JACE
Exactly a week had passed since the football game that had thrown my psyche into a tailspin. Every time someone brought up my G-LOC, I was thrown back in time, replaying the incident on a loop in my head.
Tate was walking and breathing. Hell, that should’ve been enough to quiet the noise, but it wasn’t. And as I walked into the prep room at Ridgeway’s aeromedical building, which was one of two operational high-G training centrifuges in the country, my heart was racing like I’d taken a bottle of speed.
One part of me was freaking out that I wouldn’t pass. The other part of me was concerned that if I did, I would be off to Germany, which meant I wouldn’t see Monroe for a long time or ever. Would she still want a relationship if I was halfway around the world? I couldn’t ask her to wait for me.
I rubbed the pain that was spreading through my chest as I sat on a bench in front of a bank of lockers. Then I pulled out my phone and tapped on her name in my contacts.
She and I had talked just about every night right before she went to bed. We’d kept the topics about her past, my past, what she’d gone through with her divorce, and a bunch of genericthings. Then I’d broken down and told her about my G-LOC and about Tate, my medical review, and that I was still grounded pending the most important test of all.
I glanced at my watch then tapped the phone icon. I had to hear her voice, but since it was eight a.m., she was probably starting her first class.
I called anyway. If she didn’t pick up, then I would at least hear her voice when her voicemail kicked in.
The line rang twice before she answered. “Jace, is everything okay?” I hated to hear the worry in her tone, which was a major reason I hadn’t wanted her to know about my incident.
“Hey, Sunshine. Have you started class yet?”
I could hear voices in the background behind her. “No, the bell doesn’t ring for another ten minutes. I’m heading to a quiet spot. Aren’t you doing your centrifuge test today?”
“Thirty minutes. But I needed to hear your voice.”
“You’re nervous,” she said.
“Freaking out.” I would’ve never admitted that to anyone else, but I was sure she could hear the anxiety in my voice, and I was truthful when I agreed to no secrets.
“Look, you’re a badass pilot. You got through all that training, and you’ve been flying for years. This test is no different. It’s like riding a bike. You will not G-LOC, Jace. Use that as your mantra.”
I rubbed the tightness in my chest. “Thank you. I should go. I’ll see you tonight?”
“Do you want to hang at my house? We can order in. Maybe watch a movie. Ethan won’t be home.”
I wasn’t sure how I would feel by the end of the day, but it didn’t matter, as long as I was with Monroe. “That sounds great.”
“Awesome. Does six work for you?” she asked.
“I’ll be there. And thanks for picking up the phone.”
“I got you, Jace.”
Those three words sent goose bumps along my arms. I swore they rivaledI love you. Hell, maybe even better. To know she was there for me was more than I could ask for, and I thought I had just fallen in love with her.
After we said goodbye, I felt as though I could conquer anything until Pierce sauntered in, switching on my nerve radar.
“Morning, Captain.” He scraped his fingers through his cropped brown hair. “Are you ready for this?”
“Yes, sir.” That was the only answer he wanted, and I prayed that I didn’t look like I was about to puke.
“Good. The techs will be in to help suit you up. Remember your training. Coordinate your breathing and muscle contractions, avoiding large breaths and maintaining pressure to keep the blood flow to the brain.”
Easier said than done.
“I got it, sir,” I replied with confidence. Then I started repeating my mantra Monroe had given me.
I will not G-LOC. I will not G-LOC.
Twenty minutes later, I was in a G-suit, helmet on, strapped into the centrifuge machine. For a second, I closed my eyes and pictured Monroe. Her silky blond hair. Her beautiful green eyes that sucked me in. Her soft voice in my head.You will not G-LOC, Jace.
