Page 93 of Aviatrix

VAL’s cockpit hisses open, and I immediately spot them.

Lark and Amber, safe and sound.

Waiting.

My stomach lurches as I climb out, trying to brace myself for whatever comes next. But I’m not prepared for the way Amber’s expression shifts the moment Eli jumps down from his jet, confident and golden. He belongs in every room he walks into.

Her smile blooms, slow and intrigued, her eyes latching onto him and not letting go.

She steps forward and extends her hand to him. “Hi, I’m Amber.”

Something sharp and unexpected twists in my chest.

Not because I’m jealous.

But because I’ve seen enough girls fall for that grin to know exactly how this story starts.

And how it ends.

TWENTY-ONE

SPACE COMMAND’S MOST NOTORIOUS FORCE OF NATURE

Eli and I stand shoulder to shoulder as we salute Lark. It feels ludicrous. He’s not the welcoming committee, not ops, not even traffic control. He had no business answering Eli’s radio call for landing instructions. But here we are.

“Glad to have you back on the ground,” Lark says, eyes skipping past me to VAL. “What is that?”

“That,” I reply evenly, “is my aircraft, Colonel.”

“And what is it?” His head snaps back to me, irritation flaring.

“A VAL-X.”

His gaze narrows. “Where did you get it?”

“Why the third degree, Colonel?” Eli slips in smoothly. “We’ve been in the air for an hour. We’re hungry.”

I’m not hungry, but if pretending I am gets us out of this awkward power play, I’ll eat the whole damn kitchen.

Lark swallows hard and looks back at Amber, who is now eyeing Eli like he’s a perfectly seared steak.

“You’re dismissed, Major,” Lark barks, clearly flustered.

I, however, must endure this ridiculous charade a little longer.

“I’ll get your bag,” Eli tells me before heading toward VAL, leaving me alone with the Colonel.

Lark steps in for a hug, but I discreetly shake my head.

“Did you tell Amber that the engagement is off yet?”

“I haven’t,” he replies as he tries to recover from the moment by fixing his tie. “I will. Soon.”

I scoff. “Soon? As in today?”

“She’s fragile.”

I glance over his shoulder. Amber’s no longer standing where she was. Lark’s jaw flexes in irritation. I turn just in time to see her chatting with Eli, smiling, twirling her hair, hanging on his every word like he’s crafted from moonlight and destiny.