“Yeah, you do.” His voice is steady, certain. “You just don’t like the answer.”
I let that sit for a second, rolling his words around in my head.
Dad sighs. “Look, if she’s not ready, you can’t force her. But if you keep ignoring what you want just to fit inside her rules, you’re gonna end up hurting yourself—and maybe her too.”
I close my eyes, feeling the weight of that truth settle in my chest.
“Yeah,” I mumble. “I know.”
“Good.” He pauses. “Now go eat something. You sound miserable.”
I huff out a laugh. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Anytime, kid.”
I hang up, putting my phone in my jacket pocket, but Dad’s words stay with me.
I know what I want. The question is—what the hell am I gonna do about it?
Monday morning rolls in with a thump. Or maybe that’s my head as I pour my third cup of coffee of the day.
I have got to stop mixing wine andReal Housewivesmarathons.
With a groan, I sit down at my desk just as the door bursts open, followed by the chatter of pilots spilling into the room for morning roll call.
“Damn, Phoenix, you look like death warmed up,” Knox says with that big grin on his face. If that man wasn’t one of my close friends, I might just chop his balls off where he stands.
“Sit down and shut up, shithead,” I grumble over my coffee cup.
With a low whistle, he takes the chair across from me.
“Rough weekend?”
I can’t help but roll my eyes. “Nah, princess, it was just fine. Now, don’t you have some rookies to bother?”
“Nope, this is your show. I’m here waiting for you.” He smiles at me again.
“On that note, then, let’s get going.” I grin at him, and it instantly shuts him up because he knows me well enough to know he just poked the bear.
Standing from my seat, I get the group’s attention.
“Alright, gentlemen, since your outstanding leader here is in just a chipper mood, I want everyone to be ready to fly in fifteen minutes. We’re gonna see what he’s been teaching you,” I say, giving him a smug smile and walking out of the room toward the airfield.
As I make my way down the hall, I hear footsteps approaching behind me.
“You have got to be shitting me, Phoenix. The rookies aren't ready for what I have in store for them,” he says as we continue to walk.
“Guess we are gonna find out then, sunshine, aren’t we?” I say, patting his chest as I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.
“Better get them on the same page, Knox. Wouldn’t want them to embarrass you.” I give him a one-finger salute and head toward my own aircraft.
Today, I’m watching from the sky.
…….
Three hours later, I’m finishing up my notes on the morning practice that I sprang on Knox when I get this feeling that I’m being watched. Turning slightly, I come face-to-face with the one man I have avoided all day. The reason I went down a rabbit hole last night was to escape those beautiful eyes and that intoxicating smell that only Ash Carr has.
“Avoiding me, Phoenix?” he asks in that sweet Southern voice.
