Fly Bye

The first time I saw Grayson Phillips, I fell.

Tripped, to be specific. His seven-year-old self saved me from scraped knees and sentenced me to a fate of pining after my brother’s best friend for years.

People change. Childish crushes fade. I’m an adult now, a doctor with more important things to worry about. I gave up on the boy next door ever loving me a long time ago.

Or so I thought…until he returns to our hometown on leave from the Air Force. For the first time, not everything between us feels one-sided. That doesn’t make it matter. He’ll take off soon—literally.

I’m a fly-by to him. Nothing more than a passing interest. A distraction.

I know getting involved with him will mean saying goodbye to my heart.

I know I should say no.

I know I’ll say yes.