Page 89 of The Fall Before Flight

I’m not sure how many more shocks my heart can take. “What? No. That’s crazy. We’re, uh… not even?—”

What the fuck happened to my ability to lie?

“I know he drove to your place after the hockey game last week.”

Full. Stop.

My knees decide to take a break, depositing me ungently on a wooden bench. “Jesus,” I mutter. “I don’t know what to say.”

Marianne sits beside me. Up close, she’s even more lovely. I can definitely see a young Leo trailing after her. They would have been beautiful together—the proof of it lives in their son.

“I’m not here to interfere or offer advice,” she says softly, “and as much as I may want to, I won’t make excuses for what a complicated man Leo is. I think you know.”

I sigh. “I don’t think he’s complicated. Just burdened by excess morality.”

Marianne laughs delightedly. “You do know him well. I take it you were once in a different kind of relationship? I’m not judging.”

Oddly, I can tell she isn’t. I give a short nod. “We were.”

“Well.” She pouts. “Shit.”

I shrug, ignoring the pang in my chest. “It is what it is. Can’t change the past, unfortunately. Or Leo’s mind.”

Marianne gives me a long, searching look, then smiles softly. “It was really great to meet you, Amelia. I hope I see you again soon.”

She gives my shoulder a squeeze, then stands and heads for the exit. Pausing in the locker room doorway, she looks back.

“I do have one bit of advice. Take it or leave it. I’ve known Leo a long time. He’s many things—bullheaded being one of them—but he’s also brave. If you mean to him what I think you do, give him a little time to come around.”

“Thanks, Marianne,” I say politely.

But I’m lying.

41

EMBRACE THE WIND

My days off this week are back-to-back. I take it as a sign and fill my calendar with activities that used to make me happy. On Wednesday I go skydiving in the morning and paragliding in the afternoon. On Thursday I take the first boat to Catalina Island and spend the day scuba diving. By the time I arrive home, my credit card hates me, but I feel good. Proud of the fact I didn’t spend my time off wallowing. I crawl into bed that night and pass out without thinking of Leo once.

I dream about him instead. It’s an old dream, the one where I’m surfing on sand dunes. Only this time the dunes are moving like real waves, a fierce wind driving coarse sand into my eyes. Leo is waving from the top of a nearby dune, flickering in and out of sight like a mirage. No matter how hard I try to reach him, the sand waves push me back, back…

I wake up covered in sweat, with just enough light in the sky to give me an excuse to get up. Grateful I’m working the breakfast shift today—I’m in no mood to go surfing—I take an extra-long shower and nurse two cups of coffee. At seven thirty, I grab a granola bar and head out. Ferdi slips outside with me, embarking on whatever adventures his day holds.

Even though November is in full swing, there’s a wicked heat wave in town. And heat wave means thousands of people flock to the coast. The café is slammed for breakfast, barely slows midmorning, and ramps up again at lunch. Outside, the boardwalk and beach are packed with the usual circus of tourists and locals.

“Dying,” gasps Trish, sagging against the hostess podium in a rare lull. Her dark skin glistens with a sheen of sweat, her cheeks deeply rose. The air conditioner stopped working an hour ago. Ceiling fans whir overhead, but without a breeze they’re just stirring hot air.

Fanning myself with a menu, I nod. “Shouldn’t have bothered showering this morning, that’s for sure.”

I glance back to check on my tables, and when I turn back around, a familiar figure stands in the doorway.

Déjà vu.

Vincent waves at me and steps inside. “Hi, Amelia! It’s hot today, huh? Bet you wish you were surfing.”

“Hi,” I say weakly, my gaze darting past him but not finding an adult. “Shouldn’t you be in school?”

“Half-day today. Dad picked me up. He forgot something in the car, but he’ll be here in a sec. Oh, I’m supposed to give you this.”

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