Page 92 of Cockpit
I sound like a goddamn kiss-up, but I can’t pay my bills with hopes and prayers. I need to get back up in the air.
“All of your crew speaks very highly of you.”
I save my dignity and forgo speaking, so I just nod.
“Is there anything else you’d like to say?” the black haired one says.
“Flying. Saving lives. That is my passion. It’s what I’m meant to do. I chose Mercy-Life because you are the best of the best. Just as I still am. None of that has changed. I’m anxious to get back to work again.”
“We’ll take that into consideration. If you’ll give us some time and step out of the room, we need to confer, and then we’ll call you back in once we have a decision.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
“Any particular reason why you want Luke to have a sleepover tonight?” Hope is in her voice, and I just chuckle. I know she thinks it’s because of Sidney—and it is—she just doesn’t need to know. “Because I’m going to have some drinks and celebrate that in two weeks’ time, I get my wings back.”
“You know this is a small town, right?”
“I’m painfully aware of that.”
“It’s just that if your truck were to be left out front of, say, someone in particular’s house, people would know it’s yours and would likely talk.”
“No shit.”
“I was just giving a friendly reminder of that. You told me that you were concerned about the appearance of impropriety when I brought Sidney to the mother-son picnic, so I was just—”
“No one said my truck was going to be parked in front of Sidney’s place,” I say just to rile her up. “And I was upset about you trying to orchestrate another Malone marriage.”
“Oh shush, I know better than to start that with you,” she dodges when I know damn well that was what she was attempting. “All I was saying is that it seems to me you’re in a top position in this contest, so you wouldn’t want anyone to think you won because you were . . . uh . . .”
“Sleeping with Sidney?” I throw it out there and grin like a little boy as I hear her cough to cover her tracks.
“Well, that’s none of my business.”
Like that has ever stopped her before. “No, but you were implying that I might just be headed over to Sidney’s house to be a grown man and do whatever the hell I please without my mother sticking her nose in my business and fishing for information, correct?” I shake my head, love and irritation playing equal parts in my tone.
“Grayson.” It’s all she says, and I know I’ve got her flustered.
“Mom, I love you. Madly. I couldn’t do this parenting thing without you . . . but my sex life is off-limits.” I laugh when she stutters a response. “Good night, Mom. I’ll grab Luke in the morning.”
“Take your time.”
When I end the call, I stare at the old Kraft house across the street. My words repeat in my head. My sex life is off-limits. Is that all this is? Because fuck if it doesn’t feel different this go around. Fuck if the minute I got my clearance to return to work in two weeks, the first person I wanted to go tell was Sidney.
But why?
Why do I feel this way when, normally, a thought like that would cause a panic attack of epic proportions?
I glance at the white daisies in my hand and shake my head.
There is no going out with the crew tonight. There is no getting drunk to celebrate.
She’s the one I want to celebrate with.
“Grayson!”
I’m thoroughly shocked to see him standing in my doorway. And I’m more than fully aware what an absolute train wreck I look like—no makeup, hair piled on top of my head, and definitely no red-soled shoes making me taller.
“Hey.” It’s all he says before he shoves a handful of white daisies at me and lifts his brows. “Miss Sidney, will you go out on a date with me?”
