Crashed into Love: Episode Three (6 page)

W
here was she?

I looked all around the hanger, chatting with engineers and CAA staff, trying to glean info on where Nina had gone. No one admitted to seeing a stunning woman with legs as long as a runway and hair as glossy as polished bronze.

The entire time I searched a rock formed in my gut. There was one other person I couldn’t find either.

I glared up at the plane. Could she have gone inside? Why would she? Did she need to work through the crash, come to terms with it?

Questions charged in my head as I dashed up the steps. My flip-flops slapped against the metal grate of the stairs, and I sucked in a breath as I left the bright lights of the hanger for the gloominess of the cabin. It was lifeless inside without crew or passengers. No longer a useful transport—its main reason for existing no longer allowed to enter its belly. A twinge of sadness caught me unaware. What would happen to the metal beast? Would they smelt it for scrap? Recycle parts, so in a way, the aircraft would be reincarnated? 

“I’ve already chosen. There’s nothing to decide. Let me go.” Nina’s voice wavered from the back.

My heart whirred like a chainsaw, threatening to cut through my ribs. What the hell was she doing down there?

I took a step, then froze like a statue.

“Did you ever think there are things about Liam you won’t like? You know as much about him as you do about me. Everyone has secrets, Nina. Has he told you about his past? Told you his dark secret?”

My lungs tried to evict through my mouth.

Oh fuck.

What the
hell
was he doing? It wasn’t just my secret. What happened that night slowly ate at my soul. I’d kept it not just for my benefit, but his, too. What a fucking moron to think he could tell her and not suffer. We were both at fault. Both so young, naïve, and reckless.

Nina raised her voice. It jolted me back into the present. “Leave me be. I don’t care. Liam will tell me in his own time. You won’t be able to convince me I don’t want him. You need to accept that.”

My heart swelled at her belief in me, and something shifted inside. My entire world, so focused on skies, horizons, and aviation was now inundated with her.

I wanted her more than I’d wanted anything.

Whatever was going down there, I was about to stop it. My hands curled as I charged.

“Nina?!” Her name fell from my tongue as I skidded to a halt in the rear galley. Nina was backed up against the seats, hands up, chest panting.

Nikolai leapt three feet in the air. “Liam. Didn’t hear you come up.”

My vision gushed with crimson anger. I tried to stop the urge to wrap a wire around his throat and pull until his eyes popped.

“I heard you threaten Nina.” I advanced, growling, “It’s not just my secret, Nikolai. Why don’t you tell her if you’re so keen for her to know?” My chest tightened, and in a horrid way, I hoped he
would
tell her. It would be out and wouldn’t fester inside me anymore. The secret had turned my heart into a putrid mess of guilt and shame. I’d lied to my parents. To the police. To everyone to protect myself and my supposedly best friend.

Nikolai wasn’t deserving of me rotting inside to protect him. I no longer cared about my own reputation. I cared about being free of it all, to cut the tethers of the past and move on, hopefully with Nina by my side. She’d forgive me, wouldn’t she?

Nina bolted into my arms, tucking herself around me.

My heart softened to the consistency of caramel, and I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. My heart pounded where she connected to my body. “Are you okay?” I didn’t look at her, too busy eye-murdering Nikolai, who had the decency to look sheepish.

She nodded into my armpit, breathing deep. Thank God I’d applied lots of deodorant this morning.

“I’m fine, now. But I’ve seen enough of the hanger. I don’t want to know any secret that makes you look like you want to crash all over again. Can we go back to the hotel?”

I gripped her hard as she trembled a little. She was so slight, I was afraid any moment a gust of wind would take her away. Just like it took someone else away from me.

I stood to my full six-foot-three height, glaring at Nikolai, hating that he was similar size. I wanted to intimidate him. “This is your last chance. Are you going to tell her? I won’t stop you. In fact, I want you to. She should know. I mean to be with her for a very long time and will keep nothing from her. You lost, Nikolai. You lost a year ago when I set eyes upon her. Nina’s mine.”

Nina shuddered in my arms.

I hoped it wasn’t too much hearing me go all caveman and shit on her, staking a claim, and she wouldn’t tear herself from my grip, running away screaming. But her delicate arms encircled my waist. Newly budded hope unfurled in my body bursting with life and possibility. A fresh start with someone who could accept me, secrets and all.

