Lovers Premiere

“I’m not counting when you’re asleep, though I’m willing to bet that you don’t do that for very long, either.”

“That’s not true.” Even as she challenged his assessment, Sofia reached for her cell phone to check her Caller ID.

Ram laughed. “Look at you.”

“What?”

“If you don’t know then I’m not going to tell you.”

Suddenly self aware, Sofia shoved her phone back into her purse. “Whatever.”

“All I know is that the Sofia that I grew up with knew how to have fun,” he said with a note of sadness. “She used to let her hair down. Run. Laugh. Play in a field of wild daisies…and even sneak kisses beneath the big oak tree in her backyard.”

Sofia’s heart skipped a beat. The picture of that long lost girl sprung vividly into her mind and there was a twinge of longing that came swiftly and overwhelmed her. She pulled her face away and stared out at what seemed like an endless sky of white clouds.

“It’s like we’re floating in a dream,” she whispered.

Ram smiled. “That’s why I like flying. When you’re up here, the world and all its problems just fade away.”

Sofia sucked in a deep breath and listened to just the steady hum of the plane’s engine and single propeller. It did sort of have a calming effect and there was no denying the beauty surrounding her. “I see what you mean.”

He chanced another look at her and was pleased to see the tension in her face had disappeared and her posture had relaxed. Sofia turned her head, met Ram’s gaze and fluttered a smile before she remembered that she was supposed to be keeping her distance. Jerking her head away, she then looked at the time.

Twenty minutes.

“I should have known that that wasn’t going to last long,” Ram commented.

“What?”

“You keeping your guard down.” He let a wave of silence drift over them. “Do you really hate me that much?”

Sofia’s mouth sprang open, but then her words got caught up in her throat.

“I see.” Ram trained his eyes back onto the sky in front of him and pretended that he didn’t feel the slight pinch in his throat.

“I don’t hate you,” Sofia whispered and cleared her throat. “It’s just…” She struggled for the right words and then just ended with, “I don’t hate you.”

“That’s good to hear.” He shrugged his big shoulders. “Even though I don’t quite believe it.”