Crashed into Love: Episode Five Read Online Free Page B

I was an ass to leave her. Would she hate me? Would she understand? Would she wait for me or had she moved on?
    My fingers flew over the control panel, taking a reading of air speed, fuel levels, and cabin pressure. Everything was how it should be.
    Jeff leaned back in the co-pilot’s seat, grinning. “I knew when you stopped over thinking it, you’d be fine. You did most of that on muscle memory. A newbie wouldn’t have had the presence of mind to do an inflight check and bring up the landing gear without me telling him.”
    Some of the heaviness that lived on my shoulders lightened. It had taken three months to trust myself. Three long months to allow Jeff to talk me into taking the controls. Maybe I hadn’t forgotten everything… there was still a chance it would come back. Eventually. But I wasn’t going to wait around for it. I resat some of the exams, barely passing after a lot of late nights. All I’d done since arriving in Tahiti was study. In between my doctor visits to check the progress of my healing, of course. 
    I threw him a grin, letting the calm, hushed world of the cockpit soothe me. “Thanks for helping me out, Jeff.”
    We were the only two souls on board. Air Tahiti Nui kindly let us use their off duty training aircraft. Mainly because I promised to shuttle a lot of their passengers to outlying islands for a mortifyingly low price when I started my business.
    “No worries. I know I made a good investment in you. I expect you to be up and running soon.”
    Engaging autopilot, I looked below to the sparkling crystal sea. The water was so clear the sandy bottom and occasional sprinkling of coral reefs were visible. Resorts hugged the coast like bright flowers on a vine. Their assortment of pools and manicured gardens morphed into idyllic beaches.
    I sighed again. Nina would love it here. Shit, I loved it here. If it wasn’t for the headaches and setback on flying, I’d be in my element. I missed her. So much. Every night as I lay alone in Jeff’s lounge on my makeshift bed, my entire body ached for her. I couldn’t stay away much longer. I didn’t know how I’d stayed away this long.
    “Right. Let’s start the test shall we?” Jeff pulled out a laminated ring binder chock-full of things a pilot must know.
    Nerves catapulted again, but I wiped the anxious sweat off my palms and nodded. “The sooner I have my wings back, the sooner my life can start again.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight
Nina
     
    S ix months had passed.
    Six lonely, hard, miserable months.
    My heart, still bruised from never hearing a word from Liam, thrummed in anticipation. Today was the day my life began again. It was a day for closure and a day for renewal. I couldn’t pine after Liam any longer. I’d promised myself when I took Liam’s money that I’d wait for him until I finished. And I had. But no longer.
    My hands shook as panic took hold. I didn’t know where I was going after today. I had a few flying interviews in Glasgow and Dubai. It seemed female pilots were in demand over there. My bags were packed, my terrapins rehomed, and my apartment lease had ended. After today, I wouldn’t be going back. After today, Liam wouldn’t be able to find me as I didn’t know where I’d end up. 
    Joslyn squeezed my hand. “So proud of you, girl.”
    I smiled, forcing my melancholy away. I would not mope. I was happy. “Thanks. I couldn’t have done it without your support.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Please. All I did was supply you with cocktails on Friday nights and make sure you remembered to live while absorbing text book after text book.”
    I laughed. “That was a very important part. I wouldn’t have found my way out of code and terminology if it wasn’t for you.” Plus, I would’ve missed her. After quitting Kiwi Air, I wouldn’t have seen her if we didn’t make the effort when she was in town between overnights.
    She nudged my shoulder, dropping her voice as Theo came toward us. We were in the back row in