“It’s okay to acknowledge our fears, just don’t let them win and remember, ‘you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think.’”
She jerked forward and looked over her shoulder. “Did you just quote Pooh Bear?”
“Actually, it was Christopher Robin who said it, I’ll have you know.” I laughed.
“Sorry, my bad.” She patted her chest. “I didn’t realize you were so up on your bedtime stories?”
“Nah, that quote stuck with me from one of the times I read Maxim a story at bedtime at my parents’.”
“You’re a really good guy, Jaxon.”
“Glad you think so, and hopefully you’ll still feel that way after we’ve jumped out of a plane together at fourteen thousand feet.” I unclipped her eye goggles, slid them over her head and into place, tucking underneath her ponytail, before putting mine on.
“You could have kept that little detail to yourself, mister. I didn’t need to know that.”
“But where’s the fun in that? You’re going to need that factoid for bragging rights afterward.” I tilted my wrist and saw we were approaching ten thousand feet. “All right, push up into a kneeling position. I’m going to connect us now.”
Carl checked us over again and made sure every clip, strap, and release pull were all set to go before the three of us moved into position once the red light changed to green on the wall beside the plane’s main door, letting us know we’d reached the jumping altitude.
“Just remember what I said: arch your back, chin up, and thumbs hooked in the straps until I tap your shoulder.”
“Okay.” She smiled confidently over her shoulder, and fuck, if I wasn’t out of my mind with excitement to give her this experience.
Carl opened the hatch door, gave us the thumbs-up, and off he went, jumping first to get into position to capture us.
“Let’s do this, on three—two—one. Jump!”
Chapter Nine
Lily
The moment we jumped out of the plane’s door, the air smacked me in the face and stole my breath while it whooshed loudly and relentlessly in my ears.
Holyfuckingshit! I thought to myself in total disbelief.
The feeling of hurtling toward the earth that looked worlds away made my stomach lurch in panic until Jaxon tapped my shoulder, reminding me to let go of my harness and hold my arms out to my sides. It was then that I couldn’t determine if I was falling or floating as I arched my back as he instructed, with my chin up.
I surrendered myself to the intense feeling, knowing that the tether apparatus kept Jaxon and me locked together as we free-fell through the sky. His presence was my safety net, silencing my fears and grounding me in the experience.
Seeing our small town from this vantage point was nearly indescribable. The views were beyond my wildest dreams. The lush green fields were picturesque, while the sun sparkling off the surrounding lakes was breathtaking. It reminded me of howtiny we were in this vast world, even though so much of it was at our fingertips, ready to explore, and yet, instead of feeling lost, I felt free.
With nothing to hold on to, I relinquished my body and soul to the heavens and let go.
Let go of the fear, doubts, and the guilt I’d carried so deeply embedded in my bones.
My intrusive thoughts, once stuck in a loop, vanished.
My mind embraced a feeling so foreign—freedom.
Raw and in its purest form.
Tendrils of hair were tickling my face when Jaxon reached for my hand and directed me to the parachute’s release. The moment I pulled it, there was a sharp jolt and a sudden whoosh that sucked us upward when the chute burst open. What was once a deafening howl in my ears had been replaced by a gentleness as we glided steadily in a seated position through the air.
After the initial burst of adrenaline had surged through me, I embraced the calm, allowing it to wrap around my soul like a silent promise, reminding me I was braver than I’d ever given myself credit for in the past.
The feeling of change on the horizon was a welcome breath of fresh air.
The core of who I was had screamed silently at the sky for years, aching to have my feelings heard, to be understood, even when I buried them beneath who I thought I was supposed to be to please others.
