Page 37 of Lethal Threat

Cole shifts uncomfortably in his seat. He searches my face as he asks, “Exactly what do you remember?”

I flop back in the seat and sigh happily, determined to look past his mood. “The engine. The wing. How it works.”

He grunts. “Nice. And anything else?”

“Yes!” I press my forehead to the window so I can look at the wing of the plane. “The math! It’s weird, I have all these formulas in my head. Oh! And I remembered I know?—”

He clears his throat. Cole is definitely not himself.

I swivel my head in his direction as unease makes my skin tighten. “Really, Cole, what’s wrong?”

Blank expression in place, he looks away from me. “Nothing. Glad for you getting back memories.”

I reach for his face and cup his jaw. “But you look a little unwell, or uneasy. Or maybe freaked.”

He swings his gaze my way. It’s got an edge now. “I am worried, Sierra.”

Oh crap.

I know why, and Cole is concerned and doesn’t know what to say.

“I’m guessing that you’re worried because a head injury might keep me from flying again.”

Without moving his gaze from mine, he nods. The scruff on his angular jaw abrades my palm.

All the happy that was filling me up whooshes out and I drop my hand to my lap as I slump back in the seat. “That would be sucky.”

Now he’s looking anywhere but at me as he rubs both of hands on his thighs. “It’s something we will deal with if it happens.”

“Right. Okay,” I reply in a defeated murmur. He’s right. I can’t think about that now, but a serious TBI could end my career as a pilot.

Heat stings at the back of my eyes. My throat feels weird. This is not a topic I’m ready to deal with.

I try to shake it off as I reach for the magazine in the pocket on the back of the seat. “Got ahead of myself.Guess I should just be happy that I remembered something.”

He doesn’t say anything for a long time, but I keep myself busy. First, listening to the flight attendant’s announcements. Flipping mindlessly through the magazine and finally fixating on the window.

With a roar, the jet takes off and climbs up to cruising altitude. The power of the jet engine is familiar and sends excitement zinging through me.

The ground grows distant and a sense of awe fills me. Everything’s so small and perfect from up here.

I want to stay in the sky forever.

“I love flying,” I announce.

He grumbles. Seems his mood is no better. Sitting next to him is uncomfortable. The man’s energy field is strong and turbulent, even though the flight is smooth.

After a while, he looks over and catches me watching him.

I gently bump his elbow with mine. “You’re very quiet.”

“Lot to think about.”

It takes serious work not to reach for his hand and take it in my own. Seeking comfort. Giving him something too, even though I don’t know what that is exactly.

“Well, I guess that’s one thing amnesia is good for. There are only so many topics swirling around inside this noggin.”

He doesn’t match my grin. Instead, he looks devastated, which causes a pinch inside my chest.