Page 11 of Revival

The mere sight of her in that sterile white room, decked out in a paper gown and hairnet, revived something inside me I thought was dead.

Which is the only explanation for why I found myself sprinting to catch this flight.

She’s on it.

And I hold the other half of her ticket.

“I don’t need a stand-in husband.” She curls her fingers into air quotes, squeezing them so hard I’m concerned she’ll sprain a digit.

“You do.” I click my seat belt into place and settle back into my seat. “You booked a honeymoon package.”

“So?”

“So when you show up to the resort alone, they aren’t going to let you check in solo. It’s in their terms and conditions.”

Cortney rolls her eyes. “Then I’ll book another one.”

I shrug. “Sure, you could. But then you’d miss out on all the amenities you signed up for. I don’t think you’re going to get another oceanview villa with a private infinity pool and butler service at this price.”

Her mouth pops open.

“And that zip line excursion you booked is full for the rest of the month, so you can say goodbye to that.”

The plane begins to push back from the gate, and I clench my fist on my thigh as I refocus on her face. I catalog her changes since we were kids. The sharpness of her jaw that somehow still looks soft despite losing the youthful roundness. The slight lines in her forehead as she scowls deeply at me that I wouldn’t dare point out to her. Her hair is sleek and black, longer than I’ve ever seen it, as it drapes down the front of her chest.

For as many things that are different, she’s still the same. Same freckles. Same dimple. Same expressive dark brown eyes.

“How do you know all that?”

“It was in the listing.”

“What listing?”

I run my tongue behind my top teeth. “Look, I hate to be the one to tell you this.” My confession is interrupted as the captain announces our imminent takeoff. I rub my palm on my knee. “Your ex gave up his half of the honeymoon.”

“I’m sorry?”

“And I bought it.”

Cortney’s eyelids slowly close as a flush colors her cheeks. “He did what now? And you…” She licks her lips. “Youboughtit?”

I raise my hands in a placating gesture. Her eyes are still closed tight, so I drop them to my thighs as the plane picks up speed. I pluck an imaginary piece of lint. “I didn’t know it was yours,” I lie.

“You just decided to go on a random honeymoon?”

“It was a helluva price.” I flash her a grin, and this time, she’s looking directly at me. More likehella expensivebut she doesn’t need to know that. I pray she doesn’t see me wince as the wheels leave the ground. My stomach swoops, twisting. I wish she’d look anywhere else.

She scoffs. “Of course it was. I can’t believe this. How does someone even sell something like that?”

“Remember the auction the town put together after my accident?”

“You bought an item at your own auction benefit?”

I can’t help the hollow chuckle that escapes. “Can you blame me for needing a vacation? There’s so much fucking hovering back home.”

Ever since I got discharged from the hospital, I haven’t had a moment of peace. I wound up finding a month-to-month apartment in Fairview Valley to recover. More like Mom demanded it. Said she wouldn’t have me so far away with injuries that needed tending. We both knew by then I’d mostly healed. Physically, that is. But in her mind, she almost lost me for good, so she’s been clinging as hard as she can.

As for me, I lost my direction. Returning to the job where I’d watched my best friend die wasn’t an option, so I capitulated on one condition. Nobody came to my door without an invitation.

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