Page 89 of Engulfing Emma

“Christian?” I ask. “Were you able to arrange something?”

“That depends. You on a shift tomorrow night?”

“No.”

“Then I’m about to make your day. We had a cancellation. Won’t cost you a dime because they didn’t make the window.”

“Seriously? That’s fantastic. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”

“Yeah, well, I do owe you one, my friend.”

“We can call it even now.”

“We’ll never be even, man. Not after what you did for me.”

“I was just doing my job,” I say.

He snorts into the phone. “It’s more than that and you know it.”

“So, can you text me the details?”

“As soon as we hang up. See you tomorrow night.”

“Thanks.”

I sit on the picnic table, waiting for his text. Then I text Emma.

Me: Clear your schedule tomorrow night.

Emma: I’m not going on a date with you.

Me: How about a date with a Cessna?

Emma: Does that mean what I think it does?

Me: Meet me out front at 5:30. Our flight is at 7:00.

Emma: I think my heart just fell into the pit of my stomach.

Me: Having second thoughts?

Emma: Of course I’m having second thoughts. And third. And fourth. But it’s something I have to do. Thank you so much. I can’t believe you made it happen.

Me: I have many skills.

Emma: Are we still talking about flying?

Me: I don’t know, are we?

Emma: See you tomorrow.

I put my phone away and return to the car.

Jay looks at me. “Dude, did you just win the lottery or something?”

I might be smiling too much. But the thought of going on a sunset flight down the coast with Emma makes me feel like, yeah … I might have won the lottery.

Chapter Twenty-six

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