He scowls. “What’s there to decide?”
“Well, you’re glaring at me right now, for one thing.” He smooths his face, but I press on as my gut sinks with acceptance. “This won’t work.”
“What won’t?”
“You being my instructor.” I let myself hope. Told myself to ignore the guilt driving him. Almost convinced myself I could maneuver around my unwanted attraction.
But it won’t work.
“Why not?”
“Because…”Because you hate me. Meanwhile, I want your body pressed against my body along with everything else you have to offer. The disdain will break something in me.“It just won’t.”
“That’s not a reason. Tell me why I can’t teach you.”
“Because it’s not fair!” I blurt, then cringe, clutching the stack of flight knowledge to my chest.
He doesn’t need to knowwhatexactly isn’t fair. I’ll let him fill in the reasons on his own.
His brow furrows in confusion. “What does fairness have to do with anything?”
Spoken like a true BnB drone. Who cares about fairness? Who cares about right and wrong? All that matters is what you want and making sure you get it by any means necessary.
“We don’t get along,” I say, when what I mean is,We don’t like each other, and you were the one to start that off. “And I can’t pay you. So taking something from you is not fair.” I swallow, hating that I can feel the weight of tears on my lower lids. I blink them away. “Flying is my dream. I want to learn. And I will, one day, when I can afford it.”
I slip around him, needing to escape.
“Beth. Wait.” George stalks after me as I head to my car.
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell Shawn.” I’m used to keeping my brother in the dark about the people in his life who hate me.
“I’m not worried about Shawn.” George braces his large palm on my car door before I can open it. “Wait for a second. Please. What do you mean we don’t get along?”
Turned away from him as I am, George can’t see my eyes roll. Yeah, the guy who can’t stand to be in the same elevator with me can’t imagine why I would think he dislikes me. Sure.
“Beth, look at me.”
I don’t want to, but this is one of those times when my body likes him and does what he says.
A hard silver stare holds mine. “I take being a flight instructor seriously. I want you to succeed. I want you to get your license and be safe every time you go up in the air. And I don’t need a paycheck to feel that way. You can pay me in brownies if you feel the need for an exchange.”
I sigh. “The brownies are worth five bucks.”
George continues to glare at me. “They’re worth more than that to me. It’s a fair trade.”
I grit my teeth, certain he’s mocking me now. Ilikemy spicy box brownies, and I don’t want him to make fun of them.
Suddenly, I’m hit with a wave of exhaustion. All I want is to go home, check on my mom, take Grumps out for an evening walk, curl up with my study manuals, and get enough sleep that I’m not dead on my feet for the breakfast shift tomorrow.
“I’m leaving now.”
George’s jaw tightens, and for a moment I’m not sure he’ll let me leave. But then he drops his eyes.
“Fine. But the offer stands. No expiration.”
Why can’t he just take the win? He has no obligation to me if I’m the one who turns him down.
“Okay.” I wait for him to move. He doesn’t. “George.”
