Pity washed over him. “You did for five seconds. Long enough to?—”
“Don’t say it,” I fired at him as I went over and sat in a chair that gave me the feeling I was in a torture chamber.
Hollister followed me in case I collapsed.
“What happened?” Pierce crossed his arms over his flight suit, studying me with narrowed eyes. “All your medical and neurological results we’ve done show you’re a healthy individual. And you were doing great—breathing, muscle engagement, completely alert. Then your blood pressure dropped dangerously low.”
“I might’ve blacked out, but I recovered. Quicker this time.”
He snarled. “I don’t give a rat’s ass, Captain. You are not flying until you can show me you can handle nine Gs without even a blip. Are we clear?”
I bit my tongue. “Yes, sir.”
“Again, what the fuck happened?”
If I ever wanted to get into a cockpit again, I had to be honest with him and myself.
Hollister handed me a bottle of water then left Pierce and I alone.
After a long gulp of water, I said, “Tate. The scene when I woke up after my G-LOC. I panicked.”
He held his chin between two fingers. “Mm. I figured as much.” His tone was much calmer. “It’s normal to have those thoughts. It happens more than you think after an accident, especially one like yours. But you have to reconcile your demons.”
I cussed silently to myself. “I can do this. Give me another shot.”
He gave me a look of a man who’d heard that same line too many times. “Not today, Captain. You’re not ready. We’ll reassess next week.”
“Sir—”
“That’s an order, Captain.” His tone brooked no argument. “Take the rest of the day off.”
Blowing out a long, suffering, and painful breath, I braced my elbows on my knees as every nerve buzzed with leftover adrenaline.
Pierce talked to Hollister then collected his clipboard and left.
Hollister cleared his throat. “Sir, I’ll be outside if you need any help.”
“I’m good.” I was far from it.
I was afraid to stand, afraid that my legs might give out. But the last thing I wanted to do was spend any time in the hospital because if I knew Pierce, he would order Hollister to take me. And I wasn’t about to show any weakness, and more importantly, I wouldn’t ruin my date with Monroe tonight.
Hollister made it to the door. “Captain, a piece of unsolicited advice.”
I tossed a look over my shoulder. “What is it?”
“What always helps me to clear my demons is the great outdoors. There isn’t anything better than getting out of Pine Valley with the base in my rearview.”
He might be onto something. Devil’s Hollow had always been my reset button and a place to clear my head.
14
MONROE
Jace would be here in thirty minutes, and I was a ball of nerves. I had been that way all day, barely able to teach my math classes. I kept thinking about him. About how he’d called me, panicked, before his centrifuge test. I worried all day if he’d passed. I’d even texted him to find out, but I hadn’t heard back. Nevertheless, he was letting his guard down, and for someone like Jace, that was huge.
Ethan came into my room as I stood in front of the mirror. “Mom, you look great. Where’s Jace taking you?”
I smoothed my hands down my black jeans. “We’re hanging out here. I’m ordering Chinese.”
