I’m relatively certain I’m about to have a heart attack as I sit in the front seat of the glider Lex arranged for us. It’s a two-seater, and I know he’s right behind me, but that doesn’t really ease my nerves.
“Explain the wench thing to me again,” I tell him, my voice trembling.
He barks out a laugh. “Winch, darling. It’s essentially a long rope attached to a machine at the other end of the runway. It’ll start retracting at a high pace, which will make this glider lift into the air. That will allow us to take off despite this plane not having an engine. We should be able to get to about a thousand feet that way.”
My stomach twists nervously as Lex closes the glass panel above us, enclosing us in the glider. “Brakes closed and locked,” he murmurs as Justin attaches the cable to the front of the glider.
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” I ask as I take in the mechanisms. “This rope is going to be pulled back, and we’re literally going to shoot forward and pray this thing flies?”
Lex leans forward and places a hand on my shoulder. “Raya,” he says, his voice soft. “I have all the controls you have. I’ll operate it the first time, okay? Just sit back and relax. This stick and the pedal here will allow me to keep the glider straight, and I’ll keep the wings level. Will you trust me, darling?”
I nod, and moments later, we’re in motion. I yelp as we’re yanked forward, and though I fully expected to crash into the vehicle that’s pulling us from the other end, we’re airborne within seconds. I gasp at the speed we’re moving at, the plane’s nose pointing straight to the sky, our climb near vertical. It’s exhilarating and terrifying and amazing.
“I’m increasing the pressure, so you’ll notice that the glider will start to straighten.”
I gasp as we level out, truly gliding through the air. It’s surprising just how smooth the flight is, how weightless I feel. “Wow.”
Lex chuckles. “I just knew you’d love this as much as I do. Flying is the one thing that’s always only ever been mine, the one thing that’s always made any day better. It’s seen me through some rough periods, and I didn’t think I’d ever want to share it with someone. Yet somehow, you’ve made me want to turn it into something that could be ours. I hope you enjoy today, darling, and I’m sorry I made you wait so long for our first real date.”
“This isn’t our first date,” I tell him as I watch the clouds, the landscape underneath us. “We danced in your city penthouse on our first date, drank too much wine, and played too many rounds of truth or dare. I wouldn’t trade that night for the world.” Despite the things he kept from me then, I wouldn’t have wanted our relationship to start any other way.
He leans forward and kisses my shoulder, before slowly turning the plane around and descending far more smoothly than I’d imagined. “Your turn, my little fairy,” he tells me once we hit the ground. “You’re going to fly us to the location of our date.”
I turn back to look at him, surprised. “Wait, I thought this was the date.” This is arguably the most unique and amazing experience I’ve ever had. Surely it can’t get any better?
Lex laughs and reaches for me as the glider comes to a standstill. His crew does a quick checkup before they reattach the cable. “No,” he tells me. “This is just the first part of it. Ready?”
“I’m not sure,” I tell him honestly.
“I’m right behind you, Raya. Take to the skies, sweetheart, and trust that I’ll be there to catch you if you fall.”
“Okay,” I whisper. “Okay, I can do this.”
He gives the signal, and within seconds, we’re moving. Lex talks me through every step, and for about a minute, his voice is the only thing I can focus on.
“Pressure,” he reminds me, and I watch as a change in pressure changes the direction of the plane, until we’re horizontal again, gliding on the airflow underneath us.
“See,” he says, pride ringing through his voice. “That’s my girl, my clever wife.”
“Oh my God,” I whisper, in shock. “I’m flying.”
“You’re flying,” he reaffirms. “You’re doing this.”
I laugh, a pure rush of adrenaline making me lightheaded, and Lex joins in. I get it now, the way he smiles when he’s flying. I’ve never felt anything like it before, I’ve never felt so free.
“I’m going to direct us toward where we’re going, but you’ll be the one to land the glider. Don’t worry, Raya. The runway is really long and smooth, so it’ll be easy.”
I nod and sit back, my hand on the stick and my feet on the pedals. I can’t believe how simple that was, how exhilarating. “Thank you,” I tell him, my heart soaring. “I just know this is the kind of memory that’ll last me a lifetime, and I love that the first time I did that was with you.”
I’m not sure if he knew that it bothered me that we rarely go anywhere without a security team trailing us. He thinks I didn’t notice, but it’s obvious there are always two vehicles close to us. Today is different. It truly feels like it’s just the two of us now, and I appreciate it more than I can convey.
“Do you see that resort down there? We’re going to start descending toward it. When we get a little closer, you’ll see a runway. There’ll be markings on it to help guide you, but I have my hand on the controls in case you need me.”
“We’re going to a resort?” I gasp when we get a little closer. It’s beautiful — palm trees, a sandy beach, and big villas that look like they’re the epitome of luxury. “You taught me to fly so I could land in literal paradise?”
“I taught you to fly because I want to share all the things I love with you. For the longest time, flying was what I loved most of all.”
Loved. Past tense. “What is it that you love most now?”
He falls silent. “Let’s stay steady, darling,” he tells me. “Don’t descend at too much of an angle. Go slow and steady, so you’ll barely notice you’re about to hit the ground until seconds before it happens.”
I follow his lead, the irony not lost on me. That’s exactly what he did to me. He made me fall so slowly I didn’t even realize it was happening. I just hope he keeps his words and catches me, because I see it now… I’m free falling.
