Page 107 of Viking

Then I pause. She called him Wells.

“You know him?” My voice is harsher than I intend, my mind already jumping to places I don’t want it to go.

“No. Logan, no.” Her eyes widen in emphasis. “I don’t know him. I just met him last week when he introduced himself to the team.”

I nod slowly, forcing myself to let go of the irrational spike of jealousy.

“We talked for a few minutes. He told me he was new to your squadron. That he didn’t know he was replacing Ryan for any reason beyond personnel transfers.” She hesitates, then smirks despite herself. “Apparently, the mighty Viking is well known in the pilot world.”

I huff out a laugh, rubbing the back of my neck. “I guess I’ve made a name for myself.” My amusement fades. “Maybe that’s what made the months away from the cockpit that much harder.”

Lila’s gaze flickers to my left arm, trailing down my body like she’s only just realizing how much I’ve been through.

“Anyway, you met Wells?” she prompts, pulling me back.

“Yeah. Meeting him, realizing he was taking Ryan’s place—that about did me in all over again. He shows up all bright-eyed and ready to fly, and I wanted to hate him. But it’s not his fault. He didn’t know about Ryan.” I exhale sharply. “That’s what pissed me off the most though, that the Air Force just kept moving, like Ryan never existed.”

Her arms wrap around herself, her expression flickering between sympathy and something resembling desire.

“But all I wanted to do was talk to you about it,” I say, stepping closer. “About all of it.”

Her lips part like she wants to speak, but nothing comes out.

“I know I broke us, Lila,” I say, my voice dropping lower. “And I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But I’m done keeping things from you. No secrets. No walls. You deserve the truth, and I’ll give it to you, no matter how ugly it is.”

She stares at me, her eyes glistening, and for the first time since I got back, I feel like I can see the real Lila—the one who isn’t hiding behind anger and hurt.

“You couldn’t fly until two weeks ago? I thought they said eight weeks?” she finally asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

I shake my head. “It was longer. Nearly twelve. And Townsend didn’t give me a choice. He told me I was a danger to myself and everyone around me.”

Her gaze snaps back to mine, and for a moment, all I can see is the pain I put there. Her tears finally spill over, and she swipes at them angrily. “It’s not fair.”

I step closer, my hands itching to reach for her, but I hold back. “What’s not?”

“I love you. And I don’t want to.” Her voice breaks, and she shakes her head like she’s trying to will the words away.

I can’t help it—I smile. And before I can stop myself, I press a kiss to her hair. “I know.”

She pulls back and glares at me, but there’s no real bite to it.

“I love you, too,” I murmur, and this time when I pull her against me, she doesn’t resist. “Lila, you’re it for me. I just didn’t realize it until I almost lost you.”

Her lips press together, and I can tell she’s fighting back more tears. She doesn’t say anything, just lets me hold her in the quiet chill of the morning.

Finally, she sighs and untangles herself from my arms. “You’ve got a lot to prove, Logan James.”

Hampton, Virginia

October 27, 2024

8:06 p.m.

Lila

I’m curled up in the living room, in my favorite pj set—olive-green silk shorts and a matching long sleeve button up. I’m snuggled under a fluffy throw blanket with my feet tucked beneath me on the couch. The fireplace casts a soft glow across the room, flickering light against the warm wood accents I’d had installed when I first renovated the house. My book sits in my lap, unopened and a hot chai latte is on the end table beside me, tendrils of smoke twirling into the air.

Logan and I are…okay. Better than okay. We’re back together, but it’s slow, tentative. We’re rebuilding piece by piece. And although I want to believe we can be whole again, trust doesn’t come back all at once.