“Noted.”
She ran her fingers up and down the long planes of his back as he struggled to get his breath back, still hard inside her (no worries about condom leaking just yet, at least).
“That was wonderful,” he said. “You’re wonderful.”
“It was. And yes. And ditto.”
“Do not panic…”
“Oh my God.”
“I am merely making postcoital conversation—”
“Oh my God.” What? What? What the hell could it be?
“But would you ever consider moving back to Minnesota?”
“Oh.” She paused, thought. “Let’s just say that’s not as off the table as it would have been a month ago. It’s not the state. Can’t blame Minnesota for the Monahans—and I promise that’s the last time I’ll say that name tonight.”
“Excellent. On all counts. I’m not trying to rush you,” he said, propping himself up on an elbow to gaze into her face. “I just hope you would be willing to keep your options open.”
“I will. We can talk about it. After my folks died, I always thought home was where my travel bag was. And that’s still true.” Which was something else Pete got wrong. It’s just, maybe soon, home will be where my travel bag and you and your gigantic condom collection are.”
“I adore you.”
“I—” Whoa. Her voice caught, her eyes filled—what was wrong with her? She never got choked up about stuff like this.
You never even talk about “stuff like this.” It’s a lot to take in; that’s all. Nothing to be scared of.
“I think you’re wonderful,” she choked out, and returned his kiss. “I want to be in your life. Your lives—I like Abe and Hannah, too. The thing is, I see now that it wasn’t Minnesota I hated; it was all the collateral damage.”
Tom blinked. “Yes. Of course. Are you saying you only now realized that?”
“Uh. No? No. Definitely no. Don’t be smug,” she scolded, slapping him on the bicep, because that was definitely the beginning of a smirk on his gorgeous face. “And we need to get that condom off before there’s a mess.”
“Consider me your most attentive pupil.”
“Great. Now we—” She froze suddenly, eyes widening in realization, and Tom immediately tensed up.
“Ava? What is it?”
“Oh, shit!” She stared at him, horrified. “We forgot about Becka’s intervention!”
Forty-Seven
TBMD: My uncle is on the spectrum.
CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: Thanks for the update, Hannah.
TBMD: Hmmm.
CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: See? I’m smart, too! Sometimes. Does Tom know you’ve scored his phone?
TBMD: I’m not using his phone.
CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: I sense trouble coming your way. Or at least a lecture.
TBMD: You already knew.
CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: What? That he’s blunt and adorably clumsy and doesn’t worry himself to death over social niceties and has a strong sense of justice? I guessed and I don’t give a sh … out.
TBMD: You don’t give a shout?
CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: That’s right! Not a single shout. Also, this is a conversation I should be having with Tom or no one. You’re super-cute, now butt out.
TBMD: Acknowledged.
CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: Also I’m a little afraid of you.
TBMD:
Forty-Eight
THE LIST
Apologize to Becka
Return G.B.’s and India’s calls
Pick up dessert for Abe’s BBQ
SPF 40 lotion for same
Condoms
“You thought what?”
“I’m really sorry,” Ava explained. Though she was still grounded, she’d set up a meet with a number of her crew at MSP before they went their separate ways. “I was being paranoid, which wasn’t fair to you. But some of your questions were, um, off-putting.”
“Like what?” Becka’s eyes had gone very wide and she sounded equal parts crushed and horrified, and Ava hoped like hell she wasn’t going to cry. She felt bad enough she’d assumed the worst, then stood the poor woman up in favor of devirginizing Tom.
“Well. You were saying some pretty odd things like how you’re only here because of me…”
“It’s true! You’re the reason I’m a flight attendant.”
“But … why? You don’t know me. We’ve never met. Also, I’m not a flight attendant.”
“We did meet. Just not officially. My dad had a heart attack on one of your flights. You came back to help the attendants and cheer me up.”
“Oh. Oh!” And like that, things made a lot more sense. “But then why ask all those creepy questions about the murder?”
“Because you’re my hero! What the hell else would I talk about? My lame girl-crush? The paper I wrote about you in college?”
“There’s a paper?” G.B., who’d been leaning against the table sipping coffee, looked like Christmas had come early. “I’ll be needing to see that. Immediately. Hard copy and electronic. There are a few sites I’ll need to post it on … and a few bathrooms I’ll need to strew with hard copies … Could you get that to me within the next half hour?”
She flapped her hands at him in irritation, but kept her focus on Becka. “But why did meeting me make you want to be a flight attendant?”
“I wanted to be a Northeastern Southwest employee,” Becka clarified. “After you’ve been on the air crew for three years, they pay for pilot lessons.”
“We really do have a great union,” India put in.
“Oh. So I’m your hero, which led you to work here to work your way up to pilot?”
“You’re right to be skeptical about your hero status, Ava,” G.B. put in, looking her up and down. “I mean … whyyyyyyyyyy?”
“Jesus,” Ava mumbled. “You know, I did manage a belly landing with zero injuries.”
“Pfffftt. Call me when the captain’s down for the count, the hydraulics are shot, and the plane’s on fire. Then you can brag.”
“I like how you never hesitate to belittle my proudest accomplishments.”
“Right? You need more friends like me.”
“That’s unimaginable,” Ava admitted.
“I’m going to assume that’s a compliment.”
“Are you two done?” India asked. “So, Becka, you didn’t sign on because of the uniform change?”
“Well, no.” She shrugged, embarrassed. “But I couldn’t tell you all the real reason.”
“There’s a paper,” G.B. reminded everyone, delighted.
Becka sighed, then added, “I was so freaked out when you wanted to get together. That’s why I lost my nerve and canceled at the last minute.”
“Don’t worry about it. It all worked out. And I definitely didn’t forget about it, so it’s all good.”
“What? You—”
“Nothing! Sorry, you were saying?”
“I just … really look up to you.” She was blushing now, staring at the floor. “My dad’s still with us, y’know. He changed his diet and lost sixty pounds.”