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Alone with Charlotte, we held each other’s gaze for a moment until she asked, “Jamie, what are you doing?”
“I thought it was obvious.” I pointed to the plane. “I’m about to skydive.”
“Don’t be a smart ass.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re terrified. You’re pale and sweaty… I’m afraid you might not survive long enough to even jump.”
I scoffed and glared. “What? You think I can’t keep up with you, Miss Adventure?”
She sighed heavily. “Alright, you’ve got my attention. That’s what you wanted, right? You’re here, so we’ll talk… You don’t have to go through with this.”
“Are you saying that you’ll give us another chance? I’m assuming that we’re broken up since you left me high and dry without a word.”
She planted her hands on her hips and looked skyward. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to go any further.”
My jaw tightened. “And you get to make that decision for us? I don’t even have a say? I fucking love you, Charlotte.”
“I know. It’s just…” She blew out a breath, her expression tortured.
“You’re a coward,” I said.
She scoffed.
“Well, I’m going to show you what a coward I’m not.” Clutching my helmet under my arm, I walked off.
“Jamie, you don’t have to do this.”
I ignored her and marched on the plane.
“Well?” Lincoln asked as I stepped inside. “Are you two back together or what?”
“Nope.”
He frowned. “And you’re still going ahead with this?”
“I am,” I confirmed, my resolve hardening. If I could take a leap of faith, she’d see that she could take one too.
“I’ve never seen you this determined,” Lincoln mused as he watched me with what looked like admiration. “Love is a hell of a thing, isn’t it?”
I glanced at him, confused by the undertone of longing and knowing in his voice. Had he ever experienced the consuming intensity of love? If he had, he never told me.
Charlotte joined us and started chatting with the pilot. When we were airborne, Charlotte kept eyeing me with concern. I imagined I looked like I’d keel over at any moment.
“Alright, Jamie. Let’s go over this one more time…”
I’d been attached to Charlotte for our tandem skydive because it was my first time. Lincoln was qualified to dive on his own since he’d done this the amount of time required to gain that independence. So, my best friend and my girlfriend—if she didn’t turn me down again—were both nut jobs.
My stomach churned with nerves as we got ready to jump.
“The most important thing is to trust me and follow my lead,” Charlotte instructed, her voice steady over the roar of the engine.
“I do trust you, Charlotte,” I shouted. “And you can trust me too.”
She huffed and shook her head. However, I saw the tiny smirk she tried to hide. She wasn’t all that annoyed with me for still trying to win her back even when I was on the verge of passing out.
She ignored my comment and carried on with professionalism. “Once we jump, keep your arms crossed until I tap your shoulder, then you can extend them. Keep your legs bent back toward me.”
I nodded, trying to commit her words to memory, but my mind was a blur of emotions. The plane reached the right altitude, and the door opened, revealing the vast sky and the earth far below.
“Holy shit,” I breathed.
