Chapter 29

Sierra

WHEN AARON PULLED UP TO In and Out Burger, I died laughing. “This is where you’re taking me for dinner?”

“Hell yeah. Best burgers around,” Aaron said as he jumped out of his truck and ran to my side. Opening the door, I pushed him out of the way and turned to glare at him.

Placing my hands on my hips, I shook my head. “You are not a true Texan.”

Jerking his head back, Aaron curled his lip and grimaced. “Did you really just say that to me? I’ll have you know, hanging in my bedroom at my parents’ house is a birth certificate from the state of Texas stating I’m a Texas native. I am Texan, one hundred percent, baby.”

“Texas birth certificate? As opposed to?”

Letting out a gruff laugh Aaron gave me a smirk. “You’re just jealous because you don’t have the giant framed birth certificate stating you’re a native Texan.”

Tilting my head, I gave him a look like he was stupid. “Um . . . dipshit. I don’t need one. My actual birth certificate states where I was born. Texas. Why do I need a special one that says the same thing?”

Pointing at me and yelling, “Ha! See. You don’t value your true heritage. If you did, you’d be shouting from the tree tops that you’re a native Texan.”

Dropping my mouth open, I glared at Aaron. “What did you just say? Um . . . excuse me, dickhead, but you’re the one standing in the parking lot of an In and Out Burger that’s from California. Where had I been driving, we would be standing in the parking lot of Mighty Fine Burgers. You know . . . the burger joint started by true Texans.”

Aaron placed his hands over his heart as if I had mortally wounded him. Letting out a giggle, I felt the weight of what happened today slowly lift away. I would not let Robert win. He would not strip me of my happiness.

Aaron reached for my hand and tried to lead me into the no-go zone. Stopping when he realized I wasn’t moving, he let out a small chuckle. “Oh my God, are you serious? You’re really not going to eat here?”

Shaking my head, I said, “Nope. I don’t even care if one of my favorite authors ever loves this place. I’m not going in.”

Aaron looked at me and asked, “Which author? Is she one who makes you laugh? Turns you on?” Wiggling his eyebrows, he pulled me into his arms. “If you were a true fan, you’d eat here just because one of your favorite authors loves this place.”

Giving Aaron a sly smile, I felt the butterflies dance in my stomach as he leaned his forehead against mine. “She made me cry.”

Aaron frowned as he rubbed his nose against mine. “Oh, baby. Good cry or bad cry?”

Looking away, I thought about poor Chase. How could she? Fighting the tears, I looked back at Aaron. “I’d rather not talk about it. Damn it, let’s just eat here. I’m starving and the more we talk about this, the more I shrivel up from hunger.”

***

After being forced to eat in a no-go zone, we finally started making our way to where Aaron said the true fun would begin. I had to admit, I was excited as hell, and my tumbling stomach was the proof. I knew it wasn’t going to be anything fancy, seeing has how Aaron told me to dress in shorts, a T-shirt, and sneakers.

Aaron got on the highway and headed north. “Um . . . are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

Shaking his head, Aaron laughed. Not just a simple, nah I’m not going to let you in on my secret, laugh, but more like a I’ve got an evil plan up my sleeve kind of laugh.

Rolling my eyes, I shrugged my shoulders in an attempt to make it seem like I didn’t care Aaron was keeping me in the dark. Secretly it was killing me. Killing me!

Then it happened. Aaron pulled into the iFly parking lot . . . and parked. Oh hell no. He is crazy insane if he thinks I’m going to partake in this.

I was about to ask him if he was lost when I saw Em come running up to the truck flailing her arms about in a crazy manner. Aaron threw his door open and jumped out of the truck.

Opening the door to the truck, I got out and made my way around to the front where Em ran past me and into Aaron’s arms.

“Yes!” Em said as she hugged Aaron. “Oh my gosh, I’m so excited. This time I’m going to try for six somersaults in a row without throwing up!”

Covering my mouth in an attempt not to start gagging, I glanced over to poor Zach, who had a horrified look on his face. Turning to me, he mouthed, help me.

Giggling, I shook my head and made my way over to the brother and sister freak show. Placing my hands on my hips, I cleared my throat. Aaron and Em turned and looked between Zach and me.

Em smiled from ear to ear. “What’s wrong? You both look like Debbie downers!”

Zach let out a nervous chuckle. “Um . . . Em . . . I’m kind of . . . well . . . I mean . . . I’m um. Well how do I say this?”

“Jesus, son, spit it the hell out,” Aaron said.

Em hit Aaron on the chest. “Stop it, Aaron.” Turning back to Zach, Em gave him her full attention. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

“He’s afraid of heights . . . like me. If you think for one moment we’re going to strap on some stupid looking flying gear and fly around in a tube made for giant rats . . . you’re both insane.”

