Page 60 of Starfallen
She beams a dazzling grin my way. “It’s bacon, isn’t it? A whole mountain just waiting for me to dive into it?” For the past six hours, as we flew through space, she’s been obsessed with a craving for bacon.
I reach out a hand and clasp her wrist. “I’m sorry to disappoint, but it’s not bacon.”
Her face falls, then she shrugs. “Oh well, a girl can hope, right?”
Rhys turns to me. “Everything is ready. I hope...” He glances downward and fidgets with the chain strapped across his chest connecting his shoulder armor. “I hope you meant what you said, about allowing me to be a part of your son’s life. I think...I think I’d like very much to be an uncle once more.”
“Yes,” Tilly exclaims, throwing her hands onto her armrests and straining toward the screen. “You’ll be a great uncle, Rhys.” She looks to me. “I love you so much.”
Unable to speak through the flood of emotions slamming into my chest, I can only nod and focus on guiding the ship through the orbiting satellites and debris.
Another Henokan craft, a skirmisher, slides into place on the right and a new holoscreen lights up.
“Hey now,” Harper says, her brown eyes twinkling. “If Kaden needs an aunt...”
Rhys rolls his eyes and mutters something under his breath.
Tilly guffaws, wiping a tear from her cheek. “Yes, you can be his aunt.” With a coy glance to Rhys, she cocks an eyebrow. “Maybe you two should get married and make it official.”
“Gods,” Rhys shouts, his face turning purple.
Harper gives a wicked laugh. “A few months ago, that wouldn’t have been a bad idea.”
“You and Raynor making it official?” Tilly asks.
With a soft snort, Harper shakes her head. “Nah, he and I were only good between the sheets.”
Tilly’s cheeks flush and Rhys rounds his eyes and sneers.
I can’t stop a snicker.
“I’ve found a new guy to torture. Or maybe Max is torturing me. I dunno. He’s from Texas, too, and just as stubborn as you.”
“I’m glad to hear it, Harper.” With a soft smile for her friend, Tilly refocuses on the ship’s controls and adjusts the pitch.
I calibrate our trajectory and compensate for Earth’s rotation, ensuring the ship remains on target to land on the road next to the cave.
“Well, we’ll see where it goes. He’s a real pain in my ass. Doesn’t give a shit about much of anything except finding some girl from his hometown who he thinks survived.”
Tilly tilts her head and frowns, as if thinking. “Did he say what town he’s—”
“We need to focus on landing,” I gently remind her.
Nodding, Tilly sits straighter, her face clearing. “Gotta go, Harper. See you in a few minutes.”
“Roger that,chica.” Harper’s screen disappears.
Rhys gives a stern nod. “See you both in a few minutes.” His screen also blanks.
Tilly turns to me, her face glowing with a smile so bright it rivals the sun. “Thank you.”
“Thankyou.”
“For what?” She reaches back and gives KJ a head pat.
“For always fighting for what’s right, for making me a better man, for keeping my heart safe by loving me.”
“Two halves of the same soul, right?”
“Absolutely.”
I take us into the atmosphere, breathing a sigh of relief, ready to do what I should’ve done months ago.
