“Exactly.” I murmured. “It’s all you.” All the complexity and depth andjoyof Sara was written all over the canvas, in every single brushstroke. It’d be like having a piece of her in my house—I was ecstatic.
“This is going to be worth a fortune someday, and you’re going to regret letting it go for so little.” I teased, hearing a small sniffle behind me. I whirled around, finding Sara fanning her eyes frantically. “What’s wrong?” I pulled her into the hug I’d been dying to give her all day.
“I don’t even know if I can do this.” She sniffled against my chest.
“I’ve got news for ya, sweetheart, you’re already doing it.” I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. Strawberry and amber. Sweet and sexy.She smelled like home.“You’re gonna be a star.” I said, in an old-timey accent, trying to lighten the mood, all while feeling like there was a tight band constricting around my chest. Why the hell did this feel so damn right?Her in my arms.
She laughed, and I pulled back, taking her face in my hands as I looked her in the eyes a little breathlessly. “You’re incredible, Sara, you know that? I’ve never met anyone like you.”
She immediately looked down.Nervous.
Good.
“Same to you.” She playfully punched my arm, breaking the tension. “I guess I have to figure out how to ship thisthing to you, huh?”
I chuckled, “Damn right you do, and by the way, there is no way in hell I’m letting you pay for lunch.”
She wiped her nose and shook her head, trying to shake the emotions off. “I can live with that, I guess.”
“Yeah, that’s my girl.”I wished she really were.
At lunch, I couldn’t stop grinning at her.
“What?” She giggled, giving me a crazed look.
I shrugged. “You look good in my sweatshirt, that’s all.” It was one of my old Air Force hoodies, and damn, shedidlook good in my clothes, never mind that my arms were freezing.
“What can I say? I look good in everything.” She winked. “Even this ratty ol’ thing.”
“Can’t argue there.” I stuck my tongue in my cheek with a smirk, not bothering to add it must not betoo rattyif she kept burying her nose in it—every time she thought I wasn’t looking.
Sara reached across the table, serving herself more lamb kofta, and I was always impressed at how much she could put down for such a tiny little thing. She’d always had such a hunger for life, food, friends. It was infectious. Herjoywas infectious. Felt essential, somehow.
She caught me staring, and her very full cheeks turned pink. I just grinned, knowing I’d already placed a to-go order, so she’d have enough leftovers for the week. Shelovedleftovers.
Sara dragged a piece of pita bread through the hummus contemplatively. “So, flyboy, what’s your call sign?” She finally asked, a heated look painting her expression.
I smiled to myself. “You really wanna know?”
“Obviously.” She swatted my hand when I tried to steal the piece of meat she was already going for, and I grinned.
“The boys gave it to me, I don’t know, it’s kind of embarrassing.” I admitted.
Her eyes sparkled. “Now you definitelyhave to tell me.”
I leaned back and gripped my neck. “Casanova.” I said it so quietly that she made me repeat myself, but I think she might have heard me the first time.
Sara’s nose scrunched as she grinned with pure amusement. “Casanova?” I nodded, more than a little embarrassed. “I think they hit the nail on the head.” She shoved the pita bread into her mouth with a wildly amused smirk, and I groaned. “Well, Casanova, maybe you’ll take me flying sometime.”
“You trust me that much?” I teased.
She chewed slowly and then swallowed. “I’ve always trusted you, Carter. I can’t help it.”
I stopped mid bite, I couldn’t help it either. My stomach bottomed out, knowing that in an hour, I had to head back and there was always the chance that this would be my last visit home. I needed more time.Weneeded more time.
Christmas and New Year’s came and went, and I spent the holidays flying into remote areas, covered in mud and other less savory substances. This last few months had been especially brutal, and because I wasn’t sleeping well, I was running on fumes.
While I couldn’t get Sara out of my mind, or out of my dreams for that matter, I’d been so busy jugglingso many things, it hadn’t occurred to me, that I hadn’t heard from Liam or Sara in weeks—despite our agreement that we would try to text more regularly.
