Jump. //Jai Courtney Fanfiction

six

Ayla

August 9th:

My feet were back on American soil, and although I missed home, missed my friends and family, I would gladly still be in Greece with Jai.

I got more sleep than I thought I would on the plane, but it wasn't enough. I couldn't wait to stuff my face with some fast food, then dive into my bed. But first, as I walk quickly through the airport, bags in tow, all I can think about is seeing my dad's face. Jai was about five feet behind me, and I know he could sense my excitement. I glanced back before we were close to the glass doors to the pick-up ramp, and he shot me a toothy smile.

When I finally saw those glass doors, my heart started pounding. They slid open, to the hot summer air, and the smell of tarmac filled my nostrils. Ah, home. I looked back and forth trying to scope out my father's SUV, with no luck. Until finally, I spotted his figure, popping out from behind a large truck. My eyes immediately made contact, and I found myself quickly walking, almost jogging to get to him.

When I reached my grinning dad, I dropped my bags, and embraced his open arms. My father's arms squeezed me tightly as I tried my best to match his hug. I felt his hand touch the back of my head and hold it, as if I was a newborn, and he was holding me for the first time. He pulled back and looked down into my eyes, with a great big smile on his face. I felt my cheeks start to blush, but not from embarrassment. From excitement, from giddiness.

"Congratulations, baby," he exclaimed.

"Thanks dad," I smiled back.

In that moment I just felt like a little girl in her daddy's arms without paying attention to anything else that was happening around us. He grabbed my hand, and looked at the new decoration that sat on top of it and boasted again.

"Now that, that is an engagement ring. I'd say your boy did a great job."

"It is beautiful. But I would have taken a pebble from him," I purred to my father, holding back tears that I will not let fall.

I blame it on my exhaustion. But I'm sure my tears are threatening because of the huge surge of love that I am feeling, thinking about my father's approval to marry the man of my dreams. I catch my dad's eyes leave mine, and look over to my left. I follow his gaze, as he slowly releases his grip on me, and my own eyes land in Jai.

I see my dad smile and whisper something to him, before pulling him in for his own embrace. Whatever he said elicited a big smile and response from Jai, but I couldn't hear it. I can only imagine it had something to do with our engagement, but I didn't care. I didn't want to know. I was too busy overwhelmed with happiness as I watched the love of my life embrace my father like he was his own.

Jai caught me staring, and his equally exhausted features were glowing with joy.

"I'm sure you two are excited to get some rest," my dad said, pulling back from Jai, and popping the back to his Excursion.

"Yes. Very! I slept pretty well on the flight, but it was pretty uncomfortable. I mean, being upright and all," I answered.

"Yeah, and we're starving. We've been talking about what awful food we were going to get for the last hour," Jai added.

"I bet! Where were you thinkin' of getting something? I'm happy to stop somewhere," dad said, grabbing my biggest suitcase and shoving it in the back of the ride.

"Wendy's," Jai and I both said in unison.

"Okay then," Dad chuckled.

We stuffed the rest of our luggage tightly in the SUV. I practically forced Jai to ride shotgun next to my dad, insisting that it was only fair to ride up front. In reality, the back was much more comfortable, and I wanted to stretch my legs out.