Page 20 of A Miracle for the Reserved Flyboy

A faint flush crept up her cheeks as she looked down, fiddling with her pen. She managed a soft smile, barely looking up. “I thought it was absence? You’re a strange man, Casanova, but it’s your list—not mine.”

He leaned forward, his tone playful but curious. “And what would you put onyourlist?”

“What do you mean?” She looked at him, her face a mix of confusion and intrigue.

His expression softened, his voice lowering just a touch. “What do you want in a man, in a relationship? If you could dream up your perfect person, what would he look like?”

Caught off guard, she blinked, letting out a breath. “Oh, um, well, I’d want someone who’s gentle and supportive…” She trailed off, searching for the right words.

“Go on.” His voice was a gentle nudge, encouraging, as though he could listen to her speak all night.

She bit her lip, then continued, her eyes drifting off thoughtfully. “Someone kind and warm. Welcoming, you know? Someone who’s just… happy in the moment, who doesn’t always need to be chasing the next thrill or needing to be entertained.I’m a homebody, so it’d be wonderful to be with someone who doesn’t thrive on excitement or gossip, or need to be out doing something just for the sake of it.”

His gaze softened as he studied her, listening intently. “I see. And what else?”

A wistful look crossed her face as she thought about it. “If I were in love… it would be nice if the other person looked at me like I was the only one in the universe. I think I’d want someone who felt like home.”

She faltered, catching herself. “But we’re discussing you, remember? This is your list, your idea about what makes you tick,” she added with a laugh, trying to shift the focus off herself.

But he didn’t seem ready to let her go so easily. He looked at her, his eyes intense and sincere. “What I want…” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion he barely tried to hide. “I think I want someone who makes me feel like I can see my future in their eyes. My soul reflected back at me. I’d love to find someone I can grow with, someone to build a family together. I want the feeling of home in something as simple as holding hands or a hug.”

The words hung in the air between them, shimmering like fragile glass. She held her breath, the weight of his words settling into her chest, filling it with a warmth and a longing she hadn’t felt in years. “That’s so beautiful,” she whispered, feeling her heart catch.

He chuckled softly, a bit of nervousness creeping into his smile. “I figured… if we’re talking about this, planning this whole idea of yours… we might as well be completely honest. You know, lay everything on the table.” He paused, watching her reaction carefully. “Not like we’re saying vows or spilling our deepest secrets. Just… planning, right?”

She felt her breath hitch as the word left his lips. “Vows?” she echoed softly, a bit of surprise in her voice as her pulsequickened. She cleared her throat, shaking off the spark of something undeniable. “No… no, we’re not saying vows. Just two friends talking a little ‘shop’ about what an ideal relationship would look like.”

He leaned back, a smirk softening into something real, something tender. “Exactly.”

But his gaze lingered on her, and for just a moment, they both seemed to forget they were only talking hypotheticals. The possibilities, the dreams, everything they’d just painted with their words. It hung between them like a promise neither dared to speak aloud.

“Just twofriendstalking over a cup of coffee.”

Chapter 7

KRISTA

“I must be cursed.That has to be it,” Krista murmured, staring blankly at her phone, half-tempted to throw it across the room. Her father, her dependable, always-there-when-she-needed-him father, was bailing on her for the play. And not just any role—the role of the Rat King. She’d spent weeks preparing for this show, managing an unruly mix of children and parents, adjusting every last detail to perfection. And now, her father—the one person who could save her from this last-minute crisis—was backing out. The costume was ready, even tailored to fit him, right down to the shiny buttons she’d painstakingly sewed on with love. They’d laughed about it, calling it their “Daddy-Daughter Rat Duo.” But despite his reluctance, he had agreed until now.

Her phone felt like a dead weight in her hand as she paced, making one frantic call after another, desperation growing with each voicemail and polite refusal. No one could step in to play the Rat King on such short notice—not with less than twenty-four hours until opening night. The odds seemed stacked against her, leaving Krista battling the familiar panic clawing up her spine.

She couldn’t shake the sensation that her life was slowly unraveling, like a delicate thread coming undone. Her father wasn’t just bailing on a costume and a role. He was leaving her with the impossible task of finding someone to fill his shoes, of altering the costume to fit someone new, and of teaching them all the cues in a single night. And this was only part of her chaos. She still had to make the final preparations for the play, keep up with her teaching duties, cancel Gary’s blind date, and resist falling for the man whose smile had turned her world upside down. A man who was, inconveniently, leaving town the morning after the play.

Her heart felt heavy, weighted down by more than just the failure of a few last-minute plans. It was everything she’d tried so hard to hold together, all coming undone at once. Gritting her teeth, Krista took a deep breath and dialed her father again, determined to pull every heartstring if that’s what it took.

“Daddy, please don’t say no…” she began, the words catching in her throat.

There was a pause, and then his familiar, comforting voice came through the line. “Krista…”

“Daddy, youhaveto be the Rat King.” Her voice was small, pleading. “I know you didn’t want to do it, but no one else can take your place now.”

He sighed on the other end. “Krista, why do you put yourself through these things? You’ve been stressing yourself over this play for weeks. Why?”

“Because I love it, Daddy! The kids love being in it, and it brings the whole town together. It’s my way of giving back, of creating something that everyone can share. That sense of community— it means everything to me.”

She heard him sigh again, this time longer. “Sweetheart, I understand that. But I just can’t do it. My knees are bothering me more than usual, and I just can’t see myself up on that stage.”

“All you’d have to do is stand beside me, I promise! I’ll say your lines. Just… be there,” she begged, her desperation laced with an edge of panic.

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