Chapter 53
The hum of the plane fills the silence between us,
Emilia’s fingers are still laced with mine, her grip is not as tight as before but it’s still there. I don’t mention it,
though.
- it.
I also don’t mention how warm her hand is, or how her thumb rests just slightly against mine, like she forgot to move
She’s staring out the window now, her book abandoned in her lap. She hasn’t turned a page in fifteen minutes.
“See anything interesting?” I ask, my voice low.
She turns her head, eyes flicking to mine. “Clouds.”
“Fascinating.”
She rolls her eyes, but there’s a small, almost reluctant smile playing on her lips. “You asked.”
I lean back in my seat, shifting slightly so our arms touch again. “I did. But you could’ve lied. Told me you saw something cool. A UFO. A portal to another dimension. Something.”
She huffs a quiet laugh. “Right. Next time, I’ll make up a story.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Her fingers twitch slightly against mine, and I swear I feel a spark run up my arm.
She notices then. The way we’re still holding hands.
Her gaze drops, and I expect her to let go, to make a joke about it, to do something to break whatever this is.
But she doesn’t. Instead, she shifts, tucking one leg under the other, turning more toward me. “Why are you so calm?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Because I’ve been on a plane before?”
She glares. “So have I. Doesn’t mean I like it.”
“Right. So, I should be panicking with you?”
She exhales sharply. “No. But maybe you could-” She hesitates. “I don’t know. Distract me or something?”
I tilt my head, considering her words briefly. Then, before she can take it back, I reach for the book in her lap.
“Hey-”
Ignoring her protest, I flip to a random page. “Alright, let’s see what kind of stuff you read.”
“Liam-”
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“Oh wow, this guy just gazed into her stormy eyes,” I say, smirking as I skim the text. “His grip tightened on her waist,
of her ear his lips brushing against the shell of ear as he whispered-
Emilia lunges for the book, her face burning. “Stop.”
I hold it out of reach, chuckling. “What? This is quality content.”
“Give it back.”
I grin. “You want me to read out loud? Might really help with the distraction.”
“Liam.”
The warning in her voice is clear, but I’m enjoying this too much..
I flip another page dramatically. “Her heart pounded in her chest as she realized-”
Emilia grabs my wrist.
I freeze.
Not because of the touch–we’ve been touching for a while now–but because she’s really close.
She’s half leaning over me, her eyes wide with exasperation, her fingers wrapped around my wrist like she’s debating
whether to fight me for the book or strangle me.
And suddenly, I’m very aware of how little space there is between us.
Her gaze flickers to mine. Her lips part slightly, like she’s about to say something, but no words come out.
- us.
I swallow.
I should let go of the book. I should say something–anything–to break whatever this is.
But my fingers don’t move.
Neither do hers.
A voice interrupts us.
“Excuse me.”
Emilia jerks back like she’s been burned, releasing my wrist. I look up to find the flight attendant smiling politely at
“Would either of you like a drink?“/
Emilia clears her throat, fixing her seatbelt like it suddenly needs adjusting. “Just water, please.”
The flight attendant nods and looks at me. “And you?”
I glance at Emilia, who still refuses to meet my gaze.
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“Same, I say, setting the book back in her lap. “Water’s good
We get our waters and twenty minutes later, she’s asleep.
Or at least, she’s trying to be.
Her head keeps tilting to the side, only for her to jolt awake at the slightest movement. It’s almost painful to watch.
After the fourth time, I sigh and shift in my seat.
“Em.
She makes a sleepy sound, barely cracking one eye open. “Mm?”
I hesitate for half a second.
Then, before I can talk myself out of it, I lift my arm and tap my–shoulder. “Here.”
She blinks, eyes finally opening fully. “What?”
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