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“Mr. Danielson, we’ll be arriving soon. I’d like to ask that you and your guests put your seatbelts on as we prepare for landing.”
Disappointment registered, dousing the excitement that had been building between the three of us. I bit back the frustration pouring through me along with it.
I should have started our game sooner. When would I get the chance to talk to her like this again?
The women and I clicked our seatbelts into place, and before I could ask Ella more about her family, she turned to Adelie.
“Truth or dare?”
Adelie smiled. “Do you have to ask?”
“Okay, then. Truth. What’s your deepest fear?” she asked her cousin.
I was surprised Ella didn’t already know the answer to that. Maybe she hadn’t known what else to ask in front of me.
Adelie hugged herself, looking timid and unsure, the bud closing with the oncoming of a storm. Her eyes flicked to me.
I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring nod. “Friend, remember?” She could say whatever she wanted toin front of me.
More color swarmed her cheeks.
“Being in a crowd,” Adelie said. “I don’t like being around a lot of people.”
“Good to know,” I said, wanting to put her at ease. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Adelie smiled at me. I inclined my head at her and then met Ella’s curious glance, waiting, hoping she might do the same. This flight was almost over, after all, and she still hadn’t granted me the expression once.
She analyzed me as though wondering what made me say what I said. Then Adelie turned her attention on me.
“Hawk?”
“Truth,” I said before she managed to present my options.
Ella folded her arms. “Who’s being a coward now?”
I winked at her.
Adelie shifted and looked at me seriously. I got the feeling she was straightforward like this all the time. She showed her feelings easily and was often quiet and shy but kind, too.
“What’s a secret you’ve never told anyone?” she asked in her soft voice.
I fought the snort. Like I was going to answer that one honestly.
Several stupid memories from my frat days with Sigma Phi Rho flashed to mind, but I wasn’t going to share anything like that. The only people who knew many of those stunts were the guys, who I was looking forward to seeing again. Adrian knew me better than anyone else did.
I looked right at Ella. She met my gaze with beautiful scrutiny of her own.
“A secret,” I said, musing.
We lost altitude. Adelie clutched the armrests, and Ella continued staring at me coolly. I didn’t need a dare to unravel me. She was doing that well enough with a single glance.
We’d be landing soon. I had one last shot at getting that smile.
“My secret is that I’m going to make Ella here like me before the end of this trip.”
Adelie released a little, “Aw.”
Something told me she was the more romantic of the two cousins.
