Don't Need You - Lilian Monroe Page 0,1

the next three days.”

I pinch my lips together, trying to huff out a laugh. Chaos isn’t exactly something I like, but at least it’ll distract me from the shitshow that is my current life.

I like things to be neat. Ordered. Exactly where they should be.

It’s one of the reasons I like flying planes. It might seem like a thrilling thing to do, but I enjoy the meticulous checks and the feeling of control. When we’re in the air, I’m in charge of my own destiny.

Or at least, I used to be. When I flew planes at Woodvale Skydive, the business I started with Finn, I felt something. It tugged at my gut and made me feel like life was worth living. Flying commercial aircrafts feels more like driving a bus.

I let out a sigh, watching a plane take off in front of us. “We should be second in line now. Hopefully they give us the green light to move soon.”

Robbie grunts. “Typical holidays. At least we have a weekend off after this flight.” He stretches his neck from side to side. “And you’ve got next week off, too, you lucky bastard.”

“You sure it’s okay for me to spend Thanksgiving with you?”

“Of course, dude.” Robbie smiles. “I think my mother and grandmother thrive on feeding the strays we bring home every year. They’re Italian. Their love language is food.”

I force a smile, nodding. “All right.”

It feels weird spending the holiday on the other side of the country. My thoughts flick to my sister, Esme. Last I talked to her, she’d driven back to Woodvale to be with Finn. They’re deeply in love, apparently.

I’m still not over it.

It’s not that I’m a bad guy. I want them to be happy. I do.

It’s just that Finn lied to me to be with my sister while I was out of town. It’s not right. It’s not how friends should treat each other. He should have been up-front with me. How can I trust someone like that?

A small part of me is jealous, much as I hate to admit it. I always thought I’d find someone before Finn. I was always the one who talked about having a family, getting married, living a quiet life with a couple of kids. Finn, on the other hand? He doesn’t have a stable bone in his body, and I never thought he’d find someone to calm him down.

I definitely didn’t think it would be my little sister.

Me? Stable as fuck. Even keeled. Tidy. In control. Waiting for my white picket fence and my two-point-five kids.

Sitting here on the tarmac, still waiting.

Robbie runs his hands through his thick, black hair, sending it up in a thousand different directions.

His family invited me to spend Thanksgiving in Connecticut, and I jumped at the opportunity. My other option was spending it alone in my hometown of Woodvale.

I mean, yeah. I could join my sister and mother at Finn’s place, but I just… can’t. Putting on a big, fake smile and pretending I don’t feel like a thousand daggers are sticking out of my back doesn’t sound like my idea of a good time. They can have their happy family reunion without me.

Finn lied to me, and I can’t just forget that with a snap of my fingers. He was the one person I thought I could trust. I left town to be with my dying mother, asking him to take care of my little sister. What does he do? He takes advantage of that.

I can’t just turn around and say pass the mashed potatoes without wanting to stab him with a fork.

And Esme?

Well, Esme’s Esme. Tough. A fighter. I can’t be mad at her, but I wish she’d fallen in love with someone less… I don’t know. Anyone but Finn, really.

I just can’t face them. Not yet. It hurts too much.

I glance at the pilot beside me, registering what he said. “How many of you are there?”

“In my family?” Robbie grins. “Dozens. Sicilian on both sides.” He arches an eyebrow. “Be ready to eat. My Nonna will take it as a personal affront if you gain any less than five pounds over the course of the weekend.”

I chuckle. “I’ll do my best.” The tension in my chest eases ever so slightly, and I’m able to take a full breath.

Our headsets crackle, and the air traffic controller’s metallic voice comes on. We can taxi to the runway and take our spot as next in line. Robbie answers, doing final safety checks. I shift