Page 92 of Use Me

“When will I know?”

“When we get there.”

We slid into my car, and I pulled out, heading toward the Chicago Executive Airport. We weren’t joining the mile-high club.

At least not today.

“We’re flying somewhere?” Ashtyn asked as she looked at the control tower in the distance.

“Not exactly.”

“What does that mean? You’re pulling into an airport.”

“Ever flown a plane?”

She snorted. “Can’t say that I have.”

“Well, you will today.”

Her eyes widened as I glanced at her to see her response. “Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack.”

“I’m about to have a heart attack.”

“You better not. You have to fly a plane.”

“How?”

I pulled up to the building they’d told me to go to over the phone. “I know a guy who knows a guy.”

Ashtyn rolled her eyes. “Using my line?”

I laughed. “I do know a guy who knows a guy. Usually, you have to book this three weeks in advance.”

“Really?”

“Yep,” I confirmed, and we opened our doors to exit.

As she waited by the window, looking out at the tarmac, I checked her in. She had to sign some papers and then we met with an FAA certified flight instructor. He covered the ins and outs of the airplane’s mechanics with Ashtyn as I watched. They went over the instruments panel and then did a pre-flight inspection of the small plane. Afterward, the three of us climbed inside the aircraft. Ashtyn and the pilot sat up front with me in the back. I had a smile the entire time as I watched her learn everything she needed to know about flying the plane. I could see the joy radiating from her body as she soaked in everything, and I knew my plan for this Saturday was the right decision. It was a crazy spur of the moment plan, but seeing Ashtyn beam was what I always wanted to see from her.

We buckled into the cockpit of the four passenger, single-engine airplane, and Ashtyn taxied us to the runway. Steering a plane was essentially the same as driving a car, but of course, there were more controls once you actually had to get it to go in the air.

Once we got the all clear for take-off from the control tower, the pilot took over due to the FAA safety regulations. The pilot still had control of the aircraft as we rose to the cruising altitude, and Ashtyn turned her head to look at me.

“This is amazing!” She smiled.

I grinned back, both of us speaking in the headsets we had to wear. “I know.”

“All right, Ashtyn. The controls are all yours,” the pilot said.

Ashtyn turned back around and took over. She didn’t hesitate as the pilot instructed her to do various things. We ascended, descended, did several turns, and once we were close to our destination, Ashtyn radioed to the control tower to see if it was clear for the pilot to land.

We landed at the Grand Geneva Airport where a black town car was waiting for us. “Where are we going?” Ashtyn asked, fluffing her hair.

“Lunch.”

“Lunch?”