Page 35 of We Thought We Were Invincible
“We're up first!” Parker yelled to be heard. “We aren't quite at altitude so when we walk over, stand with your toes on the edge, but don't jump until I say.”
Callie pulled her goggles down and stood before waddling over to the open door.
“Good luck, Cal,” I yelled. She was able to pry one hand free of the door frame long enough to flip me the bird. I grinned as she disappeared from sight.
Hank and I were next. One instant we were sitting on the bench, and the next we were at the open door. Everything in me screamed that this was wrong. My body wanted to revolt. You're not supposed to jump from a plane. What the hell were we doing?
I couldn't see much with the blinding light and adrenaline causing my system to work on overdrive. This was stupid. God, was it stupid. I didn't want to do it anymore. My body wanted to be sitting back on that perfectly good bench.
Just when I didn't think I could take it any longer, Hank spoke. “Ready?”
“No.”
His laugh vibrated through me. “Breathe. Breathe and jump.”
Now or never. I dangled one foot out of the door for just a second before making the plunge. There was no stomach drop, no feeling of falling. Instead, our bodies lifted as I arched my back. The wind rushed in my ears, causing all thought to leave my mind as the ground came into view. The ocean sparkled in the distance, a diamond, uncut and wild.
A peace settled in my chest, and I only wished it would last. This feeling, like nothing bad could happen to me, it was the closest I'd ever get to perfection. I screamed then, as loud as I could, knowing that not even Hank would hear me and not stopping until my throat felt raw.
I closed my eyes for just a second, imagining I was rising instead of plummeting to the earth. I could fly.
It was over too soon. My eyes popped open as my harness jerked me backwards and up as the parachute snapped open above us.
The deafening noise that had been present since I stepped out of that plane was gone now, replaced by a calming silence as we floated through space.
“Still scared, tough guy?” Hank's rough voice cut the string between reality and fantasy, jerking me out of my peace. “Wasn't that incredible? Gets me every time.”
“Incredible is one word for it.” The adrenaline I hadn't felt on the rapid descent hit me now like a rogue wave, washing over me, trying to pull me under. Excitement warred with fear, until my head finally broke the surface, my body buzzing. I was hanging suspended as we descended the last 6000 feet, but any sense of fear was pushed away.
“Dude, this is sweet,” I said.
“You'll never see the ocean the same way,” Hank agreed.
It shone, large and dark. I'd spent most of my life in those waters, chasing waves, but this was a new perspective.
Gulf City came into view, but it wasn't much to see from above. Pretty ugly actually. It took only ten short minutes to reach the ground with Hank steering our parachute toward the landing zone. I wasn't ready to go down yet. Things were so much simpler up there. They just didn't last.
I pulled my legs up as we got close, just as I'd been taught. The harness tugged and strained on my upper thighs, making it harder. Hank was shorter than me and I didn't get them up high enough, causing my feet to hit first and sending us tumbling to the grass. He crashed into me, stealing my breath.
“That's one way to land.” Hank laughed as he climbed off me and unhooked our harnesses.
My heart hammered in my chest as I sat there, stunned to be back on the ground. Hank pushed his visor up and offered me a hand with a smile, knowing exactly what I was feeling, what I'd just experienced. Knowing that if this day wasn't the best day of my life, it was at least top five.
I removed my goggles and gripped his hand to climb to my feet.
Turning around, I searched the landing zone.
“Jamie.” Callie came barreling toward me, still high on adrenaline.
I grinned and met her halfway, picking her up around the waist. She threw her arms around my neck, laughing.
“That was the best thing ever,” I yelled, spinning her around.
“It was crazy,” she responded.
“If by crazy you mean just what we needed.” I stopped moving and pulled back to look at her.
“Exactly.” Sliding down my body, her feet hit the ground, jolting her back to herself. She pulled away just as Parker ran over, taking a few pictures and then throwing an arm around each of us.
