Page 192 of Chalk Outline
“He’s high as a kite. That thing works fast.”
“She’s so beautiful, isn’t she?” he tells Mitch.
“I’m not going to answer this tricky question because if you were in your right mind, you would have choked me by now.”
“Wait, you hit on my wife.”
“I did no such thing.”
Braxton walks past us holding a flagpole. Watching the propeller spin, he waits for the right moment, observing closely. With a quick swing, it clatters between two blades. “Come on, Winona. You go first.”
I glance at Reeve, and he gives a reassuring nod as I swing one leg over the still-blade and push past it.
Chapter thirty-seven
Winona Bishop
Forever Again — Matt Hanson
We walk through a dark, hollow space until a faint light filters in from the exit.
The briny smell of the ocean coats my nose, followed by the warm, earthy scent of wet sand. I inhale it until the shore comes into view. The early morning peaceful shades of blue envelop me in a sense of tranquility, unlike the chaos beyond this cave we just stepped out of.
My shoulders tremble as little shivers race down my spine.
“The airfield is on the right. Come on,” Braxton says, pulling me that way.
“Get away from me, Mitch.” Reeve slaps his hands away, almost falling down.
“Hold on, princess.” He hoists Reeve over his shoulder with a mischievous grin. “No man is left behind, but fuck you’re heavy.”
“Put. Me. Down.”
“Come on, you can take it.” I giggle, and Reeve gives me a dirty look.
I’ve never seen him lose control, ever, not like that. It’s comforting that he has friends who love him deeply and would do anything for him. He deserves to have people who will stand by him no matter what.
He’s my everything.
I want him to have the world.
After a few good miles, the sand turns to concrete, and two helicopters wait for us feet away.
Thick, resonant barks grab my attention when a familiar four-legged beast runs my way at lightning speed.
“Titan,” I say around the lump in my throat.
I crouch down with my arms wide open, and he jumps on me, knocking me backward. He buries his big head into the crook of my neck.
“Hey, baby boy, I missed you so much.” I stroke his fur, giving him all my attention as he wipes my face with his tongue. He goes to sniff my injured hand, licking it gently. “It’s okay, I’ll be fine.”
“Titan!” Reeve says happily, then lowers his voice, thinking we can’t hear him. “Why does he look like a chicken?”
“I think you’re hungry,” Mitch’s voice is laced with humor.
“It can’t get worse now, can it?” I utter after a Titan mini-attack.
“It probably will,” Grandma’s crisp voice captures my attention, and I slowly straighten up, meeting her cobalt blue eyes. Her long hair falls to her sides. The creases around her eyes deepen. Her eyebrows pinch together, forming a silent question before she opens her mouth to say, “How much do you hate me right now?”
