Chapter 17
Mia
“C ome on, Mia!” Jake calls out, half-teasing, half-encouraging, bouncing off the wall. I roll my eyes, a mix of exhaustion and irritation simmering within me.
It’s barely past 5:30 a.m., and here we are in the climbing gym, surrounded by towering walls, each route marked by a different color.
Jake is pushing me as if we’re training for a marathon. I’m left wondering how he ever convinced me to join him in this early morning climb. I never signed up for this.
Alex and Sarah already made It down.
“You got this Mia,” Alex screams from down below. But do I really? Every muscle in my legs screams and my fingers feel like they’ve been through a grinder.
“You’re almost there.” Sarah cheers as well.
Great, my very own cheerleader team.
I reach for a neon green hold, slightly slick from use, and try to remember all of Jake’s advice.
Use your legs more than your arms, Mia. Keep your body close to the wall, and always plan your next move.
I pull myself up, focusing on the texture of the wall under my palms, and the way my shoes barely grip the tiny foothold. It’s a strange, exhilarating mix of fear and thrill, this battle against gravity and my own doubts.
I pause, catching my breath, and look up at him. He’s watching me with a grin, clearly enjoying my struggle more than he probably should. But there’s pride in his eyes too, and it pushes me to keep going.
I find my rhythm, a connection to the wall that is almost personal. I realize this is more than just a physical challenge. It’s a mental one that requires focus, determination, and a bit of courage to keep pulling higher.
Reaching the top, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. The view from here might only be the rest of the gym, but it is a small victory against my own limitations. I look at Jake, who’s been waiting for me, ready to share a triumphant smile.
This, right here, is why he loves climbing so much, and I think I’m starting to understand it also’. Maybe there’s a bit of a climber in me after all.
Together, we slide down onto the mat and Jake pulls me into a hug. “You did it. That wasn’t so bad,” he says, his smile warming me more than any workout. He helps me come out of the ropes.
“My aching muscles would argue otherwise.” I laugh, the exertion of the climb still pulsing through my body.
Alex and Sarah laugh along with me. “You did great, girl,” Sarah says, patting me on the back.
“Can someone carry me? I don’t think I can walk.” And before I have time to finish my sentence, Jake is already scooping me up. “Put me down, I was joking.” Instead, he just laughs, and my arms loops around his neck as he carries me to the car with Alex and Sarah giggling behind us. Alex opens the door and Jake helps me settle into the passenger seat.
“We are going out this weekend. You guys in?” He looks between me and Jake for confirmation.
Jake’s gaze meets mine, searching my face for a response. “Sure,” I nod.
“See you guys this weekend,” Sarah says over her shoulder as they walk to the car.
I stretch my legs to shake off the fatigue while he gets into the driver’s seat, and we pull away.
The window frames a world alive with towering trees that line our path, their leaves whispering secrets as we pass beneath.
Jake’s eyes flicker back and forth from the road to me, and a soft smile plays on his lips as heat radiates in my chest;my lips curve into a content smile. I press my hand against the cool glass, the scenery blurring as we drive. My fingers trace the condensation on the window, drawing patterns that quickly disappear.
The world outside is a patchwork of nature’s finest, an open field that stretches lazily to the foot of distant mountains, their peaks hidden by low clouds. It’s breathtaking. We’re wrapped in a comfortable silence, the kind that doesn’t need words.
Pulling up to the house, he helps me out of the car, and suggests we go for a swim. He promised that it will help with my muscle ache.
I bounce in my steps as we walk through the forest, the ache in my muscles forgotten at the thought of diving in the clear water. I inhale the pine trees mixed with the sweetness of wildflowers peeking through the underbrush. The sound of rushing water grows from a soft murmur to a powerful roar, drowning out the quieter voices of the forest.
Standing at the edge of the waterfall, he grabs the bottom of his shirt, lifting it over his head. Revealing the contour of his biceps and the defined muscles of his chest. My gaze lingers a little too long, and I quickly look away before he notices me staring.
I wriggle out of my leggings, the fabric catching on my hips before I pull them down, then I pull my shirt over my head, leaving me in my boy shorts and sports bra. He turns, his eyes sweeping over me in a quick, almost cautious scan, then settles on my face.
