As we lift off the roof, it’s impossible to tamp down the excitement buzzing through my veins. Maybe I do like surprises after all.

The pilot’s voice comes over the headsets as he speaks to the tower, and as soon as he goes quiet, Cricket claps her hands.

“This is so cool!” Her voice is high-pitched in my ear.

One thing is for sure—Lincoln scores extra points for making my cousin so happy. I hate that me coming home for her wedding has turned into such a disaster, but Cricket would never hold it against me.

Karma, on the other hand . . . All I can picture is her on the phone, telling that reporter as many horrible, embarrassing things as she could. After Lincoln left my room, I told Aunt Jackie everything that had happened, including about Karma taking the woman’s card. Jackie promised she’d talk to her and would do everything she could to make sure Karma didn’t call her.

“You okay?” Lincoln asks.

I nod and force all thoughts of Karma and the press from my mind. Tonight, I’m going to relax and enjoy and not worry.

Lincoln gestures out the window. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

I look through the glass, and the gorgeous view of the river and mountains from above takes my mind off the chaos swirling inside me.

It’s epic. The perfect moment to just be. Maybe even the perfect moment to find the peace I’ve been searching for.

I lose track of time of how long we’re in the air as I soak up the gorgeous scenery beyond the chopper.

Mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes roll out below us, along with the occasional little towns. We swoop so low over one peak, I see animals galloping.

“Are those horses?” I point, and Lincoln slides his right arm around my shoulders and leans over me to look. My entire body buzzes to life as soon as his skin touches mine.

“Wild horses.”

“Oh my God!” Cricket squeals and practically climbs over Hunter to see. “That’s amazing!”

For the rest of our flight, Lincoln’s arm stays around me, and I’m hyperaware of every shift of his body and flex of his muscles. It’s the way I’ve always been around him. That’s never gone away, and part of me is starting to believe that it never will.

Which only works if Lincoln is right and this never ends.

I’m still not ready to believe that yet. It’s too big and scary with massive potential for gut-wrenching disappointment. Even now, my stomach twists at the thought of losing him.

Because I’m failing at not falling for him again.

Before I can consider the implications of that thought, the ocean comes into view beyond massive cliffs. Rock formations dot the coastline, interspersed with small stretches of sand. It’s absolutely incredible.

“Wow.” I whisper the word, but of course, with the boom of the microphone near my mouth, everyone hears me, including Lincoln.

His hand closes around my arm. “Never gets old, does it?”