Free Freefall (Santa Cruz Skydivers Book 1) by Joanne Efendi Page B

cool, ignoring the hard thumping in my chest. “Well, I’ve decided you are an insane flirt, and you’re most likely just teasing me to get a reaction. Also, last time I responded to you teasing me, I got caught up in your little drinking challenge, and now my best friend isn’t talking to me. So, no, I’m not even going there.”
    He crinkled his forehead. “Are you serious? Lili’s not talking to you because of me?” He looked more concerned than he should have been.
    I sighed, sorry I had even mentioned it to him. “We had an argument last night after you left because of the drinking challenge. Don’t worry about it. It’s not your problem. I’ll sort it out later.” He looked like he wanted to say something. I kept talking. I didn’t feel like ruining my morning over the situation with Lili. “Levi, honestly, I really don’t want to talk about it, or think about it anymore. This morning is all about fun. However, that doesn’t give you free rein to keep teasing me.” Playfully, I tugged on his arm, hoping to change the tone in the conversation.
    “Okay, no more teasing, but I don’t see how that’s not fun.” He gave me a pouty duck face. “It just might kill me, you know.”
    I laughed at his stupid pouty face as we walked the stairs to the clubhouse, glad he didn’t pursue the Lili topic. Once we were at the doors, he dropped my hand and indicated for me to enter the clubhouse first. Inside, there were laminated posters of solo, tandem, and group skydivers displayed on the walls. By the front door, a clothing rack displayed Santa Cruz Skydivers t-shirts of various colors and sizes available to purchase. A pair of oversized joke y-fronts with a suspicious looking-brown stain was also clipped to a hanger with a tag attached. It read, “ In case of emergency. Used only once. ”
    He led me to the check-in counter and greeted an extremely hipster-looking girl working behind the counter. “Hey, Frankie, this is my guest today, Andi.”
    “Hey back.” She smiled at us.
    Immediately, I envied her. She was stunning. Her long hair was fuchsia-colored and intricately braided back on one side. Around her eyes she wore the most amazing wing-tipped eyeliner, and she had deep dimples in both her cheeks. She had multiple facial piercings in her cheek dimples, brow, lip, and nose, and black spiral ear stretchers in each ear. One of her arms was covered in a full sleeve tattoo and, when I looked closer, she even had a small tattoo behind her ear. Even though she had a look that would never suit me, a part of me wished I had the courage to try her style. I felt so plain and ordinary next to her dressed in my too-tight jeans and t-shirt with my boring, curly brown hair tied in a plait. Nervously, I tugged down on my t-shirt.
    She smiled warmly at me and greeted me with enthusiasm. “Welcome to Santa Cruz Skydivers.” She looked at Levi again. “LJ, is this the little chickie you met last night? You didn’t tell me she was so cute and innocent-looking. And I’m betting she’s a clean skin, too.”
    “Don’t let her innocent look fool you, Frankie, she is wicked to the core.” Both of them were talking about me like I wasn’t even there. “She is a party girl, this one.”
    “I am right here, you know,” I said in a futile attempted to interrupt.
    Levi continued to talk over the top of me. “Yep, Frankie, I’d place a bet Andi could drink you under the table any night of the week. You should have seen the way she handled Don Julio last night.”
    “Oh shit, you were doing slammers last night?” She moaned. “And Don Julio, too! You know that’s my favorite. Why didn’t you call me? I told you I’d come and save you from the boredom and be your company for the night.”
    I opened my mouth to include myself in the conversation, but Levi spoke before I could get my words out.
    “Well, I was kind of busy with Andi here.” Finally, he looked away from her and winked at me, like we had a little