Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
I walked to the back of the plane and into the room where I set her backpack on the bed. Since I’d already been planning to take Faith to Paris—although I hadn’t expected to leave quite this fast—my bags were already packed and onboard. Not that I needed much. The flat in Paris was stocked so we could go there at a moment's notice and have everything we needed.
I took Faith’s cell phone from the pocket I’d often seen her stash it in and almost took it with me when I returned to the cabin. But right now, I wanted all of her focus on us and no outside forces getting in my way.
Her phone was well protected thanks to her father, but she’d set it on our table at the coffee house unlocked a few times. During one of those incidents, I kept her busy talking while I cloned it. Which meant I knew her password and was able to unlock the device. I sent a quick text to Olive with the information I’d promised to give her, then I was about to turn it off when another, slightly devious, idea came to me. I hadn’t clarified to Olive in the message that it was me, rather than Faith, sending it.
Faith: If my parents ask, would you tell them that I’m staying with you for a few days? SHF and I need some uninterrupted time alone.
I’d never intended to hide my intentions with Faith once she was eighteen. Hiding wasn’t my style, and I wanted the world to know she was mine. However, her dad would be a major problem if he thought she was missing or suspected I’d taken her against her will. So I figured it was best to put them off for a few days until Faith was well on her way to being in love with me and wearing my ring. And hopefully, pregnant.
Olive: If that’s really what you want, you know I will.
Faith: It is.
Olive: Should I guess as to what you’ll be using your “uninterrupted time” for?
Another bubble quickly popped with kissy faces and eggplant emojis. I chuckled, not surprised to see something like that come from Olive. She always seemed very mature and reserved in person, but once I started checking on Faith through her texts, I quickly learned that Olive had a lot more spunk than people realized. Although, neither of them ever said anything that could get them in trouble or hurt someone if their phones were stolen and hacked. Jonah had taught all his kids to be cautious with technology. So while I would have liked to get insight into Faith’s conversations with Olive about me, I understood why the only references were cryptic and rare. It took me a while to realize she was referring to me when she used SHF. I was pretty sure that it stood for “Smoking Hot Fireman.”
However, I’d read enough of their exchanges to guess how Faith would respond, but then I needed to shut this down.
Faith: Wouldn’t you like to know.
Olive: Fine. Be that way. I’ll be your alibi.
Faith: Thank you! Gotta go.
Next, I pulled up a text window for her mother, Penny.
Faith: Hey, Mom. Olive and I are going to have an impromptu graduation celebration now that we’re done with finals. I just wanted to give you a heads-up because we’ll be gone for a few days. I’m not sure where we’re going yet, but I promise we’ll be safe.
Penny’s reply popped up in seconds.
Mom: Sounds like fun! Have a great time!
Mom: Just let me know when you decide where so we don’t worry.
Mom: I know you’re nervous about your dad’s reaction, but I’ve got this, honey. Just go have a good time. Love you!
Faith: Thanks. Love you more!
I shut down her phone and tucked it back into the pocket before stowing the bag in the closet. Then I strolled out to the main cabin, took two bottles of water from the bar, and carried them to where Faith had settled.
9
Rush
I handed Faith a bottle of water, then sat in the seat beside her just as a man in a pilot’s uniform walked in through the airplane door.
“Sorry I’m late, Rush. Got stuck in traffic.” Wade was Lake’s preferred copilot and another good friend.
“No problem,” I said with a wave. “I certainly didn’t give you much notice, moving the trip up over twenty-four hours.” I gestured to Faith and put my arms around her, pulling her in close and smiling when she melted into my side. “Wade, this is my Faith. Wade’s our copilot.”
Lake walked to the door of the cockpit and smiled when he spotted my girl. “Wow, Rush. You sure know how to pick ’em.”
My eyes narrowed in warning, making his grin grow.
“Faith, that asshole is Lake. Ignore him.”
Lake laughed and greeted Wade, who was putting his stuff into a cubby in the galley. “Hey, Wade. Okay, Rush, we’ll take off in about five minutes.”