She stared at it.
That number had cost her a flight.
Not because she did not possess sixty-two dollars.
Because she had refused every solution that felt beneath her.
Cassandra ended the livestream.
Suddenly she looked tired.
“What happens now?”
Daniel answered.
“You need to talk to your airline about rebooking.”
“Can I stay in the terminal?”
“Yes.”
Angela nodded.
“You’re trespassed from the restaurant, not the airport.”
Cassandra looked surprised.
“You’re not arresting me?”
“No.”
Angela looked at her.
“Unless you give us another reason.”
Cassandra glanced toward Lena.
Lena turned away.
Then Cassandra looked toward the gate.
Empty.
Flight 608 had pushed away.
Her checked suitcase was gone.
Her meeting was gone.
The dinner was probably gone.
She pulled her sunglasses down.
“I need to rebook.”
Daniel nodded.
“That would be a good idea.”
Cassandra started walking.
Then stopped.
She turned toward the man in the red tracksuit.
He was sitting at the bar again.
She approached.
Daniel watched from a distance.
The man looked up.
Cassandra placed a business card beside his beer.
“I’m going to pay you back.”
He glanced at the card.
“Don’t care.”
“I care.”
“Then send it somewhere useful.”
“What does that mean?”
“Buy somebody dinner.”
Cassandra frowned.
He lifted his beer.
“And maybe don’t yell at them afterward.”
She stared.
He smiled.
“Safe travels.”
Cassandra walked away.
At the airline service counter, things got worse.
The next available direct flight was the following morning.
There was one connection through Atlanta that evening, but the fare difference was $487.
Cassandra laughed when the agent told her.
“You’re charging me five hundred dollars because your airport police made me miss the flight?”
The agent looked at her reservation.
“Our records show you missed boarding.”
“I was detained.”
“Were you detained by the airline?”
“No.”
“Then that is outside our control.”
Cassandra closed her eyes.
“I want a manager.”
The agent looked at her.
Then Cassandra heard herself.
I want a manager.
The phrase suddenly sounded ridiculous.
For the first time all afternoon, she stopped.
“Never mind.”
The agent raised an eyebrow.
“Okay.”
Cassandra almost complained about the word.
Then let it go.
“I’ll take the morning flight.”
The agent rebooked her.
“Your checked bag will probably continue to Charlotte.”
“Probably?”
“Yes.”
“So my luggage is going without me.”
“It may already be loaded.”
Cassandra laughed softly.
Of course it was.
“Hotel?”