The corner of Hadley’s mouth kicked up as a wistfulness took over her expression. “Flying was always my favorite.”
I guided my bike to the side of the path. “Go for it, kiddo.”
Sage grinned and pushed off. She didn’t go as fast as her sister, but her dark hair flew behind her in waves. I didn’t let out my breath until she reached the bottom. I turned to Hadley. “You next?”
“I never pass up a chance to fly.” She sailed over the edge of the hill, putting Birdie’s speed to shame. Her head tipped back as she went, and she let loose one of those uninhibited laughs.
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face as I watched her, completely free and alive. Without giving myself a chance to think about it, I took off after her, pumping my pedals to get even more speed. Instead of staying on the trail, I went to the side of it, aiming for a gulley. I hit it with just the right speed and at just the right angle. The air I caught was nothing short of sheer beauty.
It had been so long since I’d felt this. The hitch in my breathing. The dump of adrenaline. The moment of feeling nothing but the wind around you. I couldn’t believe I’d ever given it up.
24
Hadley
Jones sentme a curious look for the dozenth time in the past hour.
I bugged my eyes at him over my playing cards. “What?”
His lips pressed together as if he were trying to hold in a laugh. “Nothing.”
“Not nothing. You keep giving me weird looks.”
He glanced around the room to see who might be within listening range and then leaned forward. “When are you going to tell me what’s going on with you and Calder?”
I froze. “What do you mean?” It had been a week since things had changed. I’d carried that night with me since. We hadn’t had much alone time in recent days, but we’d found stolen moments wherever we could. I’d also thought we were being discrete. Apparently, not.
Jones made a humming noise in the back of his throat. “Sure, doll.”
“Don’tsure, dollme.”
“Look, you might think you’re keeping this thing under wraps, but everyone sees the way you two look at each other.”
“They do not.” My gaze darted around the room, and sure enough, Calder’s eyes were pointed directly at me. I immediately turned around. “Shit.”
Jones let out a snort of laughter. “Why are you hiding it? That man is gorgeous. I’d be parading him all over town and staking my claim.”
Part of me wanted to do exactly that. Especially when I knew Jackie was lurking around, just waiting to pop up. “We’re taking things slow. Giving ourselves time to get used to the new normal.”
“That because of you, or because he’s your big brother’s best friend?”
I winced. I had no idea how Hayes would react to Calder and me seeing each other, but I knew the longer we put off telling him, the worse his reaction would be. “I hate small towns,” I grumbled. “This wouldn’t be an issue if I lived in New York City.”
“You’d go crazy if you were locked inside a concrete jungle.”
“I know.” It was wide-open spaces for me and nothing else.
“Glad you got your happy, doll.”
I looked up and met Jones’ gaze. We’d been partnered since I’d started. He’d never once complained about being stuck with the new girl, one who’d been so young on top of it. He’d shown me the ropes and had been kind when I made mistakes. “I’m so lucky to have you.”
“Damn straight. Now, enough with this mushy stuff. Draw a damn card.”
I chuckled and pulled one from the top of the deck. I placed the Jack between a Queen and ten of the same suit and discarded an eight facedown. I grinned at Jones. “Gin.”
“You cheat. I swear to God, I will find out how you do it one day.”
I stood and bent over the table, kissing his cheek. “Don’t be a sore loser.”