er like a weak painkiller. It took the edge off, but the ache was still there. She was wal

oe!

who it was. She could smell his cologne-that cheap, musky

nnen stood there, his hair a mess, dark circles

o me. What you saw yesterday... it was a mistake. I was dr

her arm, then up at his fa

ng her path. "I love you, Chloe. Not

ve," Chloe said, her voice flat. "S

" He held up the manila envelope. "I was waiting for you near check-in and saw you arguing with security. I figured

ful. He expected her to melt, to see him as the knight in shining armor

nd pulled out her real ID, the plastic one the mysterious stranger had

Brennen," she said, her voice

d at the ID, his jaw slack. "Ho

She stepped around him, her shoulder brush

burning into her back, but she didn't care. The satisfaction was brief, a ti

. The adrenaline faded, leaving her exhausted and hollow. She pulled ou

he only person who had helped her in the last twelve ho

he intercom crackled. "Flight 104 t

smoothed her uniform, and pasted on her

away. His face was red, his pride stinging. He

he moment the call connected. "Some

ulating. "Don't worry about it, Bren. If she wants to play hard to get