“Obviously. All because Luke’s bitch ass is running from his feelings,” Deacon yelled.
I tossed him a middle finger. Pit, Deacon, Tak, and Skittles all laughed at my expense.
“Someone needs to remind me why I’m even friends with you fuckers,” I mumbled.
“We’ve reached altitude,” The pilot announced through the speakers.
I nodded and did my best to ignore the fact that Deacon was right. I needed something like this to get my mind off Syd. Every time I thought about her my stomach clenched and my heart felt like someone had put it in a vice. The idea of even stepping foot in a gym to train had my throat closing up with tension.
I needed this jump more than words could express. All I wanted was to jump out of a plane with my crew and experience the rush of adrenaline that came with it.
“Let’s fucking go,” I yelled before checking one final time that my pack was secured to my back.
“Be our guest,” Pit yelled.
“Say less.” I took the plunge, jumping from the plane with my arms spread wide.
The rush of wind smacked me in the face. The rush was electrifying. All thoughts about Syd, fighting, title belts and any other bullshit left my mind. I heard a few more yells, telling me the others made the jump also.
I felt like I was moving through space and time. My body pulsed with electricity and adrenaline. Any thoughts I had when I jumped from the plane, were pushed aside as my body plunged toward the earth below. It was exhilarating and mind-numbing. Exactly what I needed.
When the time came, I pulled the string to open my ‘chute. Once I did, I was yanked up, no longer being hurled to the ground beneath us, but more like carried gently. I preferred the hurling. As soon as the sensation of being thrown to the ground with the threat of death hovering around me let up even slightly, my thoughts went to who wasn’t there with me to experience it. Even the shouts of Deacon, Pit, Skittles, and Tak as we landed one by one, didn’t push them away.
“Who’s up for going again?” I questioned as soon as everyone was back on the ground. I grinned when every single one of them raised their hands, laughing their asses off. This was my crew for a reason.
Chapter 30
Skittles
Syd
“That’s not how you do it, Vince,” I scolded, as I took the papers, he stapled from him. “These need to go in the cabinet files, therefore they don’t get stapled.” Annoyed, I yanked open the top drawer of my desk to search for my staple remover.
“My mistake,” he said.
Pausing, I looked across my desk at my office assistant. My stomach dropped at the frown on his face.
Shaking my head, I said, “I’m sorry,” before pushing out a harsh breath. “It’s almost six. I appreciate your staying late. How about you call it a day?”
Vince peered at me. I hated to see the concern in his eyes. While I didn’t disclose the personal details of my life to my employees, everyone in the office probably could tell there was something going on with me. I’d been snapping at people for days, ever since Luke left to God knows where.
I hadn’t tried contacting him after that night at his house. He made it abundantly clear that he wanted nothing to do with me. And it felt like with every beat of my heart, the pain only grew, not lessened. Work was the only distraction I had. Which was why I sat there for the third day in a row, working well past the time of closing.
“We still have to create next month’s schedule and prepare for that meeting you have next week,” Vince said, interrupting my pity party.
I shook my head. “It’s all right. I’m sure you have something better to do tonight than create a schedule. I’ll do it.”
“I have a better idea,” he said, standing from his chair. “How about I order from the Italian place down the street? They have the best calzones. That’ll give us some energy to keep working.” He was halfway out of my office before I could respond.
“Get me sausage,” I called as he started for the office lobby.
He waved, acknowledging that he heard me.
Maybe a cheesy, greasy, tomato sauce filled meal is what I needed to get me out of my funk.
“Yeah, right,” I mumbled to myself. I’d eaten enough carbs to last me the year, in the form of my favorite danish, at least one full carton of ice cream, and greasy fries the other night for dinner to help stuff my feelings. It didn’t work.
“And who are you?” I heard Vince say from up the hall.
