The next morning, Aspen was still and quiet, the kind of peaceful that settles into your bones like warm tea on a winter morning.

Ethan and Avery shared breakfast on the resort balcony, the mountain air crisp, their glances lingering a little longer than usual. Neither brought up the moment they shared by the fire the night before—yet it lingered in every breath, every brush of fingers when their hands met over the sugar bowl.

Their connection had crossed some invisible line, and neither one of them was rushing to erase it.

But life—and flight schedules—didn't slow down for feelings.

"I've got a surprise detour," Ethan said as they stepped into the jet an hour later.

Avery blinked. "You? Going off-schedule?"

"I'm unpredictable like that," he said with a wink, handing her a slip of paper. It was a printed manifest—final destination: Burlington, Vermont.

Avery's breath caught. "My hometown?"

"I figured... you might want to stop in. Catch up with your sister. See the place that made the best pilot I know."

She hesitated.

"I didn't mean to overstep," he added quickly. "We can skip it if you'd rather not—"

"No," she said, softly but surely. "It's... actually kind of perfect."

Burlington, Vermont – Monroe Home

The little white farmhouse sat at the end of a gravel road, flanked by tall pine trees and fields just starting to thaw for spring. A tire swing still hung in the backyard, swaying in the breeze.

Avery stepped out of the car slowly, heart pounding as the screen door flew open.

"Avery!"

Her younger sister, Lila Monroe, came bounding down the steps, apron dusted with flour, curly hair bouncing.

Avery laughed as Lila threw her arms around her.

"It's been forever!" Lila squealed, pulling back to look at her. "You look good! You're not secretly a celebrity now, right?"

"Only in the sky," Avery teased.

Lila looked past her. "And... this must be the mystery co-pilot?"

Ethan stepped forward, offering a hand. "Ethan Bradford. Traveler. Investor. Professional admirer of your sister's flying."

Lila grinned, clearly picking up on the chemistry. "Well, any admirer of Avery's is a guest in this house. Come in before the scones burn!"

Later That Afternoon – Kitchen Chaos

The Monroe kitchen was full of chatter, cinnamon, and laughter. Lila had a knack for baking while keeping up a rapid-fire interrogation—mostly aimed at Ethan.

"So," she said, kneading dough like a pro, "what's a billionaire doing chasing around my sister in a private jet?"

Avery nearly choked on her tea.

Ethan raised an eyebrow, but smiled. "Technically, she's chasing me. She's the pilot."

Lila smirked. "Uh-huh. But you don't seem like someone used to playing co-pilot."

Ethan glanced at Avery. "Some things are worth the shift in altitude."

Avery looked away, cheeks warming.

Lila leaned in, whispering to Avery while Ethan checked out the backyard. "You like him."

Avery sighed. "It's complicated."

Lila grinned. "Sounds like it's finally interesting."

Monroe Family Porch – That Evening

As the sun dipped low behind the trees, Ethan and Avery sat on the porch swing, wrapped in a shared blanket Lila had insisted they borrow.

Crickets chirped. A distant owl hooted. The night air was cooler here, crisper, but peaceful.

"You know," Ethan said quietly, "when I planned this detour, I didn't expect it to feel like... home."

Avery glanced at him, surprised.

"My family's house was never this warm," he added. "Too much marble. Not enough laughter."

"You deserve both," she said softly.

He looked at her then—really looked—and the distance between them felt almost nonexistent.

Slowly, deliberately, he leaned in.

Her breath caught. Their faces hovered inches apart, every heartbeat thudding in her ears.

But just before their lips touched—her phone buzzed.

She pulled back, blinking. "Sorry—one sec."

She looked down. A message from her crew coordinator flashed across the screen:

URGENT: Jet requested for early departure. New VIP client. Non-negotiable.
Wheels up in 90 minutes.

Avery stared, heart sinking.

"What is it?" Ethan asked.

She looked at him, apology heavy in her voice. "We've got to leave. Now."

FLASHBACK – AVERY, AGE 12
Lila's Bedroom – Late Night

Avery sat cross-legged on the bed, flashlight under her chin. "I'm going to fly jets one day. Go everywhere. Be free."

Lila giggled. "What about me?"

"I'll fly back for you," Avery promised. "No matter how far I go."

BACK TO PRESENT – RUNWAY AT BURLINGTON

They boarded the jet in silence.

Ethan buckled in. "Do we know who the VIP is?"

Avery glanced down at the itinerary.

Her blood ran cold.

The name read: Vanessa Sharpe.

Ethan's ex-girlfriend. And the one person who could still shake him at the core.

She swallowed hard. "Yeah. We do."