Page 77 of Aviatrix

I watch out of the corner of my eye as he picks up the salt and pepper shakers—white ceramic with little orange flowers on them—and stares at them like he’s remembering a life he never wanted to leave behind.

“So, Kinley,” Aunt Lise turns her attention to me, “you’re a pilot, too?”

“I am,” I say, returning her smile.

“And you two met at the Academy?”

I nod. “Yes.”

“How many years ago was that?”

Eli and I exchange a look, both of us digging through time.

“I was twenty-two when we first met,” I offer. We started dating a few months later.

“And I was twenty-four,” he says. “Bit of a late bloomer when it came to the Force.”

“So… about ten years,” I say, shrugging. Eight since he broke my heart.

“That’s a long time to stay friends,” Aunt Lise says with a knowing chuckle. “You two never… went on a date?”

I can’t bring myself to look at Eli. I already know I’ll give everything away if I do.

“Maybe once or twice,” he says casually, just cryptic enough to keep her guessing. “Anyway, what’s going on with the tractor?”

Aunt Lise lifts an eyebrow, letting him know she’s not done with that thread, but plays along for now.

“Your uncle thinks it’s the fuel line. I think it’s the battery.”

“Did he get a new battery?” Eli asks just as she sets a plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies in front of us. The scent is unreal. Warm, rich, nostalgic.

“You know he didn’t,” she huffs.

“Of course,” Eli echoes with a smirk as he reaches for a cookie.

“How long do you think you’ll be staying?”

“Two or three days,” Eli answers.

“Kinley can sleep in Willa’s room,” she says. “You’re on the couch.”

“I figured.”

She eyes him. “Are you in trouble?”

He glances at me. I offer an encouraging smile.

“Not yet,” he says. “But you’ve seen the news.”

“Mm-hmm,” she hums, pulling down three mugs. “Creamer?”

“Please,” I say.

“None for me,” Eli adds.

As she pours, she shifts gears. “Where are you from, Kinley?”

“Cape May, New Jersey.”