“Ready?” He reaches for my hands and intertwine our fingers.
“One, two, three…” We plunge into the water, and even though it’s early in the morning, the water is nice and warm. Our bodies hit the surface with a splash. Our eyes meet under the crystal clear water, his green eyes glow, and a moment passes between us.
We come back up for air, maintaining a respectful distance. I remind myself that we’re just friends, but I can’t deny the warmth that spreads across my cheeks under his stare.
“You’re nervous?” He gazes at me with his eyebrows lifted, a one-sided smile tilting his lips.
“No.” I shake my head, yet my flushed cheeks betray me.
“Your red cheeks say otherwise. Friends don’t make each other nervous, right?”
“Shut up,” I shout, struggling to sound annoyed, but a laugh escapes instead. I swim away, but the distance barely cools the lingering warmth between us.
We swim through the water until we reach a shallower area, where the soft earth beneath my feet grounds me. He closes the distance between us, his gaze locking with mine, sending my heart pounding against my rib that I’m afraid it might burst out.
“You’re gorgeous,” he admits as his hand lifts to brush a wet strand of hair from my face, his touch igniting goosebumps across my skin. “So gorgeous that it hurts to look at you.”
“Thank you,” I say, but it comes out breathy.
His gaze drifts to the necklace at my throat. His fingers graze it gently.
“You know, my mom told me it would help me find my soulmate, which hasn’t worked, by the way.” I let out a laugh, trying to lighten the mood. But his eyes remain intense.
“God, I want to kiss you so bad,” he whispers, his hand cupping my face, and his thumb brushing my jawline, causing my eyes to flutter close.
“Why don’t you then?” The words escape me in a breath, a mix of question and plea. My hands flutter like trapped birds at my side as the water swirls around our waist. Every fiber of my being leans towards him.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” His gaze is tender but filled with concern. “You’re so special.”
“Why would that hurt me?” The question is a thread of sound, barely heard over the surge of my pulse. I already know the answer to the question. He doesn’t do relationships. We would probably kiss, maybe have sex, and that’s it. Things would become awkward between us.
“You deserve so much, but I can't give you that. This can’t lead to anything more. ” He rubs my cheek and I lean into his touch.
“Who says it has to lead to something more?” I just need to feel his lips on mine. It's been forever since someone else's lips touched mine, and I didn't miss it until now.
“I know you don’t do casual.” His eyes search mine for a sign, for permission.
A forced laugh breaks from me, a sound that is a betrayal to the storm raging inside of me. He’s right, I don't.
I feel like I’m standing at the edge of the waterfall. I can stop him now, and choose to be friends, or I can ask for his kiss, willingly step into the free fall, and possibly have my heart shattered into pieces.
“Just kiss me, please,” I breathe out, the plea mingling with the surrounding mist. My desire to feel the touch of his lips on mine has been growing stronger.
He chuckles, a sound tinged with resignation and desire,, before he pulls me closer. His hands are warm and firm, one cradling my face, the other weaving its way into my wet hair, holding me in the eye of the storm that is about to sweep us away.
He leans down, his head touching mine. “I’ve been wanting to do this for so long,” he says, his breath warm against my lips before they crash into mine again. They’re soft at first, sending fire in my belly.
Gently, he urged my lips apart, sweeping his tongue into my mouth, and deepening the kiss. His tongue pushes in, warm and wet, tasting mine, claiming it. My hand finds its way into his damp, blonde hair, my fingers curling around the strands, pulling slightly.
The hint of peppermint from his tongue is a cool contrast to the heat that’s building between us. He shifts from sucking my tongue to drawing my lips in his and biting gently on the bottom one. He kisses me so good that I moan into the kiss, pleasure pools between my thighs.
“Oh, that was so sexy.” A low husky sound vibrates against my lips, sending a shiver down my spine. My heart is pulsing into my throat. His kiss is as intoxicating as magic itself, making my body burn out of control.
I wrap my arms around his neck, my smile mirroring his. He kisses me again, this time more slowly. His lips brush against mine with a featherless touch. The sensation sends flutters rushing through my stomach, breaking into thousands of tiny droplets of excitement and nerves, leaving behind a cool, tingling feeling that is both exhilarating and overwhelming.
I have a feeling this fall is going to hurt.