Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Before I had a chance to respond, he said, “Ah, here we are. Lesya has it all sorted. Apparently, one of my pilots has a colleague in your area who can bring you up on a reciprocal flight. You’re to meet him in General Aviation.”
I stared at the crowd massing around the gate for the Newark flight. The TV screen over the desk still showed no availability for standby. Getting back home would be impossible unless I took Oscar up on his offer.
“Uh… okay. I’m headed there now.”
He let out a soft breath, like he’d been worried I would turn him down. “Good. Text me when you make it, okay? I like to know you’re safe.”
“Thank you,” I told him.
He made another dismissive noise.
“No, I mean it. Thank you,” I repeated. I wasn’t sure I could say it enough. “Truly. Thank you.”
“You’re truly welcome—”
“And I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Oscar seemed genuinely baffled.
“Because I…” Couldn’t get over my own disappointment, so like a shitty, selfish friend, I made you pay the price. “Because I didn’t wish you a happy Thanksgiving, and I should have. So Happy Thanksgiving, Oscar. Your friendship is something I’m very grateful for.”
“Uh. Okay. I… I value our friendship too?”
Oscar sounded so uncharacteristically befuddled I chuckled. “Of course you do. Because I’ve changed your outlook on life through the power of Shonda Rhimes.”
He snorted. “I assure you, that’s not why.” He hesitated for a second, then added, “Look, Perry’s an asshole if he couldn’t see that you’re amazing. You’re witty, and sexy as fuck, and kind. And even though I might grumble and be concerned about how you just fling yourself into love at the drop of a hat, I… I also think it’s very brave to go after what you want. And it’s possibly one of my favorite things about you. So.” He cleared his throat. “My car’s here. See you soon.”
He disconnected, and I stared at my phone blankly for a long moment, hoping it would offer some explanation for what had just happened. Then, his last words replayed in my head. What the hell did he mean by see you soon?
5
OSCAR
New York City was a shitshow on Thanksgiving with all the tourists and street closures for the parade, not to mention the changeable weather. My annoyance only increased with every stopped car, jaywalking pedestrian, bike courier, and honking taxi.
Trying to get to Abby was worth the frustration. I knew even on a private jet, it would still take Hugh several hours to get to his sister, so I headed out to Newark immediately to see if there was some other way I could help. Even if the only thing I could do was reassure him I’d laid eyes on her, it would be worth it.
By the time I entered the hospital, Lesya had worked her magic and gotten me an update and access to Abby’s room. I knocked softly on the door before poking my head in.
A woman with long, curly hair and eyes nearly as deep and warm as Hugh’s lifted her gaze from her lap and blinked blearily at me. A purpling bruise bloomed on her cheekbone, a cut above her eyebrow was held closed with butterfly stitches, and one wrist was wrapped in a brace, but she seemed whole and mostly okay.
“Abby?” I asked.
She blinked again. I could see the glaze of pain and medication in her eyes. “Yeah?”
“I’m a friend of your brother’s. He’s on his way.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “Hugh’s coming? From North Carolina?”
I walked further into the room and set a vase of flowers on the rolling table next to her bed. “Yeah, he should be here in a couple of hours. He was worried about you. Said he couldn’t get a hold of you.”
She wiped a tear away and sniffed. “I lost my phone in the accident, and I don’t have anyone’s number. Can you call him and ask him to tell Dex I’m okay?”
I immediately pulled out my phone to make the call, but unsurprisingly, it went to voicemail. “No answer. Probably because he’s in flight. But I’m texting him right now, and he should be able to text Dex to let him know.”
Oscar
Abby is okay. Lost her phone. She wants you to text Dex to let him know.
Hugh
How do you know?
Oscar
I am here with her now. I promise she’s okay. Just shaken and a little banged up.
The three dots appeared and remained long enough to let me know he was surprised by my news. I slid the phone back into my pocket and pulled a plastic chair forward. “I let him know. While we wait for him, what can I do to help? Are they taking good care of you?”
She took a shaky breath. “I wanted to find out how the kids are. My students… I’m a teacher. And I was on a student thing…”