Page 50 of Flyboy

But Colton dove and completed the same forward spin, whipping his plane behind theirs and getting tone.

“That was not necessary,” Ivy began.

But Colton’s voice interrupted. “Not necessary but fun.” He laughed. “And one day, it could very well be the most necessary thing you ever do.” He twisted off to the side. “Here’s another unnecessary move that could save your life.”

Ivy couldn’t tell what he was doing exactly at first, but as the plane rolled, she was back with Guido, and then she was flying with her brother like she had wished for so many years. “What are you doing, Flyboy?”

He didn’t answer. He spun again and then Omar’s voice—“Pull up, Colton. We’re gonna be too low.”—dried her throat out to one big desert. She cleared her throat.

“Pull up, Fly. Pull up.” In her mind, Alec was pilot, and then Colton, then Guido. And she felt sick with dread. “No.”

But the plane started spiraling out of control. She saw nothing else around her. Every part of her brother’s death replayed in her mind as she watched Flyboy perform the same maneuver. Would she lose them both right now? For a dumb show-off maneuvering?

Right as they entered the height from which they could not return, Colton somehow managed to get control and sent his plane back up to previous height.

The classroom broke out into cheering.

Flyboy’s voice and his salute brought out more cheers. “Let’s take her down, gentlemen.”

The pilots ran out the door and down to the hangar. They cheered Colton and Omar all the way back to the classroom. Ivy didn’t know how to feel. Except betrayed. Somehow, after telling Colton about the two ghosts of her past, she thought that he’d learned something from them. That out of respect for her feelings, he’d stay away from the very thing that had killed her brother.

Even as she thought it, she knew it was ridiculous. He couldn’t fly differently to spare her feelings. But then again, hadn’t he just proved her point? He was reckless and dangerous and had almost just died because of it, nearly bringing down a billion-dollar plane with him.

She stepped out of the classroom. This was not her place. Colton had some things to teach those other pilots, and he was the one to do it. They didn’t need Ivy’s more cautious opinions right now, nor did they want them. And she couldn’t watch while Colton demonstrated the very thing that had killed Alec.

She slipped out of the hangar and called Fatima. “Is there someone who can come get me?” Her breathing was coming faster, her head starting to spin. She knew she was freaking out. Probably hyperventilating but . . . there was nothing she could do about it. And that scared her most of all.

By the time she was back at Fatima’s, she knew she could no longer stay. She would leave the rest of the training to Omar and Colton. If Top Flight didn’t understand, then maybe . . . She choked on the thought. Maybe it was time for her to give up planes. Nothing she could do would ever bring back her brother. She wasn’t saving lives or stopping the same behavior in other pilots. The very man she’d . . . fallen for thought it important to know how to be dangerous. Flying was dangerous. She’d known that when she entered the Air Force.

She packed her things. Her ride would pick her up and take her to the airport before Colton and Omar returned. Fatima’s arms tight around her gave her some sense of comfort, but the predominant desire was to run. She no longer belonged in this world of flying and danger, and she didn’t want to. Perhaps that feeling should have been freeing, but she could only feel a sense of dread about never seeing Colton again . . . but at the same time, she felt a fear of having to face him.

Her car came. The airport was closer than she remembered. And before too long, she was flying away from Brazil toward Boston.

Chapter 19

Colton returned to the house, looking for Ivy. She hadn’t returned any of his calls. He knew she couldn’t be too happy with him, but he’d done the right thing. The pilots had been as attentive as ever. They had even learned from his spin out of control. He’d not known if he would pull out of that, and he told them as much point-blank. He talked about what you do in situations like that, what you can try, and how you hope something will work. He talked about plane malfunctions and when to use certain maneuvers. It was one of the most productive and important days of the Top Flight training. And even if Ivy thought it hard to see, days like today were part of the reason he stayed with Top Flight, were why he thought it important in the first place.

But now he hoped to make it right. “Ivy!” he peeked his head in the kitchen. “Hello, Fatima. Do you happen to know where Ivy is?”

She clucked, and then his heart sank. “She’s probably halfway home by now,querido.”

He checked his phone again for a message, something, from her.

“I think she left you a note? She said to tell you and Omar not to worry. Something had come up, and she needed to be home.”

Colton knew exactly what had come up. He just didn’t know if she forgave him or if she left in angry rebellion. Was she still a part of Top Flight? Were they still . . . friends, at least?

He and Omar ate dinner, but they were both quiet. Finally, Omar downed his juice and said, “I’m sorry she left, dude.”

“Me too, man. But maybe it’s for the best. We can finish out what we need to with these pilots. And she won’t have to be disturbed by it.” He wished she’d just see things his way. But he also understood that today especially, had to have been a trigger for her. He didn’t know exactly what move had sent Alec into a tailspin, but Colton knew watching his plane spin out of control had to have been extremely difficult for her. His eyes met Omar’s. “I’m just glad we were able to spin out of that alive.” He raised his own juice cup. Omar lifted his empty one. “Here’s to being alive.”

“Cheers.”

That evening was lonely. Omar went out to play football with the local guys, but Colton wanted to make some phone calls.

Ivy didn’t answer. His message probably sounded too formal. But he didn’t want to sound too pleading.

Ace picked up on the first ring. “So Ivy left.”

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