Gray breaks out in a smile, the tension leaving his body. He crouches and scoops up the boy, swinging his little body around while the kid shrieks in delight.
“When did you get here? Can we go flying? Please?” His words tumble out in an excited rush.
“Ah, I’m sorry, bud. I can’t today. I’m showing Wren around.”
“But you promised you’d take me next time you were here!”
Gray ruffles the kid’s dark hair. “I know I did, but I don’t have time today.”
I note the easy camaraderie between the two of them. I’m not really a kid person, but it doesn’t surprise me that Gray has a way with children. He comes off as a big kid himself most of the time.
The boy glances at me. “Are you a pilot, too? Do you fly better than Grayson? Because he flies better than abird.”
“I’ve heard that,” I say with a smile. “But no, I’m not a pilot, unfortunately.”
“This is Wren,” Gray tells the boy. “She’s new here. Wren, this future pilot is Fisher.”
Fisher…Isn’t that what Poppy called Evlynne’s son?
“Did you know,” Fisher says, fixing big solemn eyes on me, “thatpilots who are really, really good are called aces?” He holds his hands out, miming an airplane soaring through the air. “Aces are the best pilots in the world. They do loop-de-loops and fly upside down.”
“Upside down?” I echo, feigning amazement. “No way.”
“It’s true!” He nods seriously. “My mom is a pilot, and she told me. She’s an ace because she’s the best.”
“I thought I was the best,” Gray accuses.
“Nope. It’s Mom.”
“Well, damn. Guess I should just retire my wings and get into farming.”
I pat Gray’s arm. “It’s okay, ace. Second-best isn’t anything to be ashamed of.”
“Fisher!” one of the boys on the field shouts, a whine in his voice. “Come back to the game!”
“Oh no, I forgot,” Fisher exclaims with the most adorable sheepish smile. “I have to go!”
Before we can blink, the kid is gone, running back to his soccer game.
I turn to Gray. “That’s Evlynne’s son?”
“Yeah. Great kid.”
“How did Evlynne manage that?”
He snorts. “Ev’s not that bad. She just has trust issues.” With a pointed look, he adds, “Like some people I know.”
“You’re comparing me to Evlynne? Nope. Take that back.”
“ ‘Nope,’ ” he mimics. “You two have more in common than you think.”
We finally reach the covered courtyard I saw from the air. I realize it’s a gathering place. A round pavilion with scattered tables and other seating, wood-burning cooking stoves, even a small stage.
“This is the square,” Gray says.
“But it’s a circle.”
“Well, we call it a square. I don’t know why, so just fuck off.”
