Page 94 of The Bro Pact
Kyle still seems a little unsure, but he nods, offering a quickthanksbefore sipping his coffee.
Shortly after we finish eating, a man walks in, ringing a cowbell to get our attention. “Alright everyone, listen up! It’s almost time to fly!” The crowd murmurs with excitement, eagerto get started. “Take a look at the number on your ticket and please stand in the corresponding area to meet your pilot, where you’ll then be taken to a balloon. We have some safety protocols to go over before we take to the sky.”
Kyle and I make our way to number twelve where we meet our pilot, Amir, before following him out into the field.
“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” Kyle mutters along the way.
I give his hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’ll be worth it.”
Kyle smiles at me sweetly as the early morning sun casts a golden halo around his blond head.
“Alright, boys. Here she is,” Amir announces, and I tear my gaze away from Kyle to focus on the balloon in front of us. It’s a patchwork quilt of bright, rainbow colors just like a lot of the others out here.
We climb into the wicker basket, and Amir finishes his last couple of checks. “Ready for launch?”
“Ready, Amir,” I answer for both of us, and Kyle grabs hold of my hand with a sweaty grip.
Fire shoots up from the burner, filling the balloon, and suddenly we’re off.
Kyle gasps, squeezing even tighter.
I wiggle my hand free from his death grip before he crushes my bones. “Be chill, dude.It’s fine.Amir’s a professional. I promise.”
Kyle isn’t convinced, moving his viselike grip to my forearm.
I close my eyes, feeling like I’m going up a never-ending elevator, but when the basket finally steadies and the adrenaline calms down, it’s truly incredible up here.
The vineyards look magical from above, gradually bathed in a golden glow as the sun fully rises. It’s stunning as we drift above wine country.
It doesn’t take long to become fully bright out, and then we can see everything in detail. Shadows from the other balloons dot the fields below, and low-hanging clouds act like a blanket of fog, covering the mountains in the distance.
“Everything looks so small,” Kyle murmurs, and I almost don’t hear him as the burner ignites once again, and we ascend even higher.
“Yeah, ’cause we’re so high up,” I shout over the wind.
Kyle’s eyes bulge like he’s only just now realizing we’re a couple thousand feet above the ground.
“Relax, Ky. Just feel how steady we are. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
I can’t tell how fast the balloon is actually moving, but soaring over the Napa Valley countryside feels like floating on a cloud and observing the world below like some sort of higher being.
It’s peaceful and serene once we get to top altitude, and I start to become accustomed to the constant roaring of the burner. I think Kyle does, too, because he relaxes some, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me into his side.
I get my phone out, and we take a few selfies as well as some Polaroids, because there’s no fucking way I’m missing the chance to addthisto our photo timeline.
I tuck the camera away to focus back on the moment because the here and now is fucking magnificent.
Breathtaking, actually.
Amir explains how the balloon utilizes the sun and the wind, as well as a brief history of Napa Valley, but then he turns his back to give us privacy.
My dude is getting a nice-ass tip.
I sink further into Kyle, sighing with complete contentment as I enjoy the ride.
This is the closest thing to flying that I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve always wanted to be a superhero.
“Warren?” Kyle asks softly.
