Page 35 of Ripple Effect
“Us? You know when we were, um, free-falling?”
“At a guess? Somewhere between 120-140 miles per hour.”
“I don’t even drive that fast! Forget being in love with him. I’m killing him the minute we hit the ground,” I declare.
“Are you always this fun because if you are, I might see if Cal wants to sign you up to get certified.”
“There is no way you’re getting me back in that damn plane,” I announce to Bruce haughtily.
“Well, if this is going to be your only jump, let’s make it a good ending. Landing procedures. Remember, lift your legs, Libby. I control the landing. When we glide in, I’ll try to land on my feet depending on the wind. Check?”
“Check.” I’m seriously paying attention.
“My feet will hit first. You’ll feel the impact through your body. If you do, put yours down. You’ll be standing, and I’ll capture the chute. Otherwise, you’ll end up between my legs and I’ll cushion you. Check?”
“Check.” I want to land much more gracefully than I took off. Then, I want to set fire to this rig, steal Cal’s keys, and go home and eat the rest of the coconut pecan cake on my own.
I see another canopy below us. Pointing to it, I ask, “Is that Cal?”
“Yep. We’re circling to let him land first.”
Gee, more time in the air. I’ll be sure to thank him later. I can’t give it much thought because the ground is fast approaching. I feel Bruce’s legs lift, giving me a silent cue to lift mine. I do. Then, miracle of miracles, his feet grab hold. I drop my legs, and we both stumble forward. “Holy crap. We made it! Get me out of this thing so I can kiss your face.”
“I think someone might have a problem with that, though I appreciate the offer.” Bruce unhooks us, but just as I’m about to turn around to thank him for saving me from certain death, my body is hauled against Cal’s.
His hair is tousled, like after I run my fingers through it. His eyes are dilated, as if he’s in shock. Immediately, my anger is wiped away out of concern. What could have happened? He’s been on the ground maybe a minute more than Bruce and me. “Honey? What’s wrong?”
“Not a damn thing.” Cal yanks me into his arms. One hand cups my cheek while the other bands tightly around my waist. It’s so tight, I can feel it through the rig, the jumpsuit, and my clothes I’m wearing underneath in the beautiful November South Carolina day. “I just thought you should know I love you too.”
“Oh, my God. You heard me? How?” I blush to the roots of my hair.
“Does it matter? Or does it matter that I’ll love you every night you close your eyes and every day you open them.”
“No matter what?” I say shakily, not entirely certain if that’s due to Cal’s declaration or the fact I’m alive to hear it.
“I love you, Libby. I will always be yours.”
“Good. Then you’ll still love me when I forgive you for making me jump out of that tin can.” Shoving my way past Cal without even a kiss, I storm back toward the training facility. I don’t care that I’m likely being laughed at.
Never again. I will not experience that hell ever again.
21
Calhoun
Twelve Years Ago from Present Day
I’m grinning like a fool as Libby’s strides eat up the distance quicker than I’ve ever seen her move. Even pissed as hell, she didn’t deny loving me. And I love her so much, I’m consumed with it. I can’t make it without her anymore.
God, I don’t know what I did, but help me keep doing it.
Just as the thought passes through my mind, Bruce tosses an arm over my shoulder. “I didn’t realize it was Libby until she told me to call her by that name right before the jump. Wait till I tell Dawn.” Both Bruce and his wife, Dawn, were team members of Alliance when I was in college. After they retired a few years ago, they opened Sunrise Skydive. While it’s open to the public on the weekends, it serves as a training facility for teams like ours during the week. Even though they retired a few years ago, they still keep their nose in the game, just in a different way.
During their transition out, they got to know Sam and Iris well, helping them understand the nuances of the job the way only another agent of Alliance can. Oftentimes, our jobs are as simple as gathering intel and providing it to the right agency for them to act upon. Since we have no capability to arrest any suspects, we’re limited on what we can do. Then there are others where we’re the ones sent in, my specialty being kidnap and rescues, and our very lives depend on each other not only for the intel, but the backup.
As teams often do, when the adrenaline high is done and we’re waiting to go home, we share. For Sam and Iris, Libby was a frequent topic of conversation. Hell, she still is. At least with me. But when Bruce and Dawn were on the team, I would sit nearby absorbing any news about her I could. I should have recognized then what she meant to me, but I needed her to show me what it was.
Love. The kind that will never end.