She looked at Nikolai. “Tell me, Nikolai. I want to know this dark secret you keep threatening. Perhaps if you do, it will help both of you move on. Whatever it is has shadowed you both in pain. It’s unresolved.”

She broke away from my hold.

My body instantly suffered frostbite from the loss of her.

She stepped toward him, murmuring, “I know you, Nikolai. I remember the man I danced with in Sydney. I remember thinking how sweet you were, how fun. But I knew there was something you hurt over. It’s in your eyes.”

I wanted to reach forward and jerk her back, she was too close to him. My teeth ground to dust as Nikolai moved closer, pulling her into an embrace. His eyes met mine over her shoulder, and he heaved a sigh. “You’re right. I think it’s time to talk about it openly. I don’t like the person I’ve become, living with the ghost of what I did.” He released Nina. “Liam?”

If he wanted to air all our shitty laundry, then fine. I was prepared to do some spring cleaning. It might help me heal.

I needed time to bolster and prepare, I couldn’t do it like this.

I nodded. “Dinner. Tonight. Us three.”

D
inner.

How could I possibly think about eating when I didn’t know what the topic of conversation would be?

God, this was a huge mess. Being in a tropical paradise should’ve been stress-free and relaxing. Not in my case. I’d never been so wound up in my life.

I tried to calm myself. I ran a bath and filled it with bubbles, but the only thing the scalding water achieved was to turn me into an overcooked lobster. The uncertainty and tension locked around my neck, making it ache, while something arctic threaded in my veins. I wanted Liam to be able to tell me anything, but at the same time, I didn’t want to know something as terrible as he made out. What if it made me think about him differently? My brief glimpse at what I could have with him might unspindle into threads.

Like the organza corsets I favoured, I was tied up in knots. Lassoed by laces, squeezed by boning. What if everything between Liam and I was ruined tonight?

I dressed in a black corset, tying the eyelets so tightly my stomach wouldn’t flip-flop with nerves.

What could possibly have happened between them?

As I left my fale, heading to the restaurant, a sharp bite of pain caught me unaware on the back of my hand. I hissed through my teeth, studying my skin—looking for an insect bite. There was a pinprick of blood, but no other evidence. A numb sensation spread from the wound, seeping into my flesh. I hoped I wasn’t allergic to whatever it was.

Should I see a doctor? While I was there, I might get my whiplash seen to as well. The last hour since Liam dropped me off my spine pounded as if a humpback whale kept hitting me with its fluke.

Liam appeared from the shadows.

My heart puddled with murkiness. I knew my feelings for him. Knew with every inch of myself, but the way his skin stretched over his cheekbones caused concern to blow up inside. What if his secret shattered everything I felt? What if it was so bad I could no longer look him in the eye?

“Nina.” Liam gathered me in a hug.

My arms whipped around him, forgetting about my sting; forgetting that in a matter of moments, I might not want to hug him anymore.

“We don’t have to do this. You and Nikolai can talk. If it’s between you, maybe it should stay that way.” I couldn’t believe I wanted to impersonate an ostrich and stick my head in the sand. I should
want
to know. But I didn’t. I wanted to continue believing Liam could do no wrong, but I suppose that would mean I’d never know the real him. 

Liam didn’t answer, guiding us forward toward the beachside restaurant where loud drums disrupted the evening.

We stopped on the edge of the dance floor, the beat resonating through the floor and up my legs.

On a makeshift stage, with banners of bright material, were a group of men and women. With grass skirts and coconut shells for bras, the woman danced with island flare, while the men pounded on hide-covered drums. A girl sprinted from nowhere, whirling into the dance with a fire poi. Whipping it around, creating glowing fire designs in the air.

“We should go somewhere else. Somewhere quieter,” Liam muttered.

The numbness in my hand and jungle beat faded as Nikolai’s eyes met mine across the dance floor. Too late. I nudged Liam, pointing. “Nikolai’s waiting for us.”

Liam scowled, before sucking in a fortifying breath. We traversed the dance floor, staying clear of the Samoan dancers. The gust of flames kissed my cheek as the girl in coconut shells came unnervingly close.

Nikolai stood, shook Liam’s hand, then took mine and kissed the back of it. My insect bite was forgotten. Whatever nipped me wasn’t important anymore. I settled onto my chair, peering at the empty beer glass in front of Nikolai. Seemed he needed some liquid courage.

