“Sir, we’re kinda running out of time,” the flight attendant said.


    I sighed. I knew even private jets had rules–there was no way I could make a call now without


    messing up the whole schedule.


    “Forget it,” I muttered, leaning back in my seat.


    “One minute,” Jace said suddenly.


    He was talking to the flight attendant. Then, to my total shock, he handed me his phone.


    Wait, what? Jace was actually letting me make the call? I stared at him, confused. He had every


    reason to say no, both as my ex and… well, just because he was Jace Johnston.


    He didn’t bother exining himself. Instead, he turned toward the window, staring out into the night


    like we weren’t in the middle of something weird.


    I hesitated but then handed the phone back to the flight attendant. “Just take off.”


    Jace looked over at me, clearly surprised. The flight attendant paused, too, like she wasn’t sure who


    was really calling the shots here. After a beat, Jace sighed, his voice all cool and distant. “Take off.”


    The flight attendant ryed themand through her radio. With that, the ne started to move.


    Just then, Jace’s phone rang. We both nced at it. I didn’t even need to check the screen to know


    it was Hayden. He probably just got out of the shower, noticed I was gone, and hunted down Jace


    to figure out what the heck was going on.


    Toote, though. The ne was already in motion,


    Without thinking, I grabbed Jace’s phone, saw Hayden’s name, and hit ‘End Call.‘ Then I flipped the


    phone to airne mode, like, sorry Hayden, not now.


    As the ne climbed higher, the flight attendant came by with a nket and asked if I wanted


    anything to drink.


    “I’m good, thanks,” I said, my voice softer now.


    Out of the corner of my eye, I could feel Jace looking at me again, but I ignored him, turning to stare


    out the window. It was so dark outside, like the kind of night that could swallow you whole.


    We didn’t say a word to each other the entire flight. Not one.


    I didn’t even ask him what caused Matthew to copse so suddenly. Not yet, anyway.


    When we finallynded, we rushed to the hospital. Wayne, and Lindey were already outside the


    emergency room waiting. The second Lindey saw me, she burst into tears, totally losing it.


    Lindey was always so upbeat, so seeing her like this hit hard. It made it obvious how serious


    Matthew’s condition really was.


    Rea, if something happens to Matthew, what am I going to do?” Lindey sobbed, clinging to me like I


    was her only lifeline.


    12


    I knew exactly how she felt. It was the same terror I felt when I found out about my parents‘


    ident. That overwhelming, heart–crushing fear of losing someone you love and not knowing how


    to keep going without them.


    “He’s going to be okay,” I whispered, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “Matthew’s strong.


    He’ll pull through.”


    But she just kept crying, and my heart twisted tighter with every sob.


    She used to joke all the time about how tired she was of him, like they were way past the


    honeymoon phase. But when ites down to it, love like that runs deep. And when someone’s on


    the brink of death, all the petty stuff just disappears.


    I held her close, hoping it would help, while Jace and Wayne talked quietly off to the side.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Once Lindey finally calmed down a bit, I asked the question that had been nagging at me since the


    ne ride. “What happened? Why did his condition get so bad so fast?”


    I knew his lung cancer was terminal, but this seemed… sudden.


    Lindey shook her head, her voice shaky. “I don’t know. He was fine thest few days. Tonight, after


    dinner, he said his chest felt tight.


    “I even gave him a little massage, but it didn’t help.


    “That’s when I told the driver to take him to the hospital.”


    She paused, looking scared as she reyed the events. “But Matthew said it waste, that the


    doctors wouldn’t be there, and we could wait until morning.


    “Then, out of nowhere, he started coughing up blood. I called Wayne, but before I could even get


    him on the phone, it just… it got worse.


    “He kept coughing, and there was so much blood…”


    I remembered Wayne telling me that Matthew had to avoid stress at all costs. “Did something upset


    him? “I asked carefully.