Extra Epilogue
Fake a Chance on Me

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Gabi asked Lucas as he gawked at the yellow aeroplane on the runway in front of them.

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“Is anyone ever ready for a skydive?” Even her grip on his hand couldn’t stop him from shaking. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched his chest shake with each panting breath. “But I want to do it for her.”

He pointed at Amy, who stood at the edge of the car park. She squealed and ran to them as Henry jogged behind to keep up.

“Uncle Lucky, are you really going to do a skydive today?”

“He’s going to hope he’s lucky when he pulls that chute,” Henry said, winking.

“Yes, Amy, I am. And tell your dad, I’m still not talking to him,” Lucas grumbled. “He’s a traitor.”

Henry sighed loudly. “I’m only working for the local ice hockey team as their physio and osteopath. It’s no big deal. I’m still mostly with the Bulls.”

Lucas glared at him. “It’s a big deal to me. You know I hate hockey players. They’re arrogant, and they think they’re the best at everything.”

“Remind you of anyone?” Henry asked, making Amy giggle. “So you don’t want to come to the Halloween skate they’ve invited me to?”

Gabi clapped her hands together. “We have to go. I love ice skating. We can do matching fancy dress outfits.”

“Fine,” Lucas griped, still staring at the aeroplane. She winced, recalling how he hated skating, although he probably hated what they were about to do more. “But I don’t know why you always pick activities I can’t do. What about weightlifting, boxing, or beach volleyball? We need to do more activities that involve you wearing a bikini.”

“Paddleboarding?” Henry asked with a smirk.

Lucas glared at him before ignoring him again. “It’s a shame our skydive in Spain was cancelled. At least over there, I wouldn’t have to deal with this guy.”

“You’re grumpier than normal, Uncle Lucky. Is it because you’re scared? Is that why you sat on our swing last night?”

Lucas’s head dropped. “I’m terrified, but I want to show that no matter how scared you are, you can still achieve great things if you want to. Are you proud of me, Amy Boo?”

Her face squished as she smiled. “I’m always proud of you, but if you do this, I’ll use my pocket money to buy you the biggest ice cream sundae.”

His clammy hand gripped Gabi’s tighter.

“Totally worth it for that.” His voice cracked.

“I’ve got you, Lucas,” Gabi whispered in his ear.

Evie and Josh sauntered towards them.

“I’m not happy about this,” Evie grunted. “I can’t believe you only texted me late last night to tell me.”

“I didn’t want you to worry. I already checked you were free so that you and Josh could watch,” Gabi replied.

Josh nodded, confirming they’d be in touch for a fortnight about this.

Evie’s brow furrowed. “What if you die?”

​

“Then bury me next to Nana.”

Evie pouted. “I’m glad you found your confidence, thrilled in fact, but do you really have to express it with so much sass and with this?” She thumbed in the direction of the aeroplane.

“It’s time I showed the world that the only thing that gets to define me is me. Not medical conditions, former colleagues who are nasty bullies, or boyfriend’s exes.”

“When you put it like that, I guess I can allow it.”

​

Gabi kissed her on the cheek. “Love you, Evie.”

“Love you too, you psychopath.”

As Amy talked to Evie about school and ballet lessons, Gabi asked Henry, “How are things between Amy and her mum?”

He shrugged. “Awful. If you could chat with her this weekend when I’m working, I’d really appreciate it. I’m crap at helping her with her confidence—”

“Because your ex-wife has destroyed it over the last ten years,” Lucas huffed. “I still can’t stand her.”

“Anyway,” Henry replied, dragging out the word, “if you can help her, that would be great. Amy’s going to cookery classes at Cloud’s Cookery School, which seems to have helped. Sometimes I go with her.”

“If Gabi is working with Amy, then I’m working with you to build your confidence. I’m talking new clothes, chat-up lines, maybe practice dates with—”

“Aren’t you supposed to be jumping to your death right now?” Henry cut him off, eyebrow raised.

“And for that, I’m going to make this confidence-building experience the worst month of your life,” Lucas grunted.

“Let’s get this on the road,” Gabi shouted, dragging the brothers apart.

“Good luck,” the group shouted as Lucas and Gabi waved.

They walked towards the hangar, and she whispered, “You really don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. Amy will always be proud of you.”

“I’m doing it. You’ve battled through so much, and I survived Lexi. Let’s celebrate that by falling to our deaths from an aeroplane in the middle of the Cotswolds.”

“Using humour to deal with terror?”

“Always,” Lucas said, forcing a swagger.

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***

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Gabi watched Lucas as the plane climbed to 13,000 feet.

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The tiny plane was filled with skydivers, which forced her to rest against the instructor strapped to her. They’d paired her with a tall lady to even out their overall weight. She tapped Lucas’s knees, and he stared back at her sheepishly.

His blue eyes had never looked wider. She patted his chest, and he held her hand against it. It was strange to have this intimate moment between them while they were strapped to strangers. She wanted to kiss him, to tell him it would all be okay, but he knew that, so instead she intertwined their hands and cupped his face.

They’d conquered so much over the last six months since the awkward meeting in the lift. They made each other stronger, and she loved that about him.

