Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
A minute passed, and then another, without anything blowing up.
“I think it’s over,” Sergeant Gray said from the other side of the waiting area, his back pressed to the opposite wall.
“Agreed,” another called out.
“Helos are gone. Nothing left for them to care about,” someone else added.
Nate’s hand cradled my cheek as he tipped my chin up. “Are you hurt?”
I shook my head, unable to make my tongue work.
He pulled back and looked me over for himself as the other operators moved in, checking on the chess team and their parents. “You’re all right.”
I started nodding and couldn’t stop.
“It’s okay, Izzy.” He tugged me against him. “It’s just shock and adrenaline. It will pass. Just take deep breaths.”
I forced air through my lungs one breath at a time until my galloping heart slowed to a canter, then a trot, and finally a steady walk.
“There you go,” he said softly, gently rubbing his hand up and down my back. “Gray, get me a situation report.”
Gray took off.
“If you could have any superpower in the world, what would it be?” he asked.
I blinked.
“Come on, Iz. Play along.”
“Running really fast so I’d never have to fly again,” I managed to get out. Shifting my head, I looked up at Nate. Other than the worry in his gaze as he met mine, he seemed completely unfazed. “I always thought I’d be calm and collected if anything like that happened,” I whispered. “I froze.”
“You telling me that Isabeau Astor might actually be human? She’s not perfect?” He flashed a grin, and that dimple appeared, rendering me speechless again.
“You know every flaw I have.”
“Including your horrendous taste in men,” he teased.
I scoffed.
“There she is.” He ran his thumb over my cheek and stood, helping me to my feet. He took stock of everyone around us doing the same. “Hate to break it to you, but it’s about to be a long night.”
“Because the helicopters are gone.” I nodded. “We’re stranded.”
“Stranded and surrounded,” he said. “But don’t worry, our ride will come back armed to the teeth. Until then, we’ll make sure we’re safe here.” A corner of his mouth lifted. “And in the meantime, the twelve-inch rule still applies.”
I rolled my eyes and pulled myself together, and all playfulness left Nate as we went to greet the people we’d been working for months to get out.
Later that night, we sat around one half of the VIP lounge we’d taken over on the second floor to give the operators a higher vantage point. They all took shifts, some patrolling, some sitting, others sleeping.
Everyone except Nate, who’d stuck to my side, only breaking the twelve-inch rule when I told him he would not, in fact, be handing me the toilet paper. At least he’d let me take off the helmet once they’d made sure the airport grounds were clear. The actual fighting was miles away.
Darkness settled around the airport, and the lights in the lounge were dim as most of the squad finally settled in to eat. Turned out that they traveled with their own food, which they’d split with the families who were now mostly asleep a couple of rows over, stretched out on the chairs like they were just on an extended layover.
“That’s not what happened,” Sergeant Rose said, pointing his finger at Gray as the others laughed.
Nate shook his head, but a smile curved his mouth as his friends told stories. At least, I assumed they were his friends. I could tell he was close to a couple of them, though they didn’t have names on their uniforms. Seeing Nate smile, even briefly, was intoxicating. I found myself watching him to see if he’d do it again.
“What?” he asked, catching me staring.
“Just thinking that it’s been a while since I’ve seen you really smile. Go figure we’re in an airport.”
“Fucking airports.” His dimple appeared again. “You should eat,” he said, handing me an opened, heated packet of something. “It’s spaghetti, and trust me, it’s the best of the options.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m guessing your meds are wearing off, so you’ll be ravenous any minute.”
My lips parted as I took the packet. “You remember that.”
He nodded.
“Okay, since it’s just us,” Gray said, leaning back in his chair across from us. The radio unit was next to him, which I guess made him the comms guy. “Tell us about Sergeant Green here, would you?”
Every other operator, even the guy sitting at the window, turned to look at me.
“No.” Nate shook his head as I took my first bite.
It wasn’t gourmet, but it would stop my stomach from growling.
“Come on,” Gray groaned. “It’s more than obvious she knows you.” He grinned at me and lifted his eyebrows. “You do, don’t you? I bet you know tons of stories he won’t tell us.”
I folded my legs under me so I sat crisscross in the wide seat and glanced Nate’s way.