UNSHAKABLE (Able Series Book 4) (17 page)

“Cody!” The three girls yell out then hit his head and shoulders, simultaneously.

“Toothpaste?” Luke questions.

“Don’t ask, man. If you don’t want to lose the stiffy, stay away from the minty . . . that’s all I’m gonna say on that one.”

Cody’s craziness calms me some, but the closer we get to our destination the sweatier my palms get. Even the thought of Damien jumping with me doesn’t calm my nerves. Heights and I don’t mix—ever. Twenty-five minutes later, we arrive at the airfield and I’m close to ordering Luke to drive us back.

On board the plane that’ll takes us to our deaths, Damien triple checks the contraption attached to me even though Luke already has checked it twice.

“You good?” He asks as his fingers busily pull on hooks and cables. I look anywhere other than at him wanting to show bravado, but inside I’m dying. Like I want to puke my guts out dying. “Eyes on me, baby,” he commands, and of course I oblige.

“Do you know why I’m doing this? Why I want you to do this with me?”

I huff in a not so lady like fashion. “I really don’t know, unless you want to see me pee my pants or puke my guts out.” I stop, realizing something. “Depends! I should’ve worn Depends!”

He grins at me, then a quick peck on my lips, which turns into another then another, and before I know it my lips are devouring his. I’m like someone on death row demanding her last meal, except I’m demanding my last kiss from the last man I’ll ever love before I jump to my death.

Releasing my lips as he rests his forehead on mine he explains, “I know you’re afraid of heights and by doing this with me it’ll teach you to trust and depend on me. I need you to pull from my strength and learn from it, so when the time comes that I’m away, when you can’t feel my body close to yours; you’ll remember how brave you are.”

I pull him close to me, planting my face into his neck as tears of joy and contentment rain down my face wetting his skin. This man completes me in every way. His strengths cover my weaknesses and his love overpowers mine, taking us to new and higher heights that no one can reach.

“It’s only us up here. Think that way when I’m not around, because I think that way when we’re apart. Now, tell me how much you love me.”

“I love you so much—too much.”

His eyes never leave mine, a silent communication that speaks volumes makes me giddy and the happiest I’ve been, forgetting I’m about to jump thousands of feet above the ground. His love makes me forget the bad and remember the good . . . always the good. With his bluish green eyes holding mine captive, I don’t realize we’re walking closer to the open door to meet the clouds floating around us.

I hear a voice in the distance counting down as I watch with my own eyes. Trish securely attached to Jake jumps off followed by Roxy and Cody, then Tami and Brian. I look behind us seeing Neil attached to an instructor with his eyes closed and his hands clasp tightly together as if he’s praying. Well, I think he is.

Damien nudges me taking two small steps forward when I ask, “How long again?” Then Jared jumps out. “God, please don’t let him die!” I exclaim.

Damien chuckles behind me. “Up to sixty seconds of freefall, then about five to seven minutes with the parachute.”

Clearing my throat I croak out. “Sixty seconds. A lot can happen in sixty seconds. . . . up-chucking can happen in sixty seconds. Oh, God.” He kisses my neck which momentarily calms me, but the roaring of the plane’s engine jump starts my nerves again.

Luke jumps off as he gives me a salute.

It’s our turn, and I can’t feel my legs. I can only hear the loud thudding of my heart about ready to jump out of my chest. Before he pushes us over, his lips land on my ears. “Enjoy the ride with me. Open your eyes and spread your arms . . . no fear, just us. You with me?”

“Always.”

Then he pushes us over, and I do what he asks of me. I open my eyes to see what’s ahead and spread my arms so wide, conquering my fears with him.

Free
—I never knew freedom could feel like this. Though I could never experience it without facing my fears.

Falling
—As scary as it seems, the freedom gained is immeasurable and doing it with the person I fear losing the most is indescribable.

DAMIEN

I enjoy sky diving so much I want to stay up here far longer than I should. But at this moment, I want to touch the ground as soon as I push us over . . .

