Chapter 20 #3
“I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. How you see an adventure where all I see is danger. I’ve spent so much of my life trying to keep everything—and everyone—safe that I forgot fear isn’t the same as wisdom. Frankly, sometimes it’s just fear.”
“Oh, Tate,” she whispered, her pulse thrumming as he moved closer. Lainey stepped forward and collected his helmet, then quickly walked away.
“I jumped today because I wanted to know how it felt to see the world the way you do. Just once. To feel the freedom you keep chasing with your camera. To understand why you run toward things that scare you when all I ever do is back away.”
Her throat grew tight.
He closed the distance between them. “I get scared, Scottie. But I’m learning that your safety isn’t something I control. God is the one in control, and I have to trust Him. With you, with us, and with the future. I can love you, but I can’t be your shield. Only He can.”
She gulped back a sob.
“You’re not going to fit in some tiny box.
You never have. I should have known that.
And you shouldn’t have to change who you are.
You deserve to be loved unconditionally.
I’m sorry, Scottie. I’m so sorry I tried to hold you back.
I’m sorry I tried to dull your edges to make myself feel comfortable. ”
Tears blurred her vision.
“I wanted to show you—in front of everybody—that I can take big risks too. I know you don’t need me to jump out of a plane to be worthy of you.
But I needed to prove to myself that I can be brave when it counts the most. So I’m here right now telling you that I’ll love you no matter what, no matter where you go. ”
Wind lifted Scottie’s curls and whipped her hair across her face. He reached down, gathered her hair in his hands, and tucked it behind her ear.
“I’m sorry too,” she said. “I tried to pretend like I didn’t need you or anyone, and that wasn’t fair. I pushed you away because it was so much easier than actually believing that you love me and want what’s best for me.”
“You’re the bravest person I’ve ever known.
But you still deserve to have somebody in your corner.
I love you,” he said. “I love you when you scare me and when you don’t.
I love you when you’re up to your waist in the Copper River trying to get that epic shot.
And when you’re delirious with a fever. I love you, Scottie, always and forever. ”
“You jumped out of a plane,” Scottie said again.
He nodded once. “Sure did.”
She stepped into him. The smell of the nylon and the crisp aroma of leaves and exhaust from the planes swirled around them.
“I love you, Tate McGuire. Thank you for being honest with me even when I don’t want to hear it.” She lifted her hands up to cup his face in her palms. “I hate that I overlooked you. That I dismissed you when you were the most grounded thing in my life.”
His eyes closed for a beat. Then he opened them and relief flickered across his face. “Does this mean I can kiss you now?”
Scottie didn’t answer with words. She pressed up on her tiptoes and kissed him. Tate responded, and it wasn’t a gentle kiss. Scottie reached down and grabbed fistfuls of his jacket, tugging him closer. He breathed a tiny, surprised sound.
Somewhere, somebody whooped, then a smattering of applause filled the air.
“Finally!” Theo yelled.
Scottie and Tate broke apart. He rested his forehead against hers, his laugh low, private.
“Hope I didn’t ruin your plans for the day.”
“Wrecked them all,” Scottie said, breathless, “in the best possible way.”
He leaned back, thumbed away a tear.
“I-I’m going to tell Damian I don’t want to go to New Zealand. You’re right. It’s too dangerous.”
His brow furrowed. “You have to go. It’s what you’ve been working so hard for. You were made for big, camera-toting adventures. I love that about you. But then come back to me, because you belong here.”
Scottie thought about her dad laughing. Lainey handing out confetti blondie bars to a rugged community that had learned to build and rebuild over and over again. About her family caught in a vicious cycle of freakish tragedies.
“Deal,” she said. “On one condition.”
His brows sailed upward.
“You can’t ever jump out of a plane without me again.”
His grin cut wide. “Next time, we go together.”
Then he kissed her again.
“All right, lovebirds,” Damian said, pretending to be annoyed. “Wrap it up.”
Tate stole one more kiss, then reached for her hand. Overhead, the plane with the banner circled back. The fabric lifted, displaying the words again. She grinned at Tate.
“Quick, let me get a photo.” Lainey motioned for them to stop moving, then snapped a picture of them. She checked the screen. “This is amazing, you guys. I’ve got the plane and the banner in the background.”
“Thank you, Lainey,” Scottie said, although at the moment, capturing the perfect shot was the last thing on her mind. Not when she had this gorgeous man, with his hand wrapped in hers, promising her a future that surpassed her wildest dreams.