Evers & Afters (Dare With Me #2) - J.H. Croix Page 0,52

I don’t know what I could do to help, but if there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”

Fran actually smiled a little at that. “That’s sweet of you. You seem like a really nice person. I’m actually divorcing him and moving back to where my parents are in Washington state. I think a fresh start for the kids and me is best. Plus, I’m going to get his business here in the divorce. That was his whole cover for going out of town and making up bullshit about who he was.”

“Good for you,” I said firmly. “Would you like a coffee? I promise it’s good.”

“Actually, I would. You’re so busy that I doubt you remember me, but I’ve been here before and this is my favorite coffee shop in Diamond Creek.”

“Really? That’s awesome. Today’s coffee is on the house. Tell me what you want.”

Fran got her coffee, and we actually chatted for a little longer. Then, my next wave of people showed up off the boats, and she left. Although she couldn’t repair the situation for me, I felt an immense sense of relief for that conversation.

As the afternoon wound down, my phone buzzed with a text after Amy returned from her doctor’s appointment.

Susie: We’re going to yoga class with Tess to celebrate your new business.

I was up for yoga class, but it seemed like a strange choice for celebration.

Me: Yoga class?

Susie: Yes. There’s that new yoga studio. Tess says it’s amazing and relaxing. Let’s do that, and then, pizza and beer at DC Brewery.

Me: Yoga, pizza, and beer. Sounds like a plan.

I was laughing as I hit send.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Elias

I angled the plane in the sky, looking ahead to Diamond Creek. The small town was just coming into view from across the bay. The harbor was visible with boats streaming in slowly from a day of fishing. The roads curved up along the hillside, winding up into the mountains.

A light gust of wind buffeted the plane, and I adjusted to level the plane out after the turn. It felt so good to be flying again. I wiggled my ankle slightly, relieved to feel some flexion. The surgeon had told me I would always have a little trouble with rotation, but all in all, my ankle was back to working order. I was beyond relieved it was my left ankle rather than my right.

As I lowered the plane, I spied a sea lion swimming just outside the harbor entrance and gestured to the passengers to look down as we lowered. Sea lions were massive creatures and easily visible from the air in the shallow waters once you were low enough. I grinned at the oohs and ahhs coming from over my shoulder. As if to show off, an eagle took flight from one of the signs just as we came in for a landing at the airport, giving the passengers a close look as it flew level with us when we came down over the runway.

Alaska’s surfeit of wildlife could be so flashy. After we landed and the passengers disembarked, I rolled the plane into the hangar to put it up for the night. As I was doing the evening checks, Flynn came in from the side door, calling over, “How’d it go?”

“Good. Easy flight, happy customers. Best we can ask for.”

“Absolutely.” He stopped beside me as I hitched my backpack over my shoulder. “Want to go to yoga class with me?”

“I’m sorry, did you say yoga class?”

Flynn looked a little sheepish. “Daphne wants me to go with her.”

Diego had just come in and burst out laughing. “Daphne wants you to go to yoga class?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, guys. Just go with me. We can have dinner at the brewery afterwards.”

“Yeah, because yoga followed by beer totally makes sense,” I said dryly.

By this point, Diego reached us. He glanced between us. “I’m game.”

“What do we need to wear?” I muttered, knowing I was already doomed to be persuaded to join this madness.

Diego chuckled. Meanwhile, Flynn, revealing he’d planned this all along, said, “I had Cat get T-shirts and shorts for you guys out of the laundry.”

Diego met my gaze, his lips twitching. “We have no choice. You know that, right?”

“I’ll go,” I replied with a belabored sigh. I didn’t mean it, but it was fun to give Flynn a little grief.

“I’d like to point out that there is no way in fucking hell you would’ve ever gone to a yoga class before you met Daphne,” Diego offered.

Flynn gave us