How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

"Give me the address." Watts started the car, his tone already strained.

He had a bad feeling-Patricia in this state was bound to cause trouble.

"Why do you care so much? If you could actually handle Elodie, I wouldn't be in this mess," Patricia shot back with a cold laugh. "I'm flying to France tomorrow for the art show, and I can't even finish my last painting. I sent Jarrod an invitation and he just completely ignored me! Why? Are there really men as blind as him?" Watts had no interest in listening to her drunken tirade.

Patricia had been on edge lately-the classic artist's temperament.

He pulled up the tracker he'd installed on her phone and checked her location: some private club, a good two and a half hours' drive from here. Not exactly close.

In a flat voice, he said, "Clear out your drinking buddies. I'll be there to pick you up soon."

Elodie was heading upstairs when she ran into Lily Lockwood at the landing.

Who knew how long Lily had been standing there.

She must have overheard the conversation with Watts.

As soon as she spotted Elodie, she quickly wiped her eyes. "There you are! I've got a ton of questions for you. I don't care how talented you are, you can't just take time off whenever you want."

Elodie noticed her eyes were red.

Having been through her share of heartbreak, Elodie could guess who Lily was upset about.

If things had gone sideways with the data incident last time, Lily would've been the first to take the fall.

Elodie climbed the last two steps, pretending not to notice Lily's distress. She pulled a few chocolates from her pocket and pressed them into Lily's palm. "Come with me to the test flight field. See for yourself just how bright your future could be."

With that, she started down the hall.

Lily hesitated, blinking away the last of her tears as she stared at the chocolates in her hand.

Suddenly, she understood what Elodie meant.

She hurried to catch up, fiddling with the chocolates and grumbling, "I don't even like milk hazelnut. Way too sweet. I'm trying to lose weight, you know I'm already up to 110."

Elodie glanced over and reached for the chocolates. "Then give them back."

Lily quickly shoved them into her pocket, hugging them protectively. "Nice try. Why

turn down a little perk from the boss? I'm not stupid."

She fell in step beside Elodie, silent now.

She'd finally figured things out.

Whether or not Watts was really involved in what happened, he clearly wasn't worth her feelings. If it was him, he'd played her for a fool, even left her to take the blame t hurt, but she wasn't about to keep chasing someone like that.

At the very least, the person she cared about had to be someone worth loving.noveldrama

Elodie noticed the change in her and allowed herself a small, satisfied smile.

When they arrived at the test flight

field, the crew chief walked up. "We've got a new pilot

today Fleming Mercer. You'll need

to go over the test flight details with

him."

Elodie nodded.

There was no shortage of talent at this base, but the best pilots were practically

national treasures.

She glanced across the tarmac.

A man stood there in a sharp flight suit, tall and impossible to miss.

She was about to head over when her phone rang. Jarrod.

Elodie handed her notebook to Lily. "Go talk to Fleming and get him up to speed."

Lily, not about to bite the hand that fed her, just grunted and took the notebook

over.

Elodie stepped aside to answer the call.

Jarrod's voice was smooth over the line. "Back at the base again? Are you sure you're up for it?"

He only stepped out for a few hours and she was already busy again.

"What's up?" she asked.

"I'll pick you up in a bit. Something urgent."

If Jarrod called something urgent, it was never trivial.

She checked the time. "Half an hour. Come get me."

She hung up and glanced over at Lily.

It looked like she was done talking with Fleming.

The man took off his helmet as he walked by.

He was striking-strong features, undeniably handsome.

As he passed Elodie, Fleming gave her a slight nod without breaking stride.

She

recognition stirring. She was

but just couldn't place it.

n him somewhere ret