Coffee and Cockpits

by Jade Hart

  Joslyn leaped up. “I’m so glad you agree. I was trying to be polite, but the pastries have been summoning me for the past ten minutes.” She dashed off.

  I smirked, before Liam caught my eye, and my lips uncurled. He held out his hand to help Samantha from the booth.

  She gave him a watery smile and headed after Joslyn.

  Liam and I stood, the air around us gathering like an electric storm. “So…” He looked at his feet, before blurting, “How do you know Nikolai?”

  I swallowed, I wanted to lie and come up with some other story, but my tongue swelled on the taste of deception. “I met him on our first flight.”

  His eyebrows rose. “And you know him well enough to dance like that?”

  Crap, how long had he been watching?

  “It’s different with dancers. I’ve done Salsa for a few years, so has Nikolai. We bumped into each other in Sydney and got along.” I hated to see the pang of insecurity in his eyes. My heart deflated as I rushed to add, “It doesn’t mean anything.”

  A surge of hope flittered over his face, and I couldn’t ignore the answering shiver dancing a jig over my spleen. Why did he affect me so much?

  I licked my lips. “How do you know Nikolai?” They didn’t look all that happy to see each other. Or was it just because they were waving their cocks around trying to establish who knew me best? If that was the case, were they both interested in me?

  Liam sighed. “Nik and I go back a few years. Long story.”

  “We’re stuck on an island. I have time to listen.”

  He grinned wryly. “Something happened between us, but it’s not worth mentioning. Should we grab some food before Joslyn hoovers it all up?”

  I eyed him, trying to decipher his reluctance to talk about Nikolai. Giving up, I shrugged. “Sure. Food sounds amazing.”

  * * * * *

  After inhaling a plate loaded with hashbrowns, roasted tomatoes, and bacon, I tucked into my chocolate croissant just as Anderson made an appearance.

  If it was possible, he looked even worse this morning. His grey-streaked hair was lank, his body sagging like stretched material.

  Liam swallowed his mouthful of scrambled eggs and stood. “Shit, Anderson. Are you alright?” He guided the captain to a seat then passed him a glass of water.

  A tremor of fear dashed over me. Samantha and the captain both looked… faded. As if their vibrant souls were doused with clouds and chill.

  “Yes. Stop fussing, Mikin. I’m fine,” he muttered and took a bite of pastry from Joslyn’s plate. His moustache gathered a stack of croissant crumbs as he munched away.

  Liam and I shared a look. I hoped my eyes told him both Anderson and Samantha needed to go home.

  He gave me an infinitesimal nod.

  Sharing rapport across the table in silent language added to my confusion. Every moment I spent in Liam’s company, I was interwoven with him. It was as if I had no control—no choice but to allow the current to guide me closer to him.

  Joslyn broke our connection. “Boss you ain’t looking so good. Neither is Samantha. Liam was just saying he booked Sam on a flight home this afternoon. I think you should go, too.”

  Anderson growled, “I’m not abandoning my crew, Joslyn. I’m staying.” Taking a sip of water, he added, “I’ve heard from operations. I have more info. Do you want the bad news, or the not so bad news?”

  Watching him drink, signalled an overwhelming desire for one. It was as if all the liquid in my stomach evaporated and left me a dry husk.

  I stuck my hand up. A waitress with a hibiscus flower behind her ear and Samoan skin gleaming a honey brown appeared. “Can I get you something?”

  “Yes, please. A fresh juice. Watermelon if you can?” Fruit in liquid form had never sounded so good. A sharp twinge in my neck made me wince. I rubbed it, frustrated the pain didn’t show signs of abating.

  “No problem. Straight away. Anyone else?”

  Liam nodded. “I’d love a pineapple juice, please.” He looked at me. “I suddenly have this staggering need to drink something sugary.”

  Tingles of strangeness tip-toed down my spine. That was weird. I eyed Joslyn to see if she had an unexplained need for juice, but she was busy tending to Samantha. Poor girl looked as if a fever had broiled to an inferno—her skin sheened with redness.

  Anderson raised an eyebrow. “Was juice so much more important than hearing what operations has to say?” He shot us an amused smirk, but it didn’t have his usual pizzazz.

