“I know. Big, huge, giant mistake.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Ace mutters as three blondes who all look almost identical walk up to our group, giggling.
“Yeah, it was that bad,” I tell him as Sven stiffens at my side when one of the blondes stands next to him.
“Why are you working for Sven? I thought you were still modeling?”
“Modeling?” Sven asks, and the three women begin to giggle louder, like they can’t believe their ears.
“I thought we were skydiving,” I state, changing the subject, because at this time, I would much rather be falling to my death than in the middle of this situation.
“Who’s your friend?” the blonde standing at Sven’s side asks, raking her eyes over him.
“Sorry, ladies. This is my friend, Sven, and this is Maggie.” He smiles, nodding toward me.
“And you dated her?” a different blonde questions, looking between Ace and me with a puzzled look on her (sadly) beautiful face.
“I did.” Ace nods, still smiling.
“But she’s fat,” she mutters, looking me over.
“Pardon?” Sven snarls as Ace growls, “Crystal.”
“Sorry,” she whispers, taking a step back toward the safety of her friends.
“Let’s go.” Grabbing my hand and not giving me a choice, Sven pulls me away from the group and leads me toward the building, swinging his arm over my shoulders, asking, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s not the first time someone has called me fat.”
“I mean with Ace.”
“Oh, him? Yeah.” I shrug.
“Really?”
“Of course, we dated casually for a few months. It wasn’t serious. Like you, I don’t think he will ever settle down with one woman.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” he snaps, sounding insulted as he pulls his arm from me like I just burned him.
“Hey, don’t be offended. There are two types of men in this world: the kind who want a family, and the kind who want to have a good time. As long as you’re okay with who you are, nothing else matters.”
“Who said I don’t want a family?”
“When have you ever had a serious relationship?” I ask, and his face closes down. “Exactly,” I mumble as we step out of the hot sun and into the cool interior of the building.
“So what, you and Ace just hooked up?”
“No.” I shake my head then whisper so Ace, who is following close behind, can’t hear. “I think I caught him during a time he believed he wanted something more, only he didn’t really want the pressure or the fidelity of a real relationship.” Just then, thankfully, a tall, older gentleman who Sven introduces to me as Kip, the owner, comes out to greet us and takes us back to the hangar.
“Since I have more jumps under my belt, I think Mags should jump with me,” Ace says as I put on the jumpsuit the instructor just gave me.
“She’s jumping with me, and her name is Maggie, not Mags,” Sven grumbles from my side as he reads over some paperwork Kip gave him.
“You call her Mags?” Ace states, crossing his arms over his chest with an amused grin.
“She’s mine.”
“I’m not a thing. I’m a human, and I’m not yours.” I roll my eyes at Sven then look at Ace. “I’m not jumping with you. Take Dumb, Dumber, or Dumbest,” I say with a nod to the three blondes, who are each looking confused as the instructors attempt to help them get into their gear.
“Is that jealousy I hear in your tone, Maggie?”
“No, I just don’t want to be close to you.”
“If I recall correctly, you used to like being close to me,” he says quietly enough for just me to hear.
“I also used to like strawberries until I found out they were the cause for the hives I kept getting,” I mutter, and he chuckles.
“You always did make me laugh,” he says softly.
“That’s me, always good for a laugh,” I grumble, turning away from him.
“Will you be okay while I go talk with Ace for a few minutes?” Sven asks, placing his fingers under my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his.
“Of course,” I whisper, wishing in that moment he would kiss me, which is absolutely ridiculous.
“I’ll be just a couple minutes,” he whispers back searching my gaze then shakes his head, drops his hand, and turns placing his hand on Ace’s shoulder leading him away. Watching them, I wonder what kind of business they need to talk about. Ace is a poker player who first made a name for himself in online gambling, but has since grown into one of the biggest names in Vegas. I haven’t seen Ace since the day I told him I couldn’t see him anymore two years ago. He was always searching for the next adrenalin rush, while I was searching for a happily ever after. It looks like we’re both still looking. Ignoring the sadness that thought makes me feel, I finish getting ready, take a seat, and wait for Sven to come back.
“ARE YOU READY?” Sven asks close to my ear, so I can hear him over the loud roar of the plane’s engines. Shaking my head, I squeeze my eyes closed then grab onto both his thighs when the plane bounces. “I promise nothing will happen to you,” he says gently, giving my waist a squeeze, pulling me closer to him, which seems impossible since I’m literally sitting on his lap.
“We’re at diving altitude,” the pilot announces over the loud speakers that run the length of the interior of the plane. Opening my eyes, I watch one of the instructors unlatch the door and pull it open, causing the interior to fill with cool air.
“We’ll jump last,” Sven yells.
I nod then call back, “If I die, I’m going to come back and haunt you.” It only serves to make him laugh so hard that my body, which is strapped to his, shakes with it.
“See you below!” Ace hollers as he heads past us with one of the blondes strapped to his front.
“Good riddance,” I grumble then feel Sven’s body shake under mine once more. Watching Ace jump from the plane, followed by his other two girlfriends who are strapped to instructors, I feel a surge of adrenalin rush through my system.
“Let’s go, babe,” Sven says standing up, leaving me no choice but to go with him toward the open door. Looking down, my eyes fill with tears. I have taken plane trips a lot over the years, and I have always loved when I’m able to get the window seat so I can look out over the world as we fly above it. But knowing I’m going to be falling toward the quilted-looking ground below is a different feeling altogether.
“Cross your arms over your chest, baby,” Sven instructs, lightly taking my wrists in his hands and placing them across my front.
“I hate you.”
“On three. One, two…”
And then we’re falling.
“You motherfucking asshole, son of a bitch!” I gulp as air rushes toward me so fast that my mouth opens and fills, causing my cheeks to expand. Forcing my mouth closed, I grab onto the straps near my shoulders and hold on for dear life, even though I know they can do nothing to save me. Squeezing my eyes closed, we twist and turn as my stomach dips and drops.
“I’m gonna open the ‘chute.”