Chapter 1

The first time I saw Rachel Lawson standing beside my husband on a giant screen, the airline had already announced their new partnership without telling me.

Daniel Hayes and his old flame from flight school would fly together for the next several months.

I was standing in the audience with the captain's wings pin he gave me when he earned his rank, listening to everyone celebrate a future I knew nothing about.

The host called them the airline's perfect crew.

I was still Daniel's wife.

But I was the last person to hear about it.

"Claire, right?" She held out her hand. "It's nice to finally meet you

properly. "

I shook it.

Daniel smiled beside us. "You two should've met a long time ago. "

I looked at him. "You're right. Especially since today is the first time

I'm hearing that you'll be flying together for the next few months. "

His smile faded slightly.

Once the people around us moved away, I asked, "How long have you

known?"

"It was finalized a few days ago, " Daniel said. "I didn't think it was

something we needed to have a whole conversation about. "

"You dated her. "

"That was flight school. "

"And now she's going to be your regular first officer for months, and

you're doing promotional work together. I found out from a screen at

your company event. "

Daniel frowned. "Claire, it's a schedule. Not a wedding announcement. "

"I'm not asking you not to fly with women, " I said. "I'm asking you not

to let someone you have a history with step back into your life for

months and make me the last person to know. "

He was quiet for a moment.

"I'll talk to PR about the wording, " he said. "But this really is just

work. "

Before I could answer, Rachel came back.

Her eyes dropped to the coffee in Daniel's hand.

"Don't have a second cup tomorrow, " she said easily. "Your stomach

always acts up before a long-haul flight. "

My fingers stopped against the rim of my glass.

Daniel laughed. "You still remember that?"

"Flight school habit. " Rachel smiled. "He never changed. "

Then, as if she had only just remembered I was standing there, she

turned to me.

"He was always like that during training. "

"I know, " I said.

I didn't.

I knew Daniel had a sensitive stomach. I knew which medication he kept

in his bag and how badly it bothered him after several long duty days in

a row.

But the second cup of coffee before a long-haul flight?

I had never heard that before.

On the drive home, Daniel brought it up again.

"She has a good memory. You don't have to connect everything to the

past. "

I didn't argue.

"From now on, if there's a long-term arrangement involving Rachel, I

don't want to be the last person to hear about it. "

"Fine. "

He agreed too quickly.

That night, I took off my jacket. The silver wings pin tapped lightly

against the mirror.

The year Daniel made captain, he had pressed it into my palm and said,

We finally made it.

My phone lit up.

The airline had updated the crew pairing roster.

I opened it.

Week one: Daniel Hayes - Rachel Lawson.

Week two: the same.

I kept scrolling.

One month.

Two months.

Three.

Rachel's name stayed beside Daniel's the entire way down.