Gray’s face turns wary, then concerned. “Bad surprise?”

Pull it together, I scold myself. I’m normally skilled at harnessing my emotions, both at work and outside of it. I didn’t even cry at the end of The Notebook.

Apparently, I overestimated my ability to school my emotions in certain situations. I underestimated how much I care about Gray, which was not a low bar to begin with. Time and distance haven’t changed its height. I didn’t realize just how heavy and tightly knotted the ball of worry in my stomach was until it lightened and slackened.

“No. It’s a great surprise. I’m sorry. Long day.”

Gray’s face says he knows my waterworks have more to do with him than my job, but he doesn’t press the topic.

“What are you doing here? Did something happen?” Visions of engines on fire and twisted metal flash through my mind. He’s here. He’s fine, I tell myself.

“Nothing happened. Everything is fine. One of the guys in my unit had to fly back for a family emergency. I volunteered to copilot. It’s a long trip to make by yourself, and I passed all my duties off to a first lieutenant.”

“How long are you back for?”

“I’ve got to be back on base by noon tomorrow.”

Less than twenty-four hours. “Short trip.”

“Yeah.”

But he made it. He volunteered for it even. What does that mean? Was it out of friendship and loyalty to whoever had the emergency? Or is he here for me?

“Uh, today is Noah’s birthday…”

Gray’s eyes briefly close. “Dammit.”

“Sloane has spent the past week decorating our backyard. There’s a patio…and stuff. She wants to show it off, so she had me invite Noah, Harrison, and Emmett over. They’re supposed to be there”—I check my phone—“really soon. And then we’re going to Malone’s.”

He gives me a wry smile. “I didn’t check the date. Not exactly how I pictured this evening going.”

“We can…after. You know, if you want to. I’m not assuming anything. I just—” Smooth as molasses, Evie.

He bends down and kisses me. It’s not a peck. There’s heat and tongue and urgency. And a promise of more when we’re not in public and fully clothed.

“I didn’t fly five thousand miles not to fuck you, Evie. I want to.”

Five thousand miles? “Okay.” I think my giddy smile counteracts the nonchalance of that single word.

Gray smirks. “So…are you going to invite me to your party?”

“Do you want to come?”

“Beats sitting around, waiting for you to come over.”

“Okay, well, you know where I live, right?”

The smirk deepens, both dimples punctuating his cheeks. “Right.”

“Okay, well I—oh!” I realize. “I, uh, have your car.”

“I know.”

The more frazzled I become, the more relaxed Gray appears.