Page 159 of Sin City Dark
Now what?
Jannie shook her head. She’d run away from her problems, and it had helped a lot. As far back as she could remember, she did that whenever she was hurt. Time and again, her mother argued that refusing to face things only prolonged the discomfort. Mom was right, of course: just look how the breakup with Blake had dragged on, long after the divorce.
Jannie sighed. She couldn’t avoid her family any longer.
Rolf bounded to her with the ball, his round brown eyes shining.
“Well, Stinker.” Jannie took the slobbery toy out of his mouth. “I guess I’m going to a party.”
CHAPTER 22
Jannie
“Well, if it isn’t the Prodigal Freak!”
Jannie tightened her grip on Nick’s hand as she approached her brothers at the open doors of the beautifully decorated LarsAir hangar.
Royal blue and gold balloons adorned the ceiling and every corner. An open bar had guests already lining up, while others served themselves from a long buffet filled with every delicacy imaginable.
Adam never spared any expense when hosting these celebratory bashes. This one was no different. If anything, it was more extravagant. A giant supersonic airplane-shaped cake sat on a dessert table that featured every treat imaginable, from assorted cupcakes to fruit to cheese.
Stepping forward, her brother Ian opened his arms with a grin and pulled her in a bear hug, even lifting her off her feet a little. “Good to see you, Freak.”
“Already with the nicknames.” She hugged him back. “Put me down. You’ll give yourself a hernia.”
“No chance.” He set her down and flexed his biceps, which, to his credit, were bigger than the last time she saw him. “I got jacked. I can handle your tonnage.”
Before she could think of a snide retort, he turned to Nick, who stood beside her. “Hey, man! Glad you could make it!”
Her older brother, Adam, stepped forward, his eyes intense and serious as he scrutinized her from head to toe. “We weren’t sure you would come.” He hugged her, and Jannie’s throat tightened a little. Behind his stoic exterior, Adam hid a heart of gold and always looked after theentire Larssen clan. “Glad you did. You look good.”
His gaze snapped to Nick. “Kent.” Adam held out his hand. “Good seeing you again. Thank you for coming.”
“I wouldn’t miss this,” Nick cordially replied. “Congratulations on an impressive accomplishment.”
“Thank you.” Adam’s eyes shone with pride.
For years, the LarsAir 2024 had been his dream, pet project, and biggest headache. Today, the supersonic passenger jet would finally grace the skies.
As they shook hands, Jannie saw a glance exchanged between them and wondered if they had stayed in touch. Knowing Adam, she wouldn’t put it past him to check up on her through Nick. Which would explain why all the Larssens had uncharacteristically given her space and hadn’t bothered her while she was getting her shit together.
Part of her was irritated, but another part felt her heart warm. Her family, though they tended to butt into each other’s business, always cared and had one another’s backs.
“Hey there, gorgeous.”
Jannie felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see Adam’s friend, chief pilot, and co-owner of LarsAir, Devon Thomason, standing there with open arms. “Where’s my hug?”
“Hi, Dev.” Jannie moved to embrace him, noting that his mischievous green eyes were brighter than usual.
“Thor told me you might show up,” he said, using his college nickname for Adam. “It’s good to see you. Great day, isn’t it?”
“Sure is.”
Devon had been instrumental in financing the 2024 project, unwaveringly supporting it even when it looked like it might never happen.
“Will you be on this flight?” Jannie asked.
He smiled, deploying those killer dimples so many women swooned over. “What do you think?”
