Page 53 of The Fall Before Flight

Frank is momentarily baffled. “I didn’t? My fault, then. It’s a weekend event. We’ll hike back Sunday.”

“Kill me,” mutters Tiffany.

Frank shows the first signs of irritation. “This is a privilege, and every year the residents have a great time. Try to reserve your judgement. Oh, and pack a bathing suit because there’s a small hot spring in the area.”

Callum pumps a fist in the air. “Rad.”

Even Declan cracks a half smile, looking around 70 percent alive.

Sensing someone’s stare, I look down to find Kinsey’s stormy gaze trained on me. She’s clearly annoyed I’m not mirroring her disgruntlement. I shrug; she huffs and rolls her eyes. Whatever. Either she’ll get used to the idea that I’m not her sidekick or she’ll leave me alone. With some surprise, I realize I hope it’s the former. She’s almost… a friend.

“Any more questions?” asks Frank, cocking a brow at Tiffany, who nods.

“How many chaperones will there be?”

I perk up, interested in the answer.

Frank’s eyes narrow. “Why?”

“Just curious.”

We’re all a little shocked when Frank falls for Tiffany’s I’m-super-cute-and-innocent face. He relaxes, smiling. “Just me and Dr. C, which incidentally means you’ll all be helping haul supplies and set up the tents.”

Cue Kinsey’s dramatic groan.

Frank continues, sending each of us pointed looks. “Where we’re going, there are no services within twenty miles. You set out on your own, you’ll get lost, dehydrated, and eaten by some coyotes. Maybe we notice you missing in time to commission a search party, maybe we don’t. Maybe we can’t find you and cut a shitload of red tape to get a chopper out here. But you’ll probably be dead by then.”

The room is quiet, even Kinsey’s shocked stare locked on Frank’s face. I laugh, loud and abrupt, startling everyone.

“Something funny, Mia?” Frank asks, frowning.

Still smiling, I shrug. “Just appreciating your badassery in a new light, Frank.”

His turn for a shocked expression. “Oh. Well, er…” With a cough, he promptly ignores me. “Okay, that’s it, guys. Go pack.”

I’m out the door first, walking fast. By the time we cross the Fish Tank, I hear Kinsey bitching to Tiffany. Probably about the impending lack of hot water and blow dryers.

Immediately, I feel a spike of shame.

“What are you frowning about?” asks Callum, reaching past me to hold the door open. We step into sunlight, our hands leaping to shade our eyes from the glare off the pool.

“Ugh, I’m annoyed that you were right.”

He barks a short laugh. “About what?”

I squint at him, catching Declan’s interested look over his shoulder. “You told me to dump my baggage and I’d feel better, and you were right.” Before he can say I told you so, I grumble, “I’m just not sure I like the better version of me.”

“Why?” Declan’s dark eyes scan mine as he walks up to us.

I focus on Callum’s easy grin, and he answers for me. “Because feeeeeelings,” he sings loudly. “Oh so many feeeeelings!”

I roll my eyes, heaving a sigh.

“Is that why?” asks Declan.

For a badass rock star, he looks all kinds of innocent right now, his body vibrating with curiosity and his eyes beseeching mine. But like I told Leo, I’m still 10 percent crazy. Since I’m awake approximately fifteen to sixteen hours a day, that means I’m allowed a good hour and a half of bad behavior. I haven’t met today’s quota yet.

I stop walking, the men halting with me. Staring Declan dead in the eye, I say, “What you really want to know is whether I’ve forgiven myself for the heinous shit I’ve done, so you can have some hope for the same. Sorry, bud. My opinion of myself has only declined since I got here.”

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