Zach looked at me and said, “How did you know I was afraid of heights?”

“When fear looks fear in the eyes and begs for help . . . it’s clear. You’re afraid of heights.”

Aaron laughed as he waved both Zach and me off. “Nonsense. Y’all are going to have a blast. You asked for an adventure, baby.” Aaron pointed to the iFly building. “Here it is.”

“Do you want me walking down your parents’ steps in a cast Saturday? Do you?” I said as I jetted out my lower lip in a serious pout, hoping it would tug on Aaron’s heart.

Rolling his eyes, he grabbed my hand and dragged me into the building. For one brief moment I thought about throwing myself to the ground, but I thought better.

After getting signed up, going through our ‘skydiving class,’ we were given our flying gear. Slipping it on, I kept glancing around the room. Em and Aaron were already flying high, and I suspected they came here often. Zach looked like he was ready to crawl into the corner and start rocking back and forth. And me . . . I felt like I was looking into the next twelve hours of my life. Sitting in the ER waiting for either an arm or a leg to be put in a cast.

“I’ll never get to see my wedding,” I mumbled under my breath as Aaron and Em high fived each other and made their way to the giant rat tube.

The second I saw the people in the tube, I felt sick. “Oh hell the fuck no!” I said as everyone turned and looked at me.

“Sierra!” Em said with her eyes about bulging out of her head.

My fearless fiancé who vowed never to let me be hurt laughed his ass off. The instructor smiled and looked at us. “All right, looks like once this party is over, it’s just us!”

Em started jumping up and down as Aaron fist pumped. Who was this man? Maybe it was good I was seeing this side of him before I married him.

The instructor turned and looked at me as if waiting for my response. “Oh yay!” I mumbled as I looked at Zach, who I’m pretty sure was reciting the Our Father prayer.

“Who wants to go first?” the instructor asked. Em and Aaron pushed each other out of the way as I shook my head in disgust.

Zach moved closer to me and whispered, “If they go first, we can make a run for it.”

Pursing my lips, I thought about Zach’s suggestion for a few seconds. “They’ll just come after us. Besides, I don’t think I could run in this jumpsuit if you paid me.”

“Damn. It feels like it’s cutting off my balls,” Zach said as he picked up his leg and shook it. Staring at him, I slowly shook my head and rolled my eyes.

Men.

After calming down Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the instructor informed them I was going first. Glaring at him as he smiled at me, I silently put a curse on the instructor and wished like hell I knew how to build one of those stupid voodoo dolls.

Nodding my head, I slapped my hands together and said, “All right. I got this!”

Aaron and Em cheered me on as Zach quickly wished the best for me. Bastard.

The instructor stepped in first and stood on what I swear looked like chicken wire. Pointing to it, I shouted, “Will that hold me if I fall?”

Nodding, he said, “You won’t fall though.”

Pulling me out, I did as they taught us and put my hands out. I felt like freaking Superman as I hovered over giant machines. The force of wind was so strong I was pretty sure I could go through my entire life never feeling the strength of it ever again. Gripping onto the instructor, he tried to get me to let go.

Oh hell no. I’m an educated woman. I’m not stupid!

“Let go!” he mouthed, since it was so damn loud I couldn’t even hear my own screaming voices in my head.

Shaking my head, I held on tighter.

He mouthed, “You’ve got to let go!”

Sticking my tongue out at the instructor, only because I didn’t dare let go and give him the finger, I shouted, “No, I don’t!” But I’m pretty sure he didn’t hear me.

After a few minutes, the instructor realized this was not going to happen, we finally moved out of the giant rat tube, and I was back with my feet on the ground.

Glancing over to Zach, I pointed and said, “Do you love Em?”

He nodded and looked over to where Em and Aaron were currently making their game plan. Turning back to me, he took in a deep breath and walked to the tube. Not before letting out a whimper.

“Suck it up! You’re a damn UT football player, dude. This is embarrassing,” I said as I looked at him.

His eyes widened as he said, “Right. Right. I just need to get my head in the game.”

Slowly moving to the rat tube, poor Zach cursed under his breath and jumped.

Once his adventure was over, he slowly made his way over to me and sat down on the bench. Pulling off the helmet, he dropped it to the floor. “That was the scariest thing I’ve ever encountered in my entire life.”

Nodding my head, I watched as Aaron and Em ran into the tube and went all the way to the top.

Letting out a long sigh, I gave Zach a pat on the back. “To think she’s the adventurous one of the two.”

Zach turned me with a deadpan stare. “I see zip-lining in your future, dude.”

Closing his eyes, Zach let a moan slip from between his lips followed by a fuck. Smiling, I made a mental note to suggest zip-lining to Em for Zach’s birthday.