Chapter 12

HOPE

I lay back, limply, watching Nicco. He gave me a slow wink and then reached beside him, grabbing his laptop. I stifled a groan. I swear the man never relaxed.

I stayed in the half-reclined position with my feet on Nicco’s lap and dozed off, waking when the flight attendant nudged me. I sat up, putting my seatbelt on over my now wrinkled dress. Nicco looked distracted; upset over something he saw on the computer. I wondered if I would be able to help but decided to ask him at a different time.

The plane landed gently, with barely a bump. I was pleased, having envisioned a landing with a fiery stop at the end. I stood and tried to smooth the wrinkles out of my dress before following Nicco down the stairs. I slipped on the last step, but Nicco caught me.

“Whoa. You okay?” he asked, setting me back on my feet.

“Yes,” I lied, my ankle throbbing. I had turned it when I stepped and then put my weight on it. It was a stupid mistake.

Nicco looked at me, shrewdly, and I p