We probably looked like crazy fools as we all jumped and screamed. Nate had made his way over to me and took the other flashlight out of my hand and started waving it back and forth.
My heart was racing and all I could think about was seeing Taylor. Her smile that lit up my entire world. Those stunning green eyes that I saw every time I closed my eyes.
“Down here!” Tess cried out.
Tears were streaming down her face as we quickly looked at each other and then back up to the plane.
Flashing the light on and off, Nate yelled, “We’re here!”
Each one of us was yelling. A mixture of emotions being let out. Hope that we would be seen. Fear we wouldn’t. And dreams of being back in our loved ones’ arms.
Tess screamed louder, causing the other three of us to do the same. Of course they couldn’t hear us, but it was the first sign of anyone since we had crashed here six days ago. Hell almost seven days ago.
“Oh my God! They’re turning around!” Tess yelled out as she jumped.
When we saw the plane drop in altitude, we stopped carrying on like crazy fools.
“Please see us,” Tess whispered.
The plane flew so low as it went over us, there was no way they hadn’t see us.
“They see us!” William cried out. We all turned and looked at each other. It was in that moment that we truly knew we were going to be okay. My heart didn’t ache quite as much as it did earlier. Tears flowed freely from each of us as we formed a huddle and celebrated.
I’m going to see Taylor again. My sweet, beautiful, Taylor.
“Stop grabbing my ass, Nate!” Tess cried out as William and I both laughed.
Dropping my head back, I let out a long sigh of relief as I looked at the brightest star in the sky. “Thank you, God.”
Taylor
My mind drifted to the last kiss Jase had given me at the airport. Running my fingers along my lips, I looked out at the night sky. Was Jase looking up at it as well? God I hoped so.
The door to Jase’s bedroom flew open and Layton came rushing in.
“The beacon!”
I jumped up and turned on the light. “What?”
He walked up to me, wrapped me in his arms and spun me around before putting me back down.
“Ryder just called. They picked up the beacon signal a few hours ago. It was nowhere near where they were searching.”
“Where is it?”
“In Wyoming at the edge of the Red Desert and the foothills. Ryder went with them in the plane to the location. He didn’t call because he didn’t want to get our hopes up.”
My breath hitched as I felt my heart pounding throughout my entire body. Tears streamed out of my eyes. For the first time in days I had such a strong feeling of willingness to believe that all would be okay. A strange sense of calm came over me.
“Please tell me,” I whispered.
“They found them, Taylor. All four of them are alive.”
An unexpected release of tension had my body collapsing into Layton as I sobbed in relief.
The pain in my chest replaced with a lightness I couldn’t describe. “I knew it! I knew he wasn’t gone!” I cried as I buried my face into his chest.
“I’ve booked three tickets on the first flight out from Austin in the morning.”
Pulling back, I looked up at him as he looked at me with so much love and happiness. Wiping my tears away, he kissed my forehead.
“Where is he?”
“They took them to Rock Springs to a hospital there. Looks like everyone is okay, but Nate has a fractured leg, William sprained his ankle and Tess broke her hand.”
My stomach felt sick. “Jase?”
“From what Ryder said, it was a good size cut on his forehead and that’s it.”
My shoulders sank in relief.
“In the morning they are flying them to Cheyenne. That’s where we’ll meet them.”
“Why hasn’t he called?”
Layton grinned. It was at that moment my cell phone rang.
“He wanted you to be told first before he called.”
I quickly raced over to the side table and grabbed my phone.
“Jase!” I practically screamed.
“Damn . . . it’s so good to hear your voice, Taylor.”
My body shook as I cried. “Thank God! Thank you, God!” I cried out as I sank down on the bed. Layton sat next to me and it was then I noticed Whitley.
“I’m so sorry, Taylor. If I could go back and never get on that plane I would.”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. None of that matters. You’re alive and I get to see you tomorrow.”
“Ryder said Dad booked three tickets and y’all were meeting us in Cheyenne.” Grinning, I looked at Layton. “Yes. Hold on, your dad and mom are here.”
I handed the phone to Layton. Whitley sat on the other side of me and wrapped her arms around me. For the first time in seven days, I felt like I could breathe without it hurting my heart. Leaning closer to me, she whispered, “He’s coming home. Our Jase is coming home.”