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Oliver studies me, nothing on his face betraying what he’s feeling inside.

It drives me insane.

But it’s okay. I let him take the time he needs to think about my offer. I know it probably wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but I can’t deal with that right now. I need the filming to unfold perfectly, and the what-ifs will only get in the way of that. I may have moved on, but the painful memories of the months it took me to get him out of my system still linger right under my skin.

Oliver straightens in his chair, putting both elbows on the table and lacing his fingers together. “Deal. You’re right. We can’t mess it up.”

Something strange flickers through his voice, an emotion I can’t quite put my finger on, and it rattles me a little. Is that . . . resolve in his eyes?

I exhale a relieved breath. Now that’s said and done, the rest of the trip should go smoothly and without a hitch.

I hold out my hand, and he grasps it, giving it a firm but gentle shake.

Big, big mistake.

I should have known better than to willingly give this man a chance to show me just how delusional I am.

I retrieve my hand as quickly and discreetly as I can, but his soft huff as pink creeps its way up his neck is a dead giveaway that neither of us is in for a walk in the park.

“We’re flying in this?” Emma yells over the strong gust of wind that blows through our hair as we approach the propellers of the smallest airplane I’ve ever seen. The runway is hardly large by any standard, barely a thin strap of damaged road in the middle of the forest that surrounds this tiny local airport.

I wince.

Few things scare me, but flying at two thousand feet above sea level while crammed into a small tin box with six other people is not on the list of things I look forward to. No matter how many times I’ve been in this kind of situation in my career, it doesn’t get easier. Especially in these conditions. But only light aircraft have access to where we’re going.

“Come on, Emma, don’t be such a wuss,” Trevor mocks. “If you can’t handle this, you should probably stay here.”

Emma throws me a look that would have made Trevor run away, and I laugh softly. She can handle herself all right.

A man standing in front of the cockpit waves for us to gather around him. “Welcome, everybody. My name is Austin, and I’ll be your pilot for today. Fair warning, this is going to be a bumpy ride.” Austin looks at the sky, the gray clouds growing darker with each minute. “We expect some crosswinds and low visibility, but we should still be able to fly through. I hope you guys have strong stomachs,” he laughs.

I swallow hard, my insides already in knots. Axel and Nick let out a few nervous laughs that echo my own. I glance at Oliver, who’s standing next to the pilot, focused and serious. He doesn’t exude even an ounce of fear. He must have done this hundreds of times, and that thought eases some of the tension in my body.

I study him a few seconds longer than necessary, appreciating the way his thermal pants cling to his thighs. There’s no denying how good he looks dressed in hiking gear, which leaves no room for doubt as to how fit he is under those clothes. Not that I had any after this morning. He catches my gaze, and I glance away.

“Equipment and bags in the back,” Austin continues. “People in the front. Takeoff’s in five.”

Everybody hurries to stack their things as best as they can before we all hoist ourselves into the small aircraft. Emma goes in first, sitting in the back next to where our bags are securely fastened. Axel and Nick claim the middle seats, while Trevor settles in front with Austin. Oliver and I climb aboard last. I crawl as best as I can behind Trevor’s seat, which leaves me wedged between the window and Oliver, whose right leg rests flush against me.

“Are we sure this plane can fit this many people?” I ask.

Austin twists and surveys the aircraft. “Yes, miss. We’re at full capacity.” He sets his eyes back to the front, turning a bunch of buttons on. “We’re ready for takeoff. Buckle up!”

I groan and grab the headset in front of me, putting it on. Oliver gently nudges my thigh, and I turn to him. He points to my headset, then to his own, indicating the power light. I turn it on.

“Are you okay?” he asks, his voice crackling in my ears. His eyes slide to my clenched fists.

I barely manage to nod before the plane picks up speed, rocking from left to right with the bursts of wind. The end of the runway is approaching dangerously fast, and the plane’s two wheels are still firmly on the ground. I jerk my hand and clutch the first thing I find. Oliver’s gaze slides to where my fingers curl around his with bone-crushing strength. He doesn’t say anything, doesn’t complain. Just squeezes back just as hard. And in that moment, I forget that I'd like to be anywhere but next to him. I forget my spite, and shrug off the little voice in my head screaming at me to quit being so damn vulnerable.

At last, the plane lifts off, and we shoot into the gray sky as Austin tries his best to stay on course.

We tilt to the right, the plane leaning almost perpendicular to the ground. The view rips my breath away. Below is Pine Falls with its charming houses and bustling main streets. Ahead, I catch a glimpse of the Pacific. And Trevor gripping the sides of the aircraft as if his life depends on it.

I snort. Who’s laughing now?

My anxiety eases and yields to trepidation. This is it. We’re on our way. The call of the wild roars in my bones, my nerves, my muscles. And strange as it may seem, I can also feel it radiating from Oliver’s body, still pressed tightly against me.

And through my hand, which I keep locked in his for the rest of the flight.