  “Sorry, Captain. Go ahead. Give us the not so good news,” I said while Liam chuckled.

  Anderson wiped his moustache. “All doom and gloom, huh, Nina?”

  I shrugged. “Not really. I’d rather save the not so bad for the salve after hearing the worst of it. Then again, if you’re stalling, it must be pretty terrible.” Why did I get an ominous feeling? As if the world inched closer to impending demise?

  He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Well. I’m sure this isn’t news to anyone, but the plane has to be investigated and airline authorities will get involved. It will remain here for however long it takes Nikolai Rivers and the team to assess and report.”

  I nodded. “So we’ll travel home on the next scheduled flight?” I didn’t fancy paying to go on another airline when I could stay and travel home for free.

  He tensed, wrapping an arm around his stomach. In front of my eyes he deflated a little. “Yes. In six days. Operations have already arranged for us to pax home. That’s the not so bad news. A paid vacation, if you want to look at it that way.”

  Joslyn piped up. “Pax—you mean, we don’t have to work the service?”

  Liam took over, eyeing Anderson with concern. “At least you won’t have to serve us coffee, Jos. We’ll be the ones pressing the attendant button.” He put his hands on the table, announcing, “However, as second in command I’m ordering Captain Anderson and Samantha to return today.”

  Anderson opened his mouth to disagree, but then shut it when he winced. “Fair enough. I won’t be stupid and say I’m not in a bit of pain.”

  Samantha’s face relaxed. “Me, too. I need to go home. I just want to be in my own home and see a doctor I trust.”

  I agreed they needed to go, but were they safe to fly?

  Liam stood. “I’ll call the carrier and arrange Kiwi Air to take care of the booking. Anyone else want off this island? Speak now or hold your peace for the next six days.”

  Anxiousness for Anderson and Sam threatened to tug me under, but at the same time a small glow of happiness brightened. I tried to keep my face straight and serious, but come on. I was on island arrest for a full week! With free accommodation and money to boot. Why the hell would I go?

  Joslyn nudged my leg under the table. I shot her a look. She reverberated with eagerness. In fact, Joslyn seemed the happiest out of all of us. She struggled to keep a smile from creeping over her lips.

  Unable to help myself, I grinned. “I’m staying.”

  “Me, too,” Joslyn said straight way. “I’m gonna do some serious tanning and become as brown as these gorgeous natives.” Her eyes followed a delicious young man carrying a platter of honeydew melons cut into flowers.

  Liam rolled his eyes, tension weighting his shoulders. He was now in control, and I doubted he liked the thought of his stepsister lolling around the pool for six days. Who knew what mischief she’d find? And she’d find some, no doubt about that.

  Liam straightened. “Alright. I’ll make the arrangements. Sam, Anderson, I’ll come help you pack and hire a car to take you to the airport.” Looking at me, he added, “I’ll see you later.”

  “Do you want some help?” My stomach clenched, thinking how proficient he was—how caring.

  “Nope. I’ll come find you. Just stay safe.”

  After arranging transport for all three of us to the airport, I helped Anderson and Samantha get organised. I tried to focus on what I was doing, but all I could think about was Nina in a bikini by the pool. Th
e moment Jos mentioned that was their intention, I swear I drooled a little.

  I wanted to lather sunscreen over Nina’s pearly skin. To hold an umbrella to cast shade so she wouldn’t burn. To be there to grant drinks of icy juice and to lick away the droplets left behind on her lips.

  My cock stirred in my pants. Stop it! My overactive imagination where Nina was concerned needed to calm down.

  The first day Nina flew with us and came into the cockpit to collect our coffee order, I’d almost dropped dead out of the sky when she nailed my preference first shot. I tried to act nonchalant, but it really affected me. She probably guessed it for all I knew, however, it was nice to think she knew something as intimate about me as how I took my coffee in the morning. I wanted to share that ritual with her. To wake beside her and go about normal boring things like making breakfast together.

  Still thinking about the past, I recalled what Anderson said when Nina left the cockpit. “I’m suffering a major case of deja vu.”

  Of course, I had to ask. “Huh?”

