when I walked in the door with him.
“You didn’t have to be,” Ryann said firmly.
James laughed quietly. I know. And when you looked at Charlie and at me, then went to go put some blankets in a drawer, I knew that Adeline was right.
He reached down and brushed his fingers across Ryann’s knuckles.
You’re the best person I know. But you also would have hunted her down and fought her on sight for adding this to our plates back then, so I did what I had to. Also … while I’m on the topic, please don’t fistfight anyone in space.
Ryann wiped her face. “I’m not making any promises.”
James rolled his eyes.
Do your best, he typed. Turn this thing into a thing to be proud of. I know you can.
Ryann nodded against his chest and closed her eyes.
“Birdie. You don’t have to talk for me to hear you,” she murmured. “Even when it’s important, and even though I know that you can. I will always understand.”
4 DAYS
Ryann checked the flight-instructor-finder website eight times before deciding she was cursed. She didn’t have a ton of time before formal recruitment, so she bit down her pride and headed to the orchard.
Ryann went all the way to the fence at the back and climbed over it and into the apple orchard. She kept walking until she found the main building. Then she took a deep breath and went inside.
It was surprisingly modern, even though she was pretty sure the company was family owned. There were crisp white walls, tasteful steel office decorations, and plush black leather chairs in the waiting area.
The receptionist at the front desk looked up at her impatiently. “May I help you?”
Ryann straightened her shirt and approached the desk. “Hi, is there any way that I can speak to management?”
“This office isn’t open to the public. Do you have an appointment?” she snapped.
“No. But I’m willing to wait all day if anyone in charge can spare me five minutes of their time,” Ryann said.
The receptionist tightened her lips and picked up the phone. “Mr. Reed, you have a visitor in the lobby, says she’ll wait until you’re free to talk … It’s some kid, I don’t know.” She put the phone down. “Have a seat, he’ll be with you shortly.”
After about an hour, a tall older man came lumbering down the hallway. He wore a brown twill jumpsuit and black rubber boots, and he had thick gloves folded up in one hand. As soon as he saw Ryann, he waved at her, then turned around and lumbered back the way he came. Ryann glanced over at the receptionist.
“Follow him!” she said, rolling her eyes.
Ryann scrambled up just in time to see the old man turning into an office. When she finally caught up, the old man was sitting in a big oak chair behind a desk. “Have a seat,” he said, gesturing at the small chair in front of the desk.
Ryann sat. She opened her mouth to explain why she was there, but the old man interrupted her. “You’re that punk who keeps hopping my fence and stealing my apples,” he said. “You have anything to say for yourself?”
“I … I’m sorry,” Ryann stammered. “I shouldn’t have trespassed and I shouldn’t have taken things that didn’t belong to me.” She was startled. She’d been doing it for years and thought they hadn’t noticed or cared because no one had ever come looking for her.
The old man raised a bristly eyebrow and hummed low in his throat. “Apology accepted,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “You look a bit surprised, so I’m assuming you’re here for something else. You looking for a job?”
“No,” Ryann said. “I … know I’m not coming from the best of circumstances and I’m sorry to even be asking, but could you teach me how to fly? You’re the only registered flight instructor in thirty miles and I…”
Ryann trailed off. The old man was looking at her incredulously, his white eyebrows nearly disappearing into his hairline.
This was a mistake. Coming here was a mistake.
“Never mind,” she said, shaking her head and pushing back from the desk. “I’m sorry for taking up your time and for trespassing. I won’t do it—”
The old man held up a hand. “Sit. I didn’t tell you that you could go.”
Then he reached behind himself into a mini fridge next to his desk and pulled out a half-empty jar of Ryann’s applesauce and set it on the desk.
Ryann stared at it, horrified.
“When I bought