Page 25 of Flyboy

“I just don’t know why it bothers you so much.” Omar shrugged. “We each bring something to the team. Colton brings his talents. You bring yours.”

Ivy considered him. She’d have to think about what he said. “Do you think we’re ever getting out of here?”

Colton threw the ball back down in the dirt, and it looked like the kids were now dividing up into teams.

Omar stood. “Oh no, he doesn’t. I’m out of here. Fly! Toss me your keys.” Omar held his hand up. “We can come back and get him.”

Colton shook his head. “I’m coming!” He high-fived a few more of the kids and then ran toward them. His face was alight.

Ivy couldn’t look away.

“That was excellent!” He jogged up to them. “How often do a couple of Americans get to play some authentic Brazilian football—streetball?”

“Probably never.” Ivy laughed.

“They said we can come back whenever we want. They play every night.”

When they climbed back into the car, and for the whole way back to Fatima’s, Ivy’s mind was turning over possibilities. Who was Colton, really? Did she owe him an apology?

Even though she was now plagued with a new desire to really get to know this man, he seemed more indifferent than ever.

He parked the old truck and took off inside, calling to Fatima. She and Omar were left to walk in together.

“Give the guy a chance.”

Ivy’s surprise must have been evident.

He held his hands out. “I’m not talking about anything except as your boss. Whatever other nonsense you guys have going on, that’s your business, but if I’m gonna work with you for half the year, I’d rather we all figured out how to mesh. You know?”

“When did you become—?”

“Yeah, I know, Omar, the hothead, giving communication advice. Well, I guess when there’s nothing to get all riled up about, I like the peace. Whatever. Just figure it out. Give the guy a break.”

She didn’t see Colton for the rest of the day. After a walk around the property by herself, she called it an early night. Right before she fell asleep, her last thought was that Omar was right, she needed to give Colton a chance. And probably an apology.

Chapter 11

Colton went to work and came home for the next week and hardly noticed anything else around him. He was flying. He was training. Everything should have been going great, but he couldn’t feel the spark his life used to offer him. It was like someone had placed one of those photo editing filters on his life, the dreary grayscale one. He tried to pretend it had something to do with his life, his health, less sleep, but really, the reason was Ivy. One hundred percent Ivy.

She’d taken to smiling at him. Not her normal smile, but this half-lipped, careful smile, and he decided he hated that much more than her spitfire anger.

He’d taken to attempting dumb and reckless stunts or saying crazy things in her presence just to get her riled up. But she just kept making that small smile. And he figured he’d lost her forever.

His phone rang. “Ace.”

“Hello to you too, bro.”

“What’s up?”

“Just checking in. How’s it going with Tenderfoot?”

“Why? Has she submitted another complaint?”

“That good, huh?”

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “It’s . . . nothing. We talked about our differences, and now, nothing. No complaints, just . . . You know? It would be better if she was angry about something.”

Ace’s low chuckle sounded way too knowledgeable.

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