He gave me a sad smile. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable earlier, Nina. I shouldn’t have pushed so hard. If you’ve made your choice, I’ll step aside.” He looked at Liam. “As much as it pains me to say, I’m happy for you both.”

Liam didn’t acknowledge, which left me to say something awkward. “I appreciate that. Thanks.”

Nikolai shifted to face Liam, dropping his eyes to the table. “Mikin, I owe you an apology. The past should stay in the past. I’m the one at fault, and I shouldn’t have used it to threaten you.”

The serenade of drums and whooshing fire poi faded into the background. Our table became a black hole of soundless tension.

Nikolai looked up, his face etched with remorse. “You never let me talk about what happened ten years ago. I know I’m the one who ruined our friendship, not to mention Charlotte’s—

Liam put his head in his hands, a mournful sound wrenched from his throat.

I itched to touch him. To offer support. But I was a third wheel. Why did they want me here to witness this? To say I was uncomfortable was an understatement. 

Liam didn’t raise his head, whispering, “I miss her every day.”

My heart took a running leap off a tower and plummeted to my feet. Why did his voice break on her name? He loved her tremendously by the way his shoulders hunched, refusing to look anywhere but at the table.

I sucked in a teary breath.

Liam grabbed my hand on top of the table. Finally, his blizzard, tortured eyes met mine. “We killed her.”

Killed
her? They were responsible for murder? I weaved my fingers around Liam’s, shooting Nikolai a worried look. “What does he mean? You killed her? Tell me what happened.”

Nikolai cupped his empty glass, spinning it nervously. “It was ten years ago. In one night, I lost my best friend. Sent an innocent man to jail. And killed the woman I was going to marry.” His eyes took on a faraway look. “Liam and I were mates since we were nine. We’d do everything together. It didn’t matter we went to different schools, we clicked like brothers.

“When we were sixteen, we started partying. Liam regulated his drinking. I didn’t. I wanted to forget my home life, my dismal grades, pretend I was some bad boy. I got into drugs and strained our friendship.” He flashed a look at Liam, his face etched with shame and remorse.

“Liam started training for his pilot’s license after school. Leaving me to wallow in drink and drugs as I didn’t have a backbone to get off my ass and study something to get out of my mess.”

He sighed with the weight of someone’s death on his shoulders. “Then Charlotte happened.”

Liam flinched.

Nikolai continued, “Cute, bright, funny, the best tap dancer in high school. Up till then, she flat out ignored me. But one night, I drank too much Jack and passed out. She found me. She cut through all my bullshit and made me better. I got my act together and enrolled in classes so I could go to uni to be an engineer.”

I couldn’t believe smart, talented Nikolai had such a sordid past. Nor that he’d loved so deeply. Did the unfortunate, but fairly common theme of best friends falling for the same girl happen? Why was Liam not saying anything? His shoulders were tight and hunched, face shadowed with loss.

Nikolai’s voice caught, but he curled his fists and braved on. “I’d just passed my final exam, and Liam had completed his first solo flight. All three of us went out celebrating. As usual, I didn’t know when to stop and coaxed Charlotte into drinking too much.”

I sneaked a look at Liam.
Were
they both in love with the same woman? Why did Nikolai say he was going to marry her and Liam said nothing?

Nikolai patted Liam on the shoulder. Shock widened my eyes when Liam gave him a dismal snarl. 

Nikolai flinched, but carried on. “You remember that night. Charlotte was so funny. We had a lot of fun dancing at the Grumpy Mole. We didn’t want the night to end.”

Liam’s voice was pebbles and stone. “I thought life couldn’t get any better. I was high on my first flight, nothing beat it.”

Nikolai’s face darkened, hazel eyes clouding to mud. “I convinced everyone we should head to the aeroclub and see the airplane Liam successfully flew on his own.

“When we got there, I begged him to take us up. I wanted to touch a satellite while sculling Jack Daniels. Charlotte was so tipsy, she agreed with me.

“Liam sobered pretty quickly, trying to keep Charlotte and me from being reckless. But I wouldn’t stop hounding him.”

Liam sucked in a harsh breath, it rattled in his lungs like rusty metal.