  Anderson grinned as if it made perfect sense. “My wife guessed my coffee order on her first flight, too. In fact, Nina reminds me a little of her. Determined. Fierce. Gorgeous.” He laughed, adding, “I give you six months before you’re head over heels and proposing like I did.”

  My heartbeat accelerated to bolt around the cockpit. Was there such a case as predestined attraction? Was I drawn to Nina on a deeper level than I thought? The head over heels part wasn’t hard to agree with, I was already unsteady on my feet.

  “All set,” Anderson broke into my reverie dumping me back into the present, heaving his bag onto a shoulder.

  I blinked, the madness of the small island airport swamped me. We stood in the centre of a swirling pond of tourists. Being here again was surreal after yesterday. A totally different vibe surrounded the terminal. A carefree and vibrant holiday spirit was prevalent, chasing the moans and groans of bruised passengers into dusty corners, never to be mentioned again.

  “Mikin, thank you. I can’t tell you how happy I am to be going home to my wife. She’ll make me feel much better with one of her amazing lamb stews.” He tried to look stern. “I expect you to keep an eye on that report. I want to know exactly what caused us to crash. You have my number. Use it.”

  I grinned. It was a long running joke that I didn’t like technology. Give me a plane with mind-boggling instruments, and I understood on a modular level how to work it. Give me a cell phone, and I’d most likely put in through the rinse cycle with my dirty washing. And I had, with three phones previously.

  “You just rest. I’ll see you when we pax home in a week.” I patted him on the back.

  Anderson nodded, offering Sam his arm. She gave me a weary smile, relief in her eyes to be going home.

  I waved as they disappeared into the thicket of babbling tourists and squawking children.

  Free to find Nina, I paused outside the terminal doors. Responsibility nagged, turning my anticipation of spending the day in her company, to the non-enjoyable knowledge I should spend the day overseeing a broken plane.

  Grumbling, I headed back inside. I couldn’t dash to the hotel—I was the commanding officer now Anderson was gone. It was up to me to keep an eye on our wreckage.

  The ground staff eyed me as I flashed my identification and gained access to the back corridors of the airport. Weaving my way around the chaos of the baggage dock, I narrowly dodged a careening golf cart, dragging a train of overstuffed bags in every colour.

  I stopped a worker in bright orange high-vis overalls. “Can you tell me which aircraft hangar the Kiwi Air Boeing was towed to, please?”

  The guy’s eyes never met mine, watching a colleague backing up way too fast and missing the baggage belt by a millimetre. “Which hangar? That’s a laugh. We only have one. Go outside and to the left. Can’t miss it.” He didn’t hang around for a thanks. I rolled my eyes as he screamed at the guy not to drive so maniacally.

  Two minutes later, I found myself in the shadow of a hanger.

  My heart constricted as I took in the crumpled machine that almost killed us. Its wings had been righted with pulleys, so the bottom mess was visible. It was the main attraction in the hanger, taking up lumbering space, whispering of things that went wrong.

  It looked as if the runway had turned into Jaws and tore a huge jagged hole in the fuselage. Glints of intestinal insulation and rubber tires of the failed landing gear, winked through the mangled undercarriage.

  “Mikin. Come to check out your mess?” Nikolai appeared from the office.

  My hackles rose; I struggled to keep my face impassive. “Rivers. How’s it going?”

  We shook hands as we stared at the bird. Broken wings and gaping stomach aside, it was still a beautiful machine. The crisp whiteness of its cladding was grimy with dust and bright red straps encircled its girth looking like streaks of blood.

  The recollection of hurtling to earth and whacking my head roared over me. I rocked on my heels, jamming hands in my jeans.

  “I haven’t had time to go in depth yet, but I’d say you were pretty lucky to make it. I was told by air traffic control you were about fifty minutes from landing when the initial fault happened.”

  Memories of the bang, turbulence, and panic-inducing nosedive hit me with violence. My stomach sank to my toes, reliving the horrid, unscheduled descent to earth. Why was Nik talking to me so easily? Was it his attempt at making things better between us? Because nothing could make the past disappear. I had no desire to talk to him about what we lived through or anything else for that matter.