As I’m flanked by the people I trust the most, I feel content, calm, and in control. I check my sky diving watch. Once I see the right altitude, I yank the string, releasing the parachute forcing us higher. I wait for a loud scream to escape her, but when it doesn’t a sense of satisfaction spreads across my chest knowing that even through her fear, her confidence in us rises above it.

Gliding our way down, I feel her fear expel from her body while apprehension seizes mine. I keep telling myself once I’m on solid ground, my heart will take over my nerves, and the words will just pour out of me giving me the freedom my heart demands.

As the images on the ground start to take shape, I look around us only to see my brothers with their own precious cargos descending way ahead of me. Jake’s orange parachute is marked with ‘My Big J vs. Cancer = TKO’, Cody’s says ‘My life 4 hers’, and Brian’s says ‘We <3 baby Dominic’. Reading each of their sayings as if they’re thanking the good Lord for their blessings makes me excited for Sophia to read what ours says.

I love my wife . . .

I pull the two strings to control our landing, hoping she’ll remember the instructions I told her. We’re going in butt-landing style and as we glide across the grassy field with my body covering her slim one, excitement pumps through my veins.

As soon as our butts make contact, Cody is there to help Sophia get up while Jake untangles us from all of the contraptions. My sister hands me one of the most important thing my Wildflower will ever wear as Cody, Tami, and Trish distract her. I slowly make my way to her, kneeling on one knee as I nod to my brother-in-law to turn her around to face me.

“Beautiful.” One word leaves my mouth. One truth amongst the many my heart wants to spill out. “Sophia Andrews, you
will
marry me. There’s no doubt about it.
Not
in my mind and
never
in my heart. You’re it for me, baby. The rush you felt just now is the rush I always feel when I’m with you. I love you, Wildflower. My heart loves you, my body craves you, my arms long to hold you, and my mind thinks only of you. My need for you will never cease even after I make you mine. I know it’ll rev to heights I’ve never felt before, and by God I want to reach those heights. Are you ready to jump with me again?”

She looks at me with tears swimming in her eyes. Acceptance and joy etch on her face as her eyes never leave mine, not even to look at the ring. She’s as focused on me as I am on her. Every intake of her breath matches mine and as clarity hits her, the truth of her answer reaches my ears.

“Yes.”

“I want to marry you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” She asks. Her eyes shine with excitement.

“Is tomorrow a problem?” I grin at her.

She smiles shaking her head. “Tomorrow is just fine.”

“Tomorrow it is.”

My arms wrap around her as my lips descend on hers slowly, and no one exists but the two of us. Our hearts become one in this moment with every glide of her tongue against mine. It cements what I already know . . . that our love will stand whatever comes our way. Each swipe, a declaration of one to the other that the forever we seek will and can be achieved.

Love . . . our love will take us there.

My hand finds her finger—the correct one to hold my ring. One of the two rings she’ll ever wear and never take off.

Free
—seeing her wear my ring frees me. The strength of my desire for her may be confining to some, but for me it’s freeing—her love frees me.

Falling
—I’ve already fallen without the need to stand back up. Falling in love with her allows me to soar . . . to fly, and for that I’ll gladly continue gliding . . . falling.

SOPHIA

“I’M GETTING MARRIED!” I YELL
, and Roxy quickly clamps her hand on my mouth.

“Hush little baby, don’t say a word, you’re gonna get a spanking fest . . . and if that spanking fest won’t work, Damien’s gonna nibble on your breast.” Roxy sings to the tune of Hush Little Baby.

“You haven’t lost your touch, Rox.” Trish giggles.

Cody wiggles his brows. “My love is so talented; she could work in a circus!”

Roxy pulls me to her as I wrap my arm around her waist. “Let me tell you about girl power, Soph. My brother may appear tough on the outside, but he’s. . . .”

“Roxy, I’m giving you five seconds to get your hands off my girl and out of her head.”

Roxy stops, turns to glare at my fiancé, and then starts walking. “He thinks that scares me . . . pssh, all bark and no bite.”

“Baby, c’mere please,” Damien calls.

