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Jack sighs. “Well, I can relate to it. Adam’s an old man stuck in his ways. He’s content with his life the way it is. You know? I’m not. I don’t know if I ever will be. I can’t imagine settling for just one thing and sticking with that. Like, even aviation—yeah, I love it now. But what if I get sick of it eventually?”
I bunch my lips to the side. “You could do something else, then. I suppose.”
“Adam thinks that’s weakness. Immaturity or something. He likes to think he’s older and wiser.”
“He is older.” I refrain from admitting that he is also wiser, lest Jack take offense.
“But he’s different. He’s always been different. Kind of a lone wolf. Reserved, you know?”
“Mmm. He’s certainly not as talkative as you.”
Jack laughs.
“But it’s nice to have someone here with me. Papa will be stuck on the mainland for another day or so.”
“And Adam will be stuck there until I can fly out and pick him up.”
“It would seem so.”
“You sound really glad about it.”
“Do I?” A nervous laugh escapes me, a blush warming my cheeks. “I just… like having someone around. Only I’m sorry he’s in so much pain. And that you’ll have to wait to see him. And that he has to endure my endless talking.”
Jack groans. “Would you stop putting yourself down? I would trade places with him in a minute.”
“What? Why?”
“Because you’re…”
I wait, listening. My fingertip freezes over the map.
16
Damn The Rules
JACK
You’re special and brilliant and strong and sweet and funny.
I want to say all those things. But it feels too… I don’t know.
Weird.
Sudden.
Like, how can I say that? I don’t really know her.
But at the same time, I feel like I know her better than any of the girls I’ve ever dated. Sure, I’ve never seen her face. But faces don’t matter when we’re talking about the girl who saved my brother’s life.
“Jack?” Her soft voice comes through the phone speaker, reminding me that I still haven’t finished my sentence.
“You’re so cool,” I say, deciding this is a general enough compliment to give anybody—even though she’s way cooler than just anybody. “If my brother can’t see that, he’s a dummy.”
I’m driving back from the port, one hand on the wheel of my Mustang. It’s dusk, still raining. I wanted to fly out to Orca’s island today and get my brother, but this crappy weather won’t let up. I wanted to thank Orca in person—to tell her that I owe her my life. Over the phone will have to be good enough for now.
“Seriously, Orca, I can never thank you enough. For helping Adam. For searching the island.”
“It was nothing.”
