Page 113 of These Pucking Boys

Arching my brow, I give him a double take. “Who are you and what have you done to Lachlan?”

His eyes widen. “What?”

“You’re the most pessimistic person I know.”

He focuses on the TV screen in front of his seat. “People can change.”

“Yes, some people can. But you’re not people. You’re an immovable mountain.”

He snickers. “Listen to yourself. You sound like Ryan.”

I clench my jaw, trying to think of a retort, but nothing comes to me. “Whatever. What are you watching?”

“Castlevania.”

I wrinkle my nose. “What is it? A cute cartoon about vampires?”

Smirking, Lachy puts his show on my TV screen as well. “Sure. Very cute. You’ll love it.”

It doesn’t take long for me to realize this animated series wasn’t meant for kids. It’s violent and gory, and I do love it.

I’m super into it when the plane drops suddenly, and my stomach goes with it.

“Bloody hell. What was that?” Lachy asks, his voice mixing with our teammates’ murmurs.

The fasten-seatbelt light turns on.

“I don’t know. Maybe we hit a patch of turbulence.” I watch the flight attendant rush down the aisle toward the cockpit. She looks worried.

Then we all hear a loud pop before another drop lifts my ass from my seat. There are shouts and nervous cursing. My pulse accelerates. We’ve traveled through turbulence before, but this feels different.

A second later, the pilot makes an announcement that freezes the blood in my veins. We’ve lost one engine and need to prepare for an emergency landing.

“Motherfucker.” Lachy glances at me, his eyes round with fear.

I grab his hand and squeeze it tight. “We’re gonna be okay, buddy.”

The front of the plane dips at a sharp angle. We’re nosediving out of the sky.

I thought I had reached a point in my life that, if I died, I would have no regrets. But that was before June came along. I close my eyes and pray—something I’ve never done before. I want the chance to tell that sweet and sexy girl how much she means to me.

CHAPTER 48

JUNE

Jake and Lachy are coming home tonight. They’ve been gone for only three days, but Ireallymiss them. They’ll arrive in the middle of the night, and the sensible thing would be to see them tomorrow morning, but I doubt I’ll get any sleep. I’m going to wait up to see them home safe.

But I have a plan to pass the time. Every year, Katrina and I knit sweaters,scarves, hats, and gloves to donate to homeless shelters across town. It’s already October, and even though the weather is pleasant, it’ll get cold soon.

I didn’t hear from Ryan all day. A part of me was hoping he’d call, or even text to apologize, but his silence speaks louder than words. Our fling has reached its expiration date. Maybe he liked me only when he was sharing with his friends. My heart is bruised, but I won’t let that sour my excitement about seeing his roommates.

I’m sorting through my knitting supplies when there’s a knock on my door. For fuck’s sake, if it’s Ryan again dead drunk, he’ll get a taste of a pissed-off Southern woman. Winston usually springs to his paws and barks whenever someone knocks, but it’s already past one in the morning, and the poor guy is half asleep. All he doesislift his muzzle a little, thenrestit on his paws again. Eros and Apollo don’t move from their beds.

I get up and stride to the front door. I do find Ryan standing in the hallway, but he doesn’t look drunk, he looks distressed.

My gut clenches. “Ryan? What happened.” I step back so he can come in.

When the light hits his face, I see tear streaks on his cheeks. “Melissa called me just now. It’s the team plane. It’s vanished.”

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