Page 78 of The Playmaker

“Come with me.”

“Where?”

He gives me a small smile, but it’s tight, like every muscle in his body. He’s so damaged it’s a wonder he can actually function in society. “It’s a surprise.”

“I don’t—”

“Like surprises, I know.”

I stand there for a second longer, take in the deep sadness on his face. It guts me, and all I want to do is pull him to me, hug him, tell him how sorry I am, that everything will be okay. But I don’t think he wants that from me, and I’m not so sure he’ll ever be okay. He exposed a side of himself he never wanted me, or anyone, to see, and that couldn’t have been easy for him.

He glances over his shoulder and rakes a hand though his hair. “I understand if you don’t want—”

“I do,” I say quickly. He’d lashed out at me in anger, because he was hurt, and he’s here trying to apologize. I get that. “Where are we going?”

His shoulders relax slightly. “Can you just trust me on this?”

I nod, and he reaches out and brushes his thumb over my damp cheek. His mouth turns down, and he swallows. “Grab a sweater, and wear your sneakers.”

I note that he’s in jeans, sneakers and a hoodie, so I run to my room and dress the same. Night will soon be here, and despite the heat wave, our nights are still cool.

He guides me to his other vehicle, a Jeep, and we mainly sit in silence as he drives out of town. I glance around, but have no idea what he’s up to or where he’s taking me.

My eyes widen and my heart speeds up when he takes the exit to Auburn Municipal Airport.

“What’s going on?” I ask, my gaze going from his smirking face to all the hangars as we pass.

“What part of ‘surprise’ don’t you understand?”

“Are we going on a plane?”

“Not a plane.”

“Then what are we doing at the airport?”

“You’ll see.”

He parks, grabs a backpack from the back, and captures my hand. When I hesitate, he gives a little tug to set me in motion, and I follow him. A few minutes later we’re standing behind the counter of Helicopter Rentals and Charters.

“No way,” I say, then worry trickles through me. “Wait, you’re not going to make me jump out of a plane, are you?”

He laughs. “No.”

“Ah, push me out?”

“Jesus, Nina. Of course not.”

“Whew,” I say. “I know you’re mad at me—”

“Mad at myself.”

I go quiet at that, and he turns back to the man at the counter. “I called earlier.”

I stand back as they exchange information, and as Cole drops a credit card on the counter, I walk to the window to see the helicopter and pilot outside.

“All set,” Cole says, coming up behind me.

His hands slide around my body, hook over my stomach, and he puts his mouth close to my ear. His breath is warm against my skin as we just stand there, no talking, just being together like this.

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