I stop, ready to turn when Roxy yanks on my arm. “You need to be strong, girlfriend. Remember what I told you, no talk, no touch, no eye contact.”

“Hey, my man isn’t a dog!” Jake is quick to come to his defense.

Trish counters, “Uh-huh, so you say.”

Tami starts clapping, power walking to the cars. “Hurry, we have a wedding to plan! Time is of the essence, people!”

As Damien is about to get in the car, Roxy stops him. “Sorry big brother, you can’t be with her until the wedding day.”

Damien’s nostrils flare and his jaw clenches. “I don’t think so, Roxy. I don’t believe in that shit.”

“Well, she believes in that shit!”

“I do?” I question or answer, depending on how you look at it.

Cody pushes Damien off, then says, “Come on, bro, we have a bachelor’s party to plan.”

Roxy sticks her head out the window. “Plan it and see what happens. The po po will be up your ass and don’t expect me to bail you out!”

“Is he serious? I don’t know how I feel about a scantily clad woman dancing on Damien’s lap.” My brows furrow, not liking Cody’s idea at all.

Neil waves his hand. “Don’t believe Cody. He’s so afraid of the minty fresh, he won’t dare cross Roxy.”

“What about my dress?” My heart experiences its first jolt after thinking about what I’m going to wear.

Tami hugs me from behind. “No worries, your mom has that covered. She had your gown made when LT, I mean Damien, talked to your parents a couple of weeks ago. Trish is your official photographer, Roxy’s in-charge of the staging, and I’ll do your hair and make-up, Soph. Meanwhile, Neil, please call the florist and the bakery to verify we’re still on schedule.”

“You’re not upset your mom picked your wedding dress, are you?” Trish questions.

I smile shaking my head. “No. Someone always picks my dresses for me anyway. Anyone can pick my wedding dress anytime, as long as I get to pick who my husband will be; I’m happy with that.”

I’m overwhelmed by their support, and my tears start to well up. “Thank you so much. I don’t know what to say. I don’t mean to impose, and I certainly don’t want you guys to think. . . .”

“Hey, stop that. You’re part of the family now. Damien wants us to do this for you. I’ve never seen my brother act this way before. He loves you so much, Soph. He wants to give you the best, the best of him, and that includes us.” She smiles.

I wipe my tears and lean my head on Roxy’s shoulder. “I’m glad I met him. Now I have three sisters, three brothers, and one winggay!”

“That’s right, sistah!” Neil snaps his fingers.

As we drive back to the hotel, my phone beeps signaling a text.

Damien: I miss you already.

Me: I’m just a car away.

Damien: You didn’t kiss me. You always kiss me.

Me: Blame your sister.

Damien: How much do you love me?

Me: So much—too much. How hard?

Damien: Roxy!

I’m laughing so hard I’m shaking because Roxy grabs my phone and types the ‘how hard’ part. I’m trying to grab it before she types something else.

“Roxy, stop, you’re gonna get me in trouble!”

“Have you guys done the deed?” Roxy asks, seemingly unembarrassed about the question. “And, you’re not going to plead the fifth.”

I’m turning all shades of red while Luke and Travis both shake their heads.

“Umm, nowehaven’tdonethedeed,” I mumble rather quickly.

“Huh? Why are you mumbling?”

“Neil! I don’t want to repeat myself. We haven’t done the. . . . you know what!” I huff while I steal a glance at Luke.

“Hmmm, she’s being tight lipped here. Should we force it out of her?” Neil wiggles his brows at me.

“Neil, we don’t want to scare her away now, do we?” Tami quips.

Travis’ phone rings, then he clears his throat. “Sophia, Damien said and I quote ‘Do not answer Neil or Roxy’s questions’.”

“You know, I should kiss Damien for taking us sky diving . . .” Neil pauses then continues, “ . . . because all those sexy men in black surrounding me makes me want to. . . .” Another pause, then he belts out It’s Raining Men, “ . . . for the first time in his-tor-y it’s gonna start raining men, it’s raining men, hallelujah it’s raining men, amen! Sing it girls!”