  Scowling, I said, “Yep. It was hard, but we got here in one piece.”

  He chuckled sardonically, pointing to parts of the aircraft strewn around the hanger. “I wouldn’t say in one piece. But close enough.”

  My jaw clenched, adding pressure to the headache I’d had since the crash. Don’t rise to his bait. I swallowed my retort, staying silent.

  Nikolai cleared his throat. “Look, Liam. I’m really glad you made it. I’d like to talk to you properly. Clear the air, you know?”

  He wanted to talk about it? After ten years? I didn’t think so. I wasn’t that forgiving. “Whatever you have to say about that night, I don’t want to hear it.”

  Nik’s face shuttered, but not before guilt and shame flared in his eyes. “Fair enough.” He shuffled on the spot, before adding, “By the way, whatever you feel for Nina. I feel for her, too. I don’t know what the deal is with you two, but there’s a connection between us. And I won’t give it up easily.”

  Did he really just say that? He could have anyone. With his skills on the dance floor, I doubted his bed was cold at night. Whereas, I suffered my sentence alone. I worked my ass off to squirrel away every cent so I could leave the memories behind. I never indulged in anything I wanted. Nina was the first thing worth climbing out of my funk and fighting for.

  “Back off, Nik. Now is not a time to push me.” My fists curled, and I quickly scanned the hanger for witnesses. Five staff members lingered around the undercarriage, far enough away to hit Nik’s smug-ass face and run before anyone saw.

  His face darkened. “It wasn’t just you who lost something that night. Nina is the first girl who reminds me of what I’ve been missing. That’s too precious not to fight for.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” I seethed, turning to face him, my body tense, ready to pummel.

  “All I’m saying is, don’t expect me to stand by and let you win her. I’m going to try, too, Liam. Both of us deserve to be happy, and I’m sorry we’re interested in the same girl, but I can’t help who I’m attracted to.”

  My head screamed with pressure. I hated Nikolai in that moment. He’d set his eyes on Nina. Why did he have to be on the flight? Why did she have to dance with him?

  As much as I didn’t want to admit it, he was right. Despite my animosity, we both deserved to be happy after what happened, but it didn’t mean I’d play the victim like I did all tho
se years ago.

  I was different. I was harder. I’d fight.

  “In that case, Nikolai. Let the best man win.”

  I spent the rest of the morning lounging around the pool with Joslyn. It was hot, humid, the sun was bright and high in the sky. I couldn’t stop stressing about Sam and the Captain. I hoped Liam managed to get them off okay. I hated to think of them in pain. It seemed wrong Joslyn and I were sprawled in the sun, without a care in the world, while they were in limbo; both in mind and countries.

  The sun seared into my jeans and grey t-shirt. I hadn’t exactly packed for an island getaway, and the sun seemed intent on stripping layers of skin, even through my clothes.

  My mouth watered as I gazed at the teal pool. It curved into the distance with an infinity edge, so I struggled to see where the pool ended and the crystal-blue ocean began. All around us heaven beckoned—the hotel with its manicured gardens, the tropical birds in the trees with their kaleidoscope of feathers, and the coconut laden trees dancing gently in the sea breeze.

  I’d considered swimming in one of my corset and underwear sets, but I doubted it’d suit hotel policy—fishnet stockings and a garter belt were a little overdressed, not to mention, it screamed whore.

  Unfortunately, I couldn’t take the heat anymore. I was a parched goldfish flopping in a broken bowl. I needed to get in that water. I’d sizzle into charred meat if I didn’t.

  Standing, I said, “I’ve got to go shopping. I need a bikini.”

  Joslyn, the crafty girl, had brought a set with her. As if she knew a crash landing would result in a week of paid holiday in Samoa.

  She waved, mumbling from beneath her cowboy hat. “Be safe. Don’t go too far from the hotel.”

  “Of course I’ll be safe. It’s not like I’ll be eaten by the locals, Jos.”

  She giggled. “Bring me back an ice-cream.”

  Slinging my bag on my shoulder, I turned to go. “I think you need sun-cream more than you need an ice-cream. You’re turning into a shish kabob.”