THE RIPPED MAN IN THE COWBOY HAT WOULDN’T STOP STARING AT ME ON THE PLANE

I first noticed the wide-brimmed leather hat. The man wearing it looked more like a cowboy than someone flying coach. His gaze met mine—steady and unreadable. A few rows ahead, I tried to forget him. But during rough turbulence, he appeared beside me. “You okay, ma’am?” he asked, voice calm and deep. I nodded, but he leaned closer. “That’s not what you should be worried about.”