Page 15 of Forever Fallen

SOPHIE

Sophie gotin her vehicle and realized that the quarters were just as cramped with Ryan in the car as it had been on the plane. To her surprise, he buckled up, leaned the seat back as far as possible, and put his sunglasses back on.

“Wake me when we get there,” he muttered.

“Seriously?”

“You don’t need directions, do you? There are apps for that, and I need to get some sleep.”

“You’re going to sleep…” she said bluntly in disbelief.

“Yes.”

“Fine,” she bit out angrily, throwing the car in reverse.

“Do you need directions, Sophie?”

“You know I don’t. I lived there, remember?”

“I barely know you and thought it would be polite to ask.”

“Your ‘politeness’ knows no bounds…” she muttered under her breath as she exited the parking garage without another word.

Sure enough, not five minutes into the trip, she heard a soft snore from the passenger side of the vehicle and glanced at him. Ryan was out cold – which meant she could relax and process what just happened.

She was now Sophie Lane… Merrick.

It had been embarrassing as they signed the marriage license to try to read his handwriting – only to have him lean over, pretend to kiss her, and whisper his last name in her ear.

She didn’t even know this man’s name!

This was all so very strange… and she hoped she didn’t regret taking this chance.

This was only the first hurdle checked off her mental list. Next was the funeral arrangements. Then, she needed to figure out how to earn a living, end her lease, or close the bed-and-breakfast… so she could work in downtown Dallas during the week and stay in Yonder on the weekends.

She spent the next two and a half hours listening to him breathe, thinking, and watching the road. It was bittersweet driving this direction, knowing just how different it would all be now.

Grammy would not be there waiting with a cup of hot cocoa.

The house’s soul would be empty, lifeless, frozen in time… and there was no telling how long it would take for her to feel like she belonged again.

Turning down Main Street, she flinched as she passed the empty Victorian monolith, heading towards Flyboys on the outskirts of town.

There would be time enough to get home, but she owed this to Ryan in exchange for his assistance. They would go to Flyboys first, simply so things could stay amicable between them for the next three weeks or so.

It was nearing five in the afternoon, and she hoped they were still open. She didn’t want to delay foisting him off to be with his friends…

“Ryan?” she began. “Ryan, we are almost at Flyboys…”

“Huh…” he replied in a daze and hesitated, looking around quickly in a panic. “Oh wow, I thought I was having a nightmare… but this is actually happening.”

“Good morning to you, too,” she said bluntly, frowning. “Do you want to sit up, wipe the drool off your face, and rub your eyes, Sleeping Beauty?”

“I knew you thought I was hot…” he muttered, rubbing his face.

“It was sarcasm.”

“Sure, it was,sweetheart…” Ryan quipped and looked at her pointedly, as he sat the passenger seat up. “Andthatwas sarcasm.”

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