Page 91 of Aviatrix

“Why can’t you?” I ask. And then it hits me. The kiss. That’s what this is about.

“It was just a kiss,” I say, more to test him than to convince myself.

Finally, he meets my eyes. “Was it?”

There’s a weight to his voice, a gravity in the way he’s looking at me that knocks the breath from my lungs.

“I don’t know,” I admit.

“I don’t…” He trails off, his fist clenching at his side. “I don’t want to be the guy you use to get over him.”

“You’re not,” I say too quickly, then hesitate. For once in his life, Eli’s actually saying what he feels. I’m not sure I even know what to do with that.

He’s being honest, though. I can’t let the moment pass.

“I’m not the kind of girl who uses someone to get over someone else,” I say softly. “That’s not who I am.”

“I know. But the break is still new, Quay.” He pauses, then adds, “What if it’s not over for you two?”

It’s a fair question.

I finish tying off the end of my braid and cross my arms over my chest.

“It’s over, Eli,” I say clearly. “It’s been over. And it’ll still be over whether the aliens scorch Earth or not. You and me? We have history. Long. Complicated. That kiss wasn’t a distraction or some emotional bandage. It was real. For me, at least.”

He licks his lips. “Okay.”

“Okay,” I echo.

“You ready for this?” he asks.

“I’m ready.”

He steps closer. For a second, I think he might kiss me again but instead, his hand cradles the side of my face and he leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. It’s brief. Gentle. Almost reverent.

“What was that for?” I ask, blinking up at him.

He smiles faintly. “Just in case we screw up fingertip formation.”

I laugh, breath catching. “We won’t screw it up.”

Eli cocks an eyebrow. “I won’t. I’m not so sure about you and VAL.”

“You’re ridiculous.” I sigh, starting up the ladder.

“Ridiculously handsome,” he calls over his shoulder.

Cocky bastard.

The second I’m back in the cockpit, I breathe a sigh of relief. I feel safe here with VAL.

“Captain Kinley Quay,” she greets me. “Destination?”

“Camp Obsidian,” I reply.

“Searching… Location found. Estimated travel time: forty-nine minutes.”

I breathe in through my nose as I grip the flight stick. “You ready, VAL?”