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friendship. Luke must really not want to go to church.
    “I’ll even foot the helicopter bill,” Luke pushed as he zoomed in further on the blue expanse, revealing small, labeled pockets of land. “Ah, yes. How about we meet up at the Dyna Fyr lighthouse?”
    Kyle looked closer at the small dot of land surrounded by too much water.
    “You want me to fly over nine miles across water and then land on a lighthouse?”
    “Pretty much. It’s not like it hasn’t been done before…except for the lighthouse landing, of course. Remember the ‘Sputnik’? That winged stuntman flew eleven miles up the Irish coast — from the Aran Islands, over Galway Bay, all the way to Connemara airport. Went and beat the average local plane time by more than a minute. Crazy daredevil.” He ruffled Kyle’s hair.
    Kyle was certain he couldn’t make it look worse.
    “Don’t worry about the landing, Bro, it’s not so bad. I don’t think it’s one of those tall, slender towers surrounded by rocks and crashing waves.” Luke clicked on an icon at the lighthouse’s location and a photograph popped up, picture postcard perfect. The lighthouse looked more like an American chapel. Calm waters surrounded the small structure that took up the entire piece of land. The skies were awash in pink.
    “Look, there’s a deck out back. We’ll ask them to clear it for you to land.”
    “It’s barely big enough to land a model airplane, let alone a man dangling from a chute. Are you trying to annihilate me?”
    Luke shook his head. His smile grew wider. “Just making the challenge a tad more interesting. Don’t tell me you’re scared?”
    Nervous. But he wouldn’t show it.
    “Wouldn’t that landing be illegal?” Perhaps that would make Luke see sense.
    “Probably. That’s why I’ll have the Angel with me. She’d be able to talk the devil himself out of trouble.” He chuckled. “And she speaks Norse code.”
    “Anjelica? You want to bring her with?”
    “Of course. Besides, whichever side of paradise you touch down on, you’ll want an angel there to greet you with a kiss.”
    Kyle thought of those sweet-tasting, delicate pink lips. This was a dangerous trade.
    “Fine. I’ll do it. First thing Saturday morning, but you’re buying breakfast after.”
     
    ~*~
     
    Wingsuiters filled the airfield’s green grass. Not even the nip in the early morning air could quell Anjelica’s excitement. Today would be great. They’d jump in groups from Twin Otters and Skyvans—three of each—as they practiced their formation. She’d see Kyle and stand beside him as they took to the skies. And she’d be the one he saw as he flew behind her.
    Later, at church, they’d worship the One who’d made those beautiful skies. Together.
    She followed her team to their plane. They were in the Skyvan. Good. She preferred its gaping rear exit to the Otter’s smaller side option. After listening to final team instructions from Erick, she donned her helmet and allowed the plane to swallow her into its belly.
    Kyle and his team followed minutes later. He acknowledged Anjelica with a nod then returned to the conversation he and Luke were engaged in.
    As they sank into the canvas seats that folded out from the metal walls, a clicking sound dominoed through the plane—nineteen wingsuiters securing themselves.
    The temperature dropped the higher they climbed until the inside of the plane was almost as cool as Kyle’s demeanor. She was surprised, especially after his kiss last night, which, thanks to her stupidity, had been short-lived. Did he regret his impulsive action? Perhaps he felt shy, although he’d been anything but when he’d kissed her.
    Anjelica leaned close to Kyle and touched his arm, allowing her hand to linger.
    He glanced back at her and she offered a smile.
    “I’m really looking forward to tonight.” She shouted to be heard through his helmet and above the drone of the engines and chatter of men that bounced between the metal walls.