All too soon back on the ground, figuratively as well as literally, Barbara was disappointed. Standing together in a hangar, taking off their parachutes, Paul talked about the lesson, but did not show any sign he was going to ask her out.
It made her wonder, If he and Gail weren't going together, did he have a girlfriend? Was he going steady with someone? She knew he was a college student, but that was about all. Who was Paul Riordan? Gail had said she knew him, but never talked about him, even when Barbara asked leading questions to try to learn more.
He said he had to go, to give a new customer his first flying lesson. "See you next Sunday," he said, and waved as he left the hangar.
He likes me, but not enough to ask me for a date. Barbara thought of nothing else while she went back to work in the hangar, sewing a patch in one of the Jenny's wings.
She felt hungry again and couldn't wait for dinner, so she put a nickel in a vending machine and got herself a candy bar to tide her over. When she finally got dinner that night, after serving the sorority sisters, she felt famished and devoured a large serving of meatloaf and mashed potatoes, then went back for seconds.
While stuffing herself, she believed she knew why she was so hungry. She was in love.
Later that night, she had to pry something out of Gail about Paul. As she and her friend walked on campus, Barbara asked her again.
"What can you tell me about Paul Riordan?"
Gail smiled. "Are you becoming interested in him?"
"Well, you said you know him. He'd be a catch for any girl, don't you think?"
"Yes, I agree about that. I just wouldn't get too interested in him. I was. I found it to be hopeless."
All kinds of thoughts began racing through Barbara's mind.
So you were interested in him. Are you still? You don't seem to be. But you're warning me about something.
"We dated a while, if you could call it that," Gail admitted. "The most he ever gave me was a goodnight peck on the cheek. We went to a few movies and dances. By the way, he dances divinely. Or maybe I shouldn't tell you that. You might fall for him."
Might? Do I dare let her know I already have fallen for him? No, I can't do that. She might still be carrying the torch for him.
"How does he dance divinely?"