Page 86 of An Unexpected Everything

Me:

I’ll check on him, and whatever business things you need me to do. I don’t mind.

Flynn:

You’re a lifesaver. And please check on my twin for real. He’s scaring me.

Me:

I’ve got it.

I nearly put my phone away when it buzzed again, and I smiled down at who was calling. I picked up and wiggled my brows over at Joshua.

“Hello Harper darling.”

Joshua curled a lip at me, and I just laughed.

“Hey, is my lovely brother with you?” she asked, her voice all soft and happy. She also sounded a little tired, but considering what hours she worked at the bakery, that made sense.

“He’s right next to me. We’re about to take off, though.”

“Hand me your phone,” Joshua grumbled, and I did as he ordered, grinning.

When their parents had died, Joshua hadn’t been able to get full custody of Harper. She had been shipped off to her grandparents, since she had been a minor and Joshua had just turned eighteen. It had been a huge fight for custody with only partial visitations. My best friend had done his best by Harper, but I knew he didn’t feel like it was enough. Then their grandparents had passed right when Harper had graduated high school, so she had come back to Cage Lake, at least for the summers while she finished school. I didn’t know exactly what it had done to Joshua to lose out on being with his baby sister for so long. But they made it work. They were all each other had now.

“Yes yes. I’ll bring home milk too, how’s that?”

I rolled my eyes at the two, though I didn’t know what they were talking about, and held out my hand when he hung up.

“We ready to go?”

“Almost. Your girlfriend texted when I was on the phone. Sorry.”

I frowned and looked down at the readout.

Amy:

I miss you. Are you coming over tonight?

Me:

Yes. As soon as I’m done with Joshua. Need me to bring something for dinner?

Amy:

I think I can be dinner. What do you think?

Then she sent a photo that made my eyebrows raise, and Joshua whistled through his teeth. “Well then. That’s an invitation.”

“Hey, eyes on the runway and not on my girlfriend.”

“I didn’t see much. Although you should probably put a screen on your phone or something if she’s going to send so many of those.”

I made a note to do just that and was grateful I didn’t have to adjust myself. Flying with a hard on didn’t sound like a picnic. “My girlfriend likes me. And she’s hot.”

“Well that is true,” Joshua said dryly. I said my goodbyes to Amy, as Joshua did the rest of his checks, and soon we were going down the runway, and in the air.

Despite my joke to my best friend earlier, I loved flying. It didn’t matter what kind of plane. I loved being in it. I also liked bungee jumping, skydiving, and just anything that gave that little burst of adrenaline. And Joshua always did it right with me. My best friend had had his license forever, and I was thinking maybe it was time to get mine. Everything just felt right. After so many years of bullshit and stress, things were finally coming together.