Page 34 of Beauty Beneath the Sorrow
Alright, this conversation is beyond my comprehension. There might be something more here. I take it as my cue to walk away.
“Yeah, okay. See you around,” I say as the sky train pulls up.
Lina enters from a different set of doors. I dodge my way through the crowd of passengers, aiming to follow her. She wheels her luggage to the side of the train and grabs the pole to brace herself. I slide in right behind her, clutching the pole above her hand. Towering over her, I can smell the sweetness of her shampoo. As the train starts moving, she’s briefly jerked into my chest.
“Youareseeing someone.” Her words are tight as she keeps her face forward.
My body lights up from her inquiry—or jealousy?The tone of her voice isn’t casual. It’s more accusatory.
“What do you mean?” I ask playfully.
“Annabelle,” she sneers. “You should know, I have worked with her for a while, and she tries to get with all the single pilots, as well as the married ones, if she has the chance.”
“What does that have to do with me?” I retort, wanting Lina to explain more, even though I know what she is hinting at. When we ran into each other in the crew lounge last week, she asked me if I was seeing anyone. It was none of her business, but I loved that she was curious enough to ask.
“If you’re seeing her—she’ll be bothered that we’re partners,” she assumes before I have the chance to correct her.
“Who said I was seeing her?”
Lina’s jaw clenches. “It looked like the two of you were pretty close from where I was standing.”
“I told you I’m not dating anyone.” I lower my lips to the top of her ear, letting my breath barely dust her skin. “Did that bother you?”
“Absolutely not.” I watch her throat bob with a rough swallow, living for the way I get her worked up. “Why would I care if you’re seeing someone?”
“I see you,” I whisper.
She looks back, raising her chin. “What does that mean?”
My lips tingle at the thought of touching hers. They’re light pink and shine like fresh lip gloss. “I seeyou.”
Lina sucks in a sharp breath. “When do you see me?”
“All the time.”
Her breathing picks up. “Where?”
“Everywhere.”
The automatic doors slide open, and the passengers spill out of the congested sky train. Lina makes a beeline for the employee parking lot, but I’m quickly on her heels.
“Lina,” I call out, moving into a slow jog.
Without looking back, she keeps walking, maybe even quickly picking up her pace. She is not getting away. “Lina!”
Finally, she stopped and slowly turned toward me with her hand on the extended handle of her suitcase.
I walk fast-paced now, and it will be easier to catch up to her.
“Hi.” I smile casually, like I didn’t just chase after her.
She squeezes her eyelids shut and smiles. “Hello, Carter. Did you need something else?”
I shrug. I don’t know what to say, but I want to stay with her as long as possible. “No.”
She blushes and glances around, trying to look unfazed by my presence. “But you just chased after me?”
“Can I walk with you to your car?” I ask, taking whatever time I can get with her.
