Page 174 of Aviatrix

Eli folds his arms over his chest. “We ready?”

My fingers twitch with the urge to reach for him, but I stop myself. Not in front of Lark. Not now. I’ve already broken enough rules. And yet, if this is the last time we’re like this, would it really be so wrong to hold onto something real?

The Colonel takes the lead, and Eli and I fall in step behind him.

I glance over at Eli, knowing our odds of survival aren’t great. But I also know this: no matter what happens, we’ll do everything we can to save as many lives as we can.

Even if it means breaking every damn rule in the book.

THIRTY-SEVEN

YOU HAVE YOUR FATHER’S EYES

Mom hugs me tight in the hangar, her arms the last safe reminder of my childhood.

And it makes me think back to the day Dad disappeared. I remember it so vividly, it still makes my breath catch sometimes. I was nineteen, still living at home. We had breakfast, just the three of us. Mom made her famous bacon and cheese omelets, and we drank coffee, all of us sitting around that little round kitchen table. Dad made small talk about the weather. Said it was the perfect day to golf.

But he never golfed. I always found that odd.

Then, I rinsed my plate, waved goodbye, and left for my morning class at the community college.

If I’d known I’d never see him again, I would’ve lingered a little longer. Told him I loved him. Hugged him.

I would’ve made time to say, as far as fathers go, he was the best.

But that’s the thing about regret: wishing you could change it doesn’t change anything.

“I love you, Mom,” I whisper in the present, a lump rising in my throat. “I love you so much.”

She pulls back to look at me, tears in her eyes.

“You have your father’s eyes,” she says with a smile. “Black around the edges, but brown in the center.”

For some reason, my mind flashes to the Area 51 Diner. To Walker saying the same thing.

You have your father’s eyes.

A chill slips down my spine, but I don’t have time to process it.

“Quay,” Eli’s calls from behind me.

Mom steps back. “Emmett, you’ll take care of my girl?”

“Eli, Mom,” I groan.

“I’ll take care of her, Mrs. Quay,” Eli promises.

She swallows hard. “I want you to know I’m proud of you, Kinley. Your dad would be so proud, too.”

I hug her again, hoping it’s not the last, but knowing it might be.

Then, Eli’s hand finds the small of my back, and he walks me over to VAL.

I want to tell him I love him. I should tell him I love him. That I never stopped. That he’s always held the biggest piece of my heart.

Come on, Kinley. Do it.

We stop beside VAL, who lights up the moment I’m close enough to touch her.