Contents
3. Stevie
Overview
Stevie unwinds after the flight, fields controlling rules and body-shaming from lead attendant Tara, and abandons a hookup plan. Seeking comfort, she watches her twin brother’s NBA game at a bar and flirts with the bartender. When Rio and Evan Zanders arrive, Stevie tries to leave, but Zanders pointedly confronts her, escalating tension and jeopardizing boundaries.
Summary
In her Denver hotel, Stevie changes out of her uncomfortable uniform and texts her twin brother, NBA player Ryan Shay, about his game. She redownloads Tinder for a low-stakes hookup but is interrupted by lead flight attendant Tara, who asserts authority, bans fraternization, and body-shames Stevie about her uniform.
Deflated, Stevie deletes Tinder and heads to a nearby sports bar to watch Ryan’s game. She orders IPAs and a burger and flirts easily with the bartender, Jax, who keeps her drink full. As she relaxes, Stevie reflects on her mother’s lifelong backhanded comments about her body, recognizing why Tara’s remark stung.
Jax puts Ryan’s game on TV, and Stevie proudly reveals Ryan is her brother after he drains a three. The attention boosts her mood, and the chemistry with Jax hints at a possible hookup later.
Then Stevie spots two Raptors players at the bar—Rio and Evan Zanders. Remembering Tara’s no-fraternization rule and irritated by Zanders’s demanding behavior on the flight, she decides to pay and leave to protect her job.
Before she can, Evan Zanders steps in close, bracing his hands on the bar to cage her in and murmurs in her ear, “You following me?” The confrontation signals a brewing personal and professional conflict.
Who Appears
- StevieFlight attendant protagonist; body-shamed by Tara, deletes Tinder, watches twin brother’s game, flirts with bartender, then tries to avoid players.
- Evan ZandersRaptors star; previously needy on flight. Finds Stevie at the bar and corners her, provoking tension.
- JaxFlirtatious bartender who serves Stevie beers, chats about basketball, and comped drinks.
- TaraLead flight attendant; asserts control, forbids fraternization, and criticizes Stevie’s tight uniform.
- Ryan ShayStevie’s twin brother; NBA point guard on TV, motivating her bar outing and pride.
- RioRaptors player at the bar with Zanders; his presence prompts Stevie to leave.