“Bonded through fear,” he mouthed as if he could read her thoughts.

They watched the tandem divers, attached by a piece of course material, filing out of the plane until it was just Lucas, Gabi and their instructors.

She grinned at him. “I love you,” she shouted.

“I love you more, princess.”

Her adrenaline climbed as he stood on the edge of the open door. Knowing how terrified Lucas was, and that he wanted to do this for Amy and everyone who’d made him feel less over the last years, inspired her.

Most of the fans adored him now, but occasionally, there was the odd insult on his social media. Gabi searched their profiles to ensure Lexi hadn’t returned. She’d bring out the nunchucks if she had to.

Lucas gave Gabi one last look before he jumped.

Her adrenaline soared as she walked with her instructor to the edge. Her heart thudded in her chest, and sweat appeared in brand new places. She hung on the edge of the plane doorway, counting to ten. She’d focused so much on Lucas’ fear that she hadn’t considered her own.

She gulped. Her limbs shook.

But then she remembered the moment she said goodbye to her old self when Lucas met her after her hospital appointment. He always attended them with her now.

But that day, she said goodbye to the old Gabi, the one who suffered and had little hope. Old Gabi wouldn’t have done this; she hadn’t even been in an aeroplane until her summer trip.

Yes, there were things she continued to deal with, but she and Lucas were talking about the future and if that would include adoption, surrogacy, or not having children. They’d made no decisions yet, but there was plenty of time. Her body may have failed her, but it was still powerful and let her do things like this.

“Ready,” the instructor shouted.

Gabi stuck her thumbs up, and they threw themselves into the sky.

***

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Gabi sucked in air. Needles spiked her face before her instructor put their gloved hands in front of it. The small action stopped the droplets of rain stuck in the clouds from attacking her skin.

She needed to calm down. Vomit was beginning its journey up her throat.

Suddenly, a jolt that took every limb with it swept her high, and peace descended. The instructor had opened the parachute.

"You okay?" she shouted in her ear.

"I am now," she hollered back.

The beauty on display beneath her took her breath away. She was floating.

Her hands wrapped around the straps above her chest as she swept her eyes left and right.

The last year faded away, memories carried on the breeze, leaving her free of their weight.

Adrenaline, the thrill of falling and her acceptance of it made her feel invincible.

Life wasn't for watching and hoping things would change, but for taking what you wanted and accepting the consequences.

"We're about to land," her instructor said in what felt like seconds, but it probably wasn’t. Time didn’t exist in the sky. "I need you to lift your feet, foetal position. I'll land both of us."

Finally, a benefit of being short—taller people probably had to land themselves.

The speed of the ground coming towards them took her by surprise. She spied Lucas lying there, laughing. He waved at her as she teetered on the edge of landing.

Pressure filled her ears as she hit the earth with a bump.

Lucas rushed to her. His chuckles danced on the wind. She attempted to stand and plant a kiss on his lips for achieving something incredible, but she fell straight over.

“It’s the adrenaline,” Lucas said.

He swept her into his arms and carried her towards their families. She wrapped her arms around his neck and breathed him in, nuzzling his neck. Because of the jump, she wanted to celebrate life with Lucas.

“You were amazing,” she murmured against his skin. “Did you enjoy it?”

“It was wild!” Lucas’s eyes lit up. “The jump was like a shot of adrenaline, more than I get when I fight the biggest rugby player on the pitch. Oh my god, the free-fall where you’re just dropping and your stomach hits the back of your throat like you’re on a rollercoaster that’s zooming down. Should that make me horny? Because it did.”

Gabi shrugged. It was doing something similar to her.

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Lucas added, “I liked it when the parachute went up, though. The landscape was beautiful and I could see everything. I’m glad we did it here rather than in Spain so that I could see all the local small towns from a totally new perspective. I swear I saw the Cloud Cookery School.”

Gabi raised her eyebrows.

“Well, maybe not, I’ve no idea what I was staring at most of the time. I had my eyes closed for the first bit. Did you love it?”

“Not as much as you. So is this a regular thing for you now?”

Lucas paused and kissed Gabi hard on the mouth before murmuring against her. “No way. I’m never fucking doing it again.”

She laughed as he helped her onto the ground in front of their families.

Henry dragged Lucas into a hug. “You’re amazing, little brother. It made me weirdly teary watching that.”

“Were you scared for me?”

“Maybe.” Lucas hugged him harder as Henry whispered, “And worried Amy will want me to do one too.”

Lucas laughed. “I promise not to encourage that.”

Evie squeezed Gabi. “You were spectacular. I’m in awe of you. But promise me you’ll never do it again.”

“I promise. Bungee jumping is my next activity,” she joked.

“No!” The group shouted as one.

They took photos, dragging their instructors into a couple, before promising Evie, Josh, Henry and Amy that they’d meet them at the local ice cream parlour once they’d changed.

Lucas’s hand pressed into Gabi’s back as he walked her towards the locker room. She bit her lip, giving him a sideways glance. He was so fucking sexy. His blond hair had that just got out of bed look, and his face wore the glow of a man who’d conquered his fears.

