We did not.”
Cassandra pointed toward Lena.
“She did.”