Page 141 of Switch!

“It’s been fun!” Trixie says. “Thanks for letting us crash at your place.”

“Enjoy your privacy,” I add. “We’re out of your hair, and I’m out of your head. Be happy, Patrick.”

“Live long and prosper, my friend,” he murmurs when hugging Trixie goodbye.

I leave his body and arrive in another, taking control so I can turn around and raise a hand in parting. The agreed signal. Once he and Trixie respond in kind, I continue walking and relinquish control to my host. He’s a businessman. A quick poke through his history reveals he’s a decent person who has rarely done anyone harm. He has a large family, including young children from a second marriage, so I already know that I won’t stay with him. I wouldn’t want to deprive anyone of a husband and father.

I wait until we’re seated on the plane before I switch again, trying to find a good match. I need a new body, but too many potential hosts are either travelling elsewhere after reaching Tacoma or aren’t staying there long. After switching over and over again, I try the only guy sitting near Trixie. Turns out he’s a keynote speaker at a conference with a jam-packed schedule. Not a good option either.

“Switch,” I mutter, leaning across the aisle so Trixie can hear me.

“I don’t want to change seats,” she replies curtly.

“No, I mean…”

Trixie laughs. “I know. I’m just messing with you. Is this your new body?”

Shereallyneeds to work on her indoor voice. “Nope. I haven’t found a good option. We’ll need to hang around the airport longer or go somewhere with less travelers.”

“You’ll still need a body for that. I can’t carry you in my pocket.”

“True. I’ll keep trying.”

“Cool. Whoever you end up as, meet me by the baggage claim.”

I swap bodies a few more times, but it seems hopeless. I try a teenager wearing headphones who is doing everything in his power to ignore his parents. Once I’m in his head, I discover he’s flying into town to celebrate his thirteenth birthday. His favorite team is the Seattle Seahawks, but he’ll be staying with relatives in Tacoma. I decide to stick with him for the remainder of the flight. He has good taste in music and a nice collection of handheld games that he plans on breaking out soon.

When he rises to use the restroom, I make him stop next to Trixie… who looks amazing! I can’t get over it. My pulse is pounding and my mouth goes dry. I barely manage to squeak out what I need to say. “No luck. I’ll see you at the baggage claim.”

She makes a sympathetic face and nods. I surrender control to my host, who walks down the aisle on stiff legs while thinking obsessively of Trixie. He can’t believe he worked up the courage to talk to her.

The prettiest girl on the plane is going to meet me at the baggage claim!he thinks to himself.What am I supposed to say when she does?

I stifle a laugh as he fixes his hair in the mirror and just about lose it when he gives her an upward nod on the way back to his seat. He had a girlfriend of sorts previously, but nothing serious. Even he doesn’t think this will result in anything, but he still can’t stop fantasizing about the possibilities. When his daydreams start to get explicit, I prompt him to play some video games instead, hoping to take both our minds off the subject.

This flight seems even longer than the first. His butt is numb by the time we’ve landed and he’s allowed to stand. I lose track of Trixie in the hustle to disembark. My host’s mother needs to use the restroom, and afterwards, his father makes us stop at one of the overpriced newsstands to buy drinks. By the time we reach the baggage claim, a crowd is standing around the conveyor belt as luggage spills out onto it. I look around for Trixie as we join the throng and a glimpse of her before she’s lost again.

I take control of my host and tell his parents I’ll be right back. When I find Trixie, she already has our suitcase… and she isn’t alone. A guy in his twenties with a friendly face and blondish-brown hair is standing next to her. Jesse! What’s he doing here? Trixie notices me and nudges him. Then she points.

I raise my hand in greeting. “What’s going on?” I ask when close enough.

“I found you a ride,” Trixie says with a wide grin.

“Really?” I ask, looking to Jesse. “You don’t mind?”

“He’s fine,” Trixie answers for him. “Maybe we should talk when we have more privacy.” She nods over my shoulder.

I turn and see my host’s mother watching us with a confused expression. “Oh. Right. Here goes!”

I make the leap to Jesse’s body, which feels like putting on a favorite pair of old shoes.

All set!I think, but Jesse isn’t as attuned to me as Patrick was. He doesn’t get the message. They’re both still staring at my former host.

“Uh…” the kid says, cheeks burning bright while he stares at Trixie. “I’ve gotta go with my folks. I can’t ride with you anywhere, but you’re really beautiful. Could I get your number?”

Trixie blinks a few times before she figures out the situation. “Sure!” After she exchanges her info with him and he wanders away, she turns to us. “That was adorable! But he’s a baby.”

“Hold on to that number,” Jesse says. “He’ll be a good-looking guy in a few more years.”