She felt that glow, too. The same power that had filled her after Rose’s hen do captured her now. If not for the promise of seeing their families for ice cream, she’d demand Lucas take her home so she could dance for him like she had that night.

“You know, that skydive has given me adrenaline that I need to get out of my system. Any ideas, Gabs?”

​

She swiped her tongue across her lips. “You could go for a run.” His gaze fixed on her mouth.

“That won’t cut it.”

“Try jumping up and down a couple of times,” she teased. “Or press-ups.”

He wrapped her ponytail around his fist and gave it a brief tug. “Guess again.”

As they reached the locker room, his eyes trailed down her skydiving suit. “You can’t find me attractive in this big thing,” she said, smirking.

“I can’t remember a day I haven’t found you attractive. Even when we were in that hostel in Barcelona and we were hot, sweaty, stinky messes from travelling, I wanted to bend you over that bed and fuck you while telling you how beautiful you were. You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met.”

She toyed with the zip on her jumpsuit.

“You know,” he drawled, “the instructors are doing another skydive. We’re the only ones here.”

Her voice dropped. “But our families at the ice cream parlour?”

“They can wait. Come here.”

Lucas grabbed the clips resting near her shoulders and dragged her to him. He pressed his lips hard to hers. She moaned against his mouth, and he fisted her hair, grabbing her hairband and pulling it off.

She hissed at the tinge of pain, and his tongue swept in her mouth. They made out while clumsily attempting to undo their jumpsuits.

“Fuck this,” he growled as he pulled back. “Maybe this isn’t the time.”

“It is. Strip, right here, right now,” Gabi growled.

“Yes, Gabs,” he replied with a grin.

“Good boy.”

His throaty laugh echoed around the locker room as they unzipped their suits and yanked them off. Next went their joggers and jumpers.

She groaned when he revealed his thick naked thighs. “I adore these.”

He sat on the locker room bench and cocked his finger. “Come here and show me how much.”

She straddled his right thigh, grinding herself against it and soaking through her knickers. The lace caused satisfying friction against her clit. Lucas pulled down her bra cups, and his tongue flicked over her nipples.

She whimpered loudly.

“Dirty girl,” he growled. “Ride me harder.”

“But I need your dick,” she moaned.

He pulled his cock out of his boxers and gave it a couple of tugs as she worked herself against his thigh.

She licked moisture from her lips as she watched it throb in his hand. “You're so fucking hard.”

“For you, Gabs. Always hard for you. Lose the knickers and wrap your hands around my neck.”

She slipped them slowly down her legs. He grabbed her buttocks and lifted her as he stood. He shoved her against a locker, dragging his dick slowly through her wetness.

She groaned her demands. His chuckle vibrated his chest against hers.

“Tell me what you want. Use that perfect mouth of yours.”

“Fuck me,” she panted. “Right here, where anyone could catch us.”

“That’s my girl.” His dick filled her.

Her body stretched to fit him. As he found his stance, her body shifted, her hard nipples rubbing against his chest. She gasped as he pressed her harder against the locker. The metal chilled her back.

His kisses blessed her naked shoulders.

“I told you to fuck me,” she whispered in his ear. He pulled out of her before thrusting inside again and again. Confidently, she matched his rhythm, pressing against his buttocks with her feet, pulling him deeper inside her with every slam of his hips.

Gabi hung on, grateful for his rugby player strength as he ground against her.

The hairs on her arms lifted as every inch of her skin electrified. Her bra straps fell at the force of his thrusting.

She cried out as he fucked her harder.

“That’s my good girl. You’re taking my dick so well. You always do.”

She scratched his scalp, and he hissed and pounded her deeper. Her arousal spiralled, her need for him unrelenting.

Their pleasure filled the room, screams echoing off the lockers.

She kissed his neck, his shoulders, pulling his earlobe between her lips. Sweat beaded her forehead as he dug his fingers into her bum cheeks. They’d fucked in all sorts of places, but knowing someone could walk in on them was a kink she couldn’t get enough of. She wanted everyone to know he was hers.

His grip tightened, fingers dug into her flesh as a silent warning of his impending climax.

Her heartbeat was out of control, and sweat dripped from his body onto hers. His cock reached the spot that made her moans relentless.

They kissed hard and frenzied. Their tongues massaged each other’s, their heat fusing them.

“Come on, princess, come on my dick, and when we get home later, I want you to ride my mouth on the edge of the hot tub.”

“I’m coming,” she screamed, her body shaking, energy flowing through her into him and forcing his orgasm. He groaned as hot bursts of his come filled her.

She collapsed against him. He carried her to the bench, bringing kisses against her forehead.

“I love you,” she whispered, as he pulled her bra straps back up and kissed her shoulders.

“I love you too. I can’t wait to see what we do next. But promise me no more extreme sports.”

“Does sex in a forest at night count as an extreme sport?”

His chuckles vibrated against her forehead as he kissed her again. “That I can get on board with. We’d best get to the ice cream parlour, because I’ve got an evening date with Wonder Woman and a hot tub.”

She giggled as they redressed, stopping occasionally to kiss.

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