The Conundrum of Collies (Love & Pets #6) - A.G. Henley Page 0,43

of the van. “I’ll tell you one of these days.”

“Taking I-25 to the Longmont exit is best, love, like they said on the website,” Dean says from behind the wheel as we get on the road.

“No, babe, if we want to avoid traffic, we should go toward Boulder and take 287 up and then over to Longmont,” Tamara argues.

“You guys have the sweetest arguments,” I say.

“Best way to stay married.” Dean says to me in the mirror. “Don’t worry, you’ll see.”

I snort. “Sure about that? I’m no closer to finding a husband than I was at Jazzy’s age.”

Dean guffaws, and Tamara smacks his arm again, harder this time. She shoots him a warning look, although I’m not at all sure what he’s done wrong. Logan looks out the window.

The ride to Longmont takes a little over an hour. We get there in time to use the restroom, grab a drink of water, and report to the briefing room. The safety video takes about half an hour, and then we’re introduced to our instructors. We each have our own, because we’re doing tandem jumps. Mine is Seth, a burly, bearded, tattooed guy, and Logan has a wiry older man named Mike.

Tamara and Dean meet their instructors, and together, we decide that they’ll dive first, so we can watch them for a minute or two, and then Logan and I will go. Supposedly, we’ll all land near each other. I hope.

“Here.” Logan hands me my hoodie and jacket out of his backpack. “I brought you these. They said it can be cold at 18,000 feet, even in summer.” He hands me my layers, and our fingers brush together. His eyes warm again. “Excited? Number two on your list is nearly in the bag.”

“I’m so excited. And so touched. Thank you for planning this.”

Something flares in his eyes . . . an intensity . . . like he wants to say something important, but he turns away, patting the front pocket of his jeans as if reassuring himself something is there.

My nerves kick in around the time we’re fitted for jumpsuits and Seth shows me our shared parachute rigging. He assures me he’s already checked it thoroughly. He’ll wear it and engage it when it’s time. I’m responsible for me and my borrowed safety goggles. But that makes me more anxious, in a way. I have zero control of this situation. I excuse myself to use the restroom one more time.

When I come out, Logan’s talking to our instructors. I wouldn’t have noticed anything weird about the interaction, except that they all smile, Seth shakes his hand, and Mike pats him on the shoulder, then they clam up as soon as they see me. Odd.

“Ready?” Logan asks me.

“Scared to death, actually,” I say. “But ready as I’ll ever be.”

He puts an arm around me and hugs me to him. “You’ve wanted to do this forever. You’ve got this.”

I nod and smile at him, grateful that he’s his normal self today. I’ve missed him, I realize. Missed our easy friendship. I squeeze his side, then Tamara, Dean, Logan, and I follow the instructors and the videographer Logan is paying extra to film my jump into the twin engine, jet-prop airplane. The propellers spin, making a whole lot of noise, and the smell of fuel makes me hold my breath.

The flight up is uneventful . . . if you call being petrified about the possibility of free falling for hundreds of feet while hoping a large piece of fabric will keep you from slamming into the ground at one hundred miles per hour uneventful.

And then we’re at jumping altitude, or whatever the video called it. Most of the thoughtful, thorough safety training dribbled out of my head on the way up here, along with any sense of security I usually possess. Terror takes its place when the instructors tell us it’s time.

Dean high fives me from his seat on the other side of Tamara, and my sister hugs me.

“Happy thirtieth birthday, Stevie. I hope this is your best year ever.” She glances at Logan, and her eyes sparkle in a mischievous way. His face gives nothing away.

We stand so the instructors can attach the tandem harnesses to each of us, and then Logan and I hold on to metal grips on the sides of the airplane and watch as first Tamara, brave soul, and then Dean jump with their instructors. Tam half screams and half laughs as she falls out of the side of the