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All those awful feelings of not being enough, of being left behind by Iluminada, resurfaced. Ayla wouldn’t treat him like that. She would never lie to him or manipulate him.
But she was leaving him.
She stirred and blinked up at him, those blue eyes that he could never get enough of meeting his. “Hi,” she whispered.
“Hi.”
Could he kiss her like he had last night?
“What time is it?” she asked.
He glanced at the clock on the stove. “Seven-thirty.”
“Oh, crap. My flight leaves at eleven.”
“Oh.”
She scrambled out of his arms and ran for the stairs. She was two steps up before she stopped and looked back at him. He hadn’t budged, no matter how bad his body hurt and ached for him to move. His heart hurt and ached more.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
He knew she meant it. What was he supposed to say? “It’s all right,” he tried to reassure her with a fake smile that she probably saw right through.
She drew in a breath, studied him for a beat, then shook her head and ran up the stairs. He could hear her running around up there. He stood and stretched out his arm and his back and neck. After getting a long drink of water, he used the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. He looked rough. Beat up and tired. The light Ayla had brought to his eyes was gone.
No. He couldn’t think like that. But if he couldn’t even talk her into staying for a day or two extra, what hope did they have? He didn’t mind going to Barstow to visit, but he’d sworn to himself he wouldn’t leave Ammon, Bentley, his mom, or dad again. They all needed him. The fact that she wouldn’t extend her vacation for a couple of days, especially when she didn’t have a job to go back to, made him think he must not be very high on her priority list.
His phone lit up as he paced. Ammon.
“Bro?” Ammon greeted him with.
“Hey.”
“You and Ayla … all right?”
What could Jace say? Her footsteps were still tracing around upstairs. It was now seven-forty-five. He calculated drive time, getting through security, and when gates would close. They needed to leave now, or she would be pushing her luck.
“I’m just getting ready to run her to the airport.” She hadn’t asked, but what options did she have? There weren’t Uber or car rental companies in Summit Valley.
“That sucks. You can’t talk her into staying for a couple days? Tomorrow’s going to be epic, and I think there’s space in the helicopter. She could watch the stunts with the cameramen. I bet she’d love the experience.”
That would’ve been really great and Jace could bet she’d love it too. “I’ll ask, but I think she’s determined to get home.”
Steps came behind him. He turned and there she was. A vision in a one-piece jumpsuit outfit that looked flattering and comfortable.
“I’ve got to go. I’ll call you as I drive back.”
“Okay. Sorry, bro.”
“Me too.” He hung up and pocketed his phone. They stared at each other.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I’ve got to figure out how to get to the airport or I’ll miss my flight.”
Would that be so awful? Luckily, he didn’t let that thought out. He wouldn’t trick her into staying or guilt her into it or try to force her into it, though he was tempted to do all of the above. When he’d left Ammon to pursue his Olympic dreams, he’d always been so impressed and grateful that his brother had never given him the guilt trip about leaving him behind and leaving all the responsibility of their family and ski resort to him. He could do the same for Ayla. No matter how it hurt.
“I’ll drive you,” he said instead.
“Oh … thank you, Jace.”