“He showed me a few things inside the cockpit, patiently indulging my drunk-ass questions. Charlotte grew bored by the aircraft, dancing and laughing at me trying to imitate a superior pilot.” Nikolai flashed me a look, guilt weighing every inch of him. “God, she was so cute, trying to get my attention. She never let go normally, and I watched like an idiot as she shimmied to the propeller and used it in a sexy dance move. So help me, I was distracted. I ignored Liam and his warnings not to touch the dash. I leaned forward, trying to get a better view of Charlotte and her short skirt.”

Liam spoke for the first time, tears shimmering in his eyes. “We were both in the cockpit. I should
never
let you get near the plane. You were drunk. I should’ve had more sense.”

Nikolai’s breath hitched. “You can’t take blame. I was the one who ignored you and leaned forward. I was the one who’d drunk too much. And I was the one who accidentally pressed the ignition button just as Charlotte threw her head back and used the blades as a dance pole.”

My hands flew to my mouth.
Oh my God.

Liam’s eyes were haunted, finishing the tale in a painful monotone. “Her hair wrapped in the rotor. It all happened so fast.” He trembled. “Her neck snapped in the moment it took for us to blink.”

Nikolai cried, as if he held ten years of pent-up tears. “I killed Liam’s sister, and he took the blame. I never said anything. I let the world think my best friend was irresponsible and a killer.”

How did Liam keep his license? Surely something that horrific would’ve blacklisted him? Oh, is that what he meant about owing karma? How someone helped him get his wings? So many questions.

Liam shook his head; jaw clenched so hard tendons stood in stark relief.

My own eyes welled. I couldn’t stop the earthquake of compassion inside me.

Charlotte was his sister.
Liam had another sister.
Crap, was that why his parents broke up? Or was that before? I couldn’t remember how long he said he’d been living with Joslyn.

Nikolai hunched over. “The CAA was involved, they investigated what happened, and I tried to lay the blame on Charlotte. The toxicology report showed she was well over the limit, but I tried to tell them she killed herself. It was a shitty, bastardly thing to do.

“The night security guard was arrested for letting drunken idiots into the aero club in the middle of the night, and Liam went into shock. He didn’t speak for a week while I spun my lies. By then, it was too late. By the time Liam came forward, lying to protect me, saying it was
him
who pressed the button, Charlotte’s mental health was questioned, and the security guard was cautioned as an involuntary accomplice to suicide.”

Liam shuddered, whispering, “I couldn’t believe people thought my sister could’ve killed herself.  I hated my parents. Hated that I wasn’t punished like the poor shmuck on duty that night. I should’ve been arrested or had my license taken away. I’ll never forgive myself.”

Nikolai traced his beer glass. “Six days later, I finally fessed up to pressing the button, and the guy was acquitted. I was given community service, and Liam… well, the case was dropped and listed as an unfortunate accident.”

Liam’s eyes narrowed. He snarled at Nikolai, “You stole my sister. You were the one who gave her the liquor, the one who egged her on to be reckless and stupid. You pressed the button that ended her life.” He dragged a breath. “I thought I might be able to forgive you, to finally put it behind me. But I can’t. I know now why I suffer such insecurities around you. I’m petrified you’re going to steal another woman I love.”

My heart spasmed with agony, and I jumped off my chair to comfort Liam. Wrapping my arms around him, I swaddled him, hoping I could leach some of his pain away.

Nikolai took a shuddering breath. “I deserved that. And I’m eternally sorry. For everything.”

I wanted to comfort Nikolai too, but a steely resolve settled over him. “For ten years you never let me apologise, but now I have. I need you to know I loved your sister. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her if I hadn’t—” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I won’t bother you again.” Looking at me with heavy, hazel eyes, he added, “I’m sorry, Nina. Now you know the sort of person I really am. I’ll stay out of your way.” He stood and strode off as if he couldn’t stand to sit another moment.

The Samoan dancers chose that exact moment to finish in style. The men thundered on their drums, the women leapt into the air and, one brave man spit fire. It rained over Nikolai’s retreating back.

A fraction of indecision filled me. I belonged by Liam’s side in this. He needed me in his grief, but I couldn’t let Nikolai walk away so ruined and broken.

Kissing Liam’s cheek, hoping he’d understand, I dashed after Nikolai. I caught him as he entered the night-shrouded gardens. “I’m sorry you’re hurting so much.”