Page 90 of Aviatrix

Since he showed up, leaning on that fuel cart like the world wasn’t falling apart.

“I’m sorry,” he says.

“For what?”

He looks like he’s about to say something, then just shakes his head.

“Lark’s going to be in Colorado when we get there,” I remind him.

“Since you and I are both on the Alien Warfare team,” Eli says as I frown, “we’ll have to deal with him.”

“Wait… since when are we on Lark’s team?” I scoff.

“Since General Salamander put us on it.”

I groan. “It’s bad enough we’re stuck in the same mountain base. But on his team? Kill me now.”

“You have VAL,” Eli says with a soft chuckle. “You’re part of the team whether you want to be or not.”

“And you?” I raise an eyebrow. “Why are you on the team?”

Eli smirks. “The General doesn’t trust the Colonel. So, he asked me to keep an eye on him.”

“Of course he did.” I roll my eyes.

We park in front of one of the buildings, and Eli cuts the engine. I’m the first one out, grabbing my bag. I’ve picked up a few things since Langdon was destroyed. Two pairs of pants, a handful of shirts, a yellow sundress, and a thumb drive burning a hole in my pocket. I’m tired of carrying it around, a torturous reminder that Lark cheated on me, that there are too many secrets to uncover, that the life I once knew no longer exists.

“You ready?” Eli asks, still refusing to look me in the eye.

I shrug. “As ready as I’m going to be.”

We head inside to drop off the keys and use the facilities. Eli makes small talk with a few crew members while we walk toward the hangar that houses our aircraft.

“Hey,” I say, slipping the thumb drive from my pocket.

“Yeah?” he replies, not meeting my eyes.

I hold it out. He takes it from me without hesitation.

“I don’t want to carry this around anymore.”

He slips it into the pocket of his flight suit. “Okay.”

While Eli checks both jets, I field questions about VAL. The small crew is fascinated by her capabilities. Word started spreading from base to base after I left the desert and headed to San Diego.

“We need to head out,” Eli finally tells the group that’s gathered around me.

I shake hands, say polite goodbyes, and head straight over to VAL.

Eli still won’t meet my gaze. “Make sure you talk to VAL about Stealth Mode,” he instructs. “When you’re ready to try it, radio me.”

“Are you ever going to look at me again?” I tease.

He tenses. “I’ve looked at you.”

“In the eye,” I clarify, beginning to braid my hair.

“I have,” he lies.