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Opening her eyes slowly, she took him in. He looked thinner, but the twinkle in his eyes was still there, matched by those dimples that weakened her knees. “There’s no you and me. You took that away from both of us.” Pain dripped from every word she said. She straightened her back, but it didn’t help. This wasn’t about business. This wasn’t about pleasure. This was about something bigger than both of them.
“You’re right, but there could be. Callie, I love you. I will do whatever I can to have you back in my life, forever. I’ve moved to Denver.”
She pushed past him. “I hope you didn’t do that for me, ’cause that would be the wrong reason.”
He followed on her heels. “No, I did it for me. I’m doing hiking and scenery tours. I’m living the life I was meant to live, as a person who loves getting up each day. Seeing your passion for flying, I wanted that feeling so bad. I’d never had it, except for when it came to you.”
“Sounds like you’re happy.” She calmed. Knowing he was happy meant something to her. Callie shook her head. “But I don’t know if I can trust you. I’d been broken by Trent, and I thought I was healing with you. I shouldn’t have run. I shouldn’t have ignored you. I was scared, of lots of things—trusting you, losing you, and being a part of something I couldn’t control. I was falling for—” She clamped her mouth shut. To say the truth out loud would rip her apart. She’d fallen for him. That was the truth. His support of Trent’s lies didn’t mean he was a bad person. He’d been in a tough place. She knew this. She wanted to move forward, but the fear of falling and crashing again was strong in her. “Please just go. I need to get ready for an evening flight.”
His head hung low, and he nodded. “Please, know one more thing. All those Xs and Os on the tic-tac-toe board, Callie, those were and always will be me giving you hugs and kisses. I’ll miss you forever.”
She watched him walk away. Her soul reached for him, but she couldn’t let his unplanned appearance derail what was keeping her sane. Anything else would have to wait.
“Captain Laurel, we’re prepared for the flight.” Jonathan broke into her thoughts. “Are you okay?”
She wiped away the tears that had started, and it didn’t seem they had an end. “No. I’m not.”
“You want me to ask someone else to do this flight for you?”
“No. I need to get away this weekend.” Far away. But had that really worked to stop her heart from wanting Liam before?
Jonathan stepped close and held out his arms. She didn’t hesitate and walked right into them. He said nothing, which was precisely what she wanted to hear.
After she’d released whatever had come over her, she backed away. “Thank you, Jonathan. I’ll need a few minutes. Please get the clients situated on the plane when they arrive, and I’ll board about ten minutes before takeoff. I’ll be okay. Promise.”
“No problem, Callie.”
She took a little time, avoiding Meg and Sam in the front office. She was happy for her friend. She wanted to be happy, too, but her hurt ran deep. Too deep to be puttied over by Liam moving to Denver and an apology that seemed awfully centered on him. The man had a little to learn about apologies. That’s what she’d concentrate on. It wouldn’t help, but it would distract her from the fact that she felt too much. Wanted Liam too much still. And couldn’t think of much else but him.
And he did apologize.
The plane waited on the tarmac. After a quick shower and change of clothes, the routine to prepare for the flight flowed through her blood.
Paul waited at the top of the stairs and grabbed her bag from her arm. They’d made plans to stay in Missoula for a quick getaway with Meg and Paul coming along. The charter was only for two people, and the client company had agreed quickly to the arrangement earlier in the week.
“Welcome. Happy flying, Captain.” Paul’s broad smile embraced her and his cheerfulness tried to raise her own, but she wasn’t all there.
He motioned her in, and she beelined to the cockpit to settle in before meeting their guests.
Her stomach did an impressive wave.
“Are you wearing a new cologne?” she asked Jonathan.
He shook his head. “No. Same one as always.”
Liam’s scent ghosted her from earlier, messing with her and driving her senseless. Distance and time were what she needed for perspective.
While double-checking the programming the system for the flight, Jonathan asked, “You sure you’re okay?”
She couldn’t say she was “okay” and she wouldn’t say that she was “focusing on the flight”. Her brain and heart fought for space in her head, her heart pushing her to understand what really needed to be heard.
She leaned back in the chair. “I don’t know.”
“Let’s just focus on the plan. Everything else will work out on its own, Callie.”
There’d been enough plans to her life. Maybe she needed a new direction. Change up the route of life. Make a new move. Push the button that said STOP in defiance. Strategy was one thing, but maybe love didn’t listen to logic. Fuck plans.
“I can’t do this.” She wouldn’t put anyone in danger with her troubled mind. “We’re gonna need to call Sam and see if he can get here. Tell Meg?—”
