Page 65 of Viktor

“That’s what I asked,” Viktor grumbled and went back to the car for more boxes.

“These are pre-orders, mostly. I’m not taking a lot of stock with me. Signings aren’t about selling books, they’re about networking.”

“If you say so.” Ben went behind the counter and started processing the shipping labels.

“Why aren’t you at your brother’s garage?” Sara leaned against the counter, grateful for the support. Her back was killing her. It seemed to have settled on sore and decided to stay that way.

He gave her a what-the-fuck look. “You honestly think I’d stay there after what he did to you and Delia?”

She pursed her lips. “Your mother…”

“Is an ass. I love her, but Roger can do no wrong. I’m not like that, Sara Jane. I don’t have blinders on. My brother is a shit piece of work, and I washed my hands of him. Meant I had to find a real job. It’s not so bad. Pay is crap, but it’s honest work.”

“You thought any more about going to college and getting that engineering degree?” Ben loved to design things. Had since he was a little boy.

“I ain’t got the grades for that.” He ducked his head, embarrassed.

“Take a few semesters in community college.” Neither of them heard Viktor come in. So much for her helping with the door. “A friend of mine had shit grades in high school. Worked his GPA up in community college and then transferred to university his junior year. It’s hard, but it’s doable.”

“I don’t know, I’m not really book smart.”

“Neither was Ted, but he got some tutors, and he graduated in the top twenty percent of his class. He wasn’t valedictorian or any shit, but he did it.”

“Cool.” Ben went back to prepping her boxes, and Viktor headed out for another load. He didn’t need to encourage Ben. He didn’t know him from Adam, but here he was telling him not to give up on his dreams.

For all his bluster, he was a kind man.

Once he’d dumped all the boxes on Ben, he refused to let her pay for it. He remembered she wanted to drive to save money, and since he’d insisted on flying, he wanted to bear the burden of the cost. It got a nod of approval from Ben. Overnighting this much stuff, especially at the outrageous weight of most of the boxes, was expensive. Her bank account was grateful, even if she grouched about it.

The airplane was a whole new layer to Viktor. He was terrified of flying. She noticed as soon as they sat down in their seats how much he was sweating. Beads broke out over his forehead, and he gripped the seat arms so tightly his knuckles turned white.

“Don’t you fly all the time?”

“Yes.” One-word answers that were short and clipped were all she managed to drag out of him until they were in the air.

“Flying is the safest way to travel.”

“Until it’s not.” He let out a shaky breath, and she turned away so he wouldn’t see her grinning. It was good to know he wasn’t infallible.

“We’re almost there.”

“Liar.” He looked at his watch. “We have at least an hour to go.”

“It’s just an hour, Viktor.”

“In an hour, the engine could fail, and we could fall, the plane bursting into flames and the sound of burning, twisted metal, screams…” He shuddered, clearly letting his imagination run away with him.

“Are you always like this when you fly?”

“Yes.”

Back to one-word answers. She took his hand and cradled it in hers, her only thought to offer comfort. “It’s going to be fine.”

He curled his hand around hers and held on tight. He didn’t crack a joke, make a suggestive comment, or try to tell her she belonged to him. He simply let her comfort him.

“What do you normally do to get through a flight?”

“Drink.”

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