Page 2 of Chasing You

“Wonderful.” Chief Jones relaxes back into his chair, an arm resting over the side of it. “I’ll have Darcy write up the paperwork and we can get it signed on the dotted line before you head away.”

I shake my head, almost in disbelief, before I reach my hand across the table. “Thank you so much for thinking of me, sir.”

He takes my hand, shaking it with a firm grip and a beaming smile. “There’s no one better for the job.”

I walk outof the revolving doors into the wet heat of a summer day in Florida.

Sweat almost instantly beads on my forehead as I start wandering down the street, but it doesn’t bother me one bit. Not when I just got what is arguably the biggest promotion of my life.

It’s what everyone wants, what every pilot is working toward—captain. And now I have it.

It feels odd, silently sitting with this news as I find myself settling on a bench at what seems to be a dog park just a block away from the Everglades headquarters.

I watch a poodle prance around in circles, his owner watching with a ridiculously wide smile. She looks happier than I am about my promotion, simply watching her dog spin around like a show pony.

It hits me then, that level of joy isn’t something I’ve felt in years. Even now—I feel as though I should be beaming from ear to ear, screaming internally with excitement, but I’m just…not.

I feel thankful, finally able to say that I made it, but it doesn't feel as gratifying as I always imagined it would.

Don’t get me wrong—I am grateful. It’s what I’ve been working towards for as long as I can remember, but sometimes I forget why I started working towards it in the first place.

The last time I felt that heart fluttering, face-hurting-so much-from-smiling kind of happiness, well, that was four years ago now, and I gave it all up for this. For the chance at this very promotion that doesn’t make me feel half of what I did back then. But I have to believe it was worth it; if I don’t, then it was all for nothing.

This is what I wanted, what I knew would make me someone my family could be proud of, and I love to fly. I do. Even though I sometimes second-guess that one choice I made.

A bark from my feet has me looking down to see a scruffy little dog who looks like he could be a member of the muppets latch his teeth around the hem of my jeans and pull.

“Hey!” I say, jerking my leg back toward me. The dog just growls, tightening his grip on my favorite pair of jeans.What the fuck?

“Uhhh, excuse me,” I say, looking down at it. His eyes meet mine as he yanks even harder.

“Dude!”

My phone rings in my back pocket, the vibrations sending me into sudden sensory overload as I can still feel my leg being tugged on by a set of small canines.

My sister’s name lights up my screen, and my eyes flick between my phone and the little shit still attached to my leg. It’s not like I’m going to kick him off me. So I just answer the phone instead.

“Hey,” I say, searching the park for whoever this little denim muncher might belong to.

“Hey! How was the flight to Florida?”

“It was good,” I say. “Smooth landing.”

The dog at my feet growls once more and I give it a sour look before a woman in activewear comes jogging up to me. “I amsosorry,” she whispers after glancing at my phone held up to my ear.

I just wave my hand in a ‘it’s fine’ kind of manner before she picks up her dog, pulling it from where it’s attached to my pants.The dog instantly lets go of its grip, its tongue wagging as it looks at me over its retreating owner's shoulder.Little shit.

“Rating out of ten?” Isla asks, drawing my attention away from the little devil in furry form.

“Hmm,” I mutter. “I might be biased but I’d say a solid nine point seven five.” We play this game at least once a week. It might be silly, but it’s a way for us to connect.

It’s difficult to believe that less than a year ago, I barely talked to Isla. I never made time for her.

When I first left for college I distanced myself from my parents, wanting to escape the weight of their judgement—even though I went on to do exactly as they wanted—but in doing that, I distanced myself from Isla too. Without meaning to, I created a rift between us when we used to be inseparable.

I have her fiancé, Caio, to thank for more than just making my sister happy. He also brought us back together, organising for me to go to Ruby Cove to surprise her on her birthday last year. Since then, we have been talking regularly, and I didn’t realize how much I missed my sister until I saw her again.

I made a promise to myself after seeing the smile on her face that night to never be complacent with our relationship again. I haven’t faltered yet.

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