Page 117 of Mountain Grump

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We rock.

And then we… stop.

I force my eyes open.

We’re facing the thick tree line. But it’s still yards away.

We… landed.

We hit a tree.

But we landed.

Warm fingers wrap around my wrist, and I look down.

Ethan has reached across, and he’s prying my hand away from the seat belt.

I let him.

And I let him turn my hand over.

He holds my wrist with one hand and uses the other to trace the indents left in my palm.

“Bad Girl. I told you to relax.” His voice vibrates through the headphones. “No more hurting yourself. I told you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. Don’t make me a liar.”

Heat trails across my skin where he touches me.

He lowers my hand to my lap, then reaches across and unclips my seat belt.

Glancing at his chest, I see he’s already unbuckled himself.

My heart is still beating wildly behind my ribs, and when I look out his window, I swallow.

The tip of the wing is all smashed up and somehow still stuck to the tree trunk.

A memory of being a kid, roller skating, and holding my friend’s hand as she swung me around in a circle flashes in my mind.

Only today, the tree is my friend, and the plane is the roller skates.

“Arms,” Ethan softly commands.

I shift and let him help me slide my arms free from the straps.

“Look at me.” Ethan reaches up and takes his sunglasses off.

I do the same.

Or I try to.

But my hands are shaking too badly.

Why can’t I stop shaking?

Ethan makes a shushing sound and takes my glasses off for me.

I know my eyes are shining.

I know a few tears have slipped free.

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