Chapter 13 #2
I knew she was nervous. Hell, I was a little nervous myself—mostly for her. But I also knew this was something we needed to do. And we needed to do it together.
I couldn’t explain it. And I knew that to anyone else, it would simply look as if we were having some vacation fun. But it was more than that. It felt…significant. Meaningful. And I could tell from the energy coursing between us that Bryn felt it too.
When we stepped into the sunlight, it was to a chorus of cheers and encouragement. The sun was so bright, they were barely more than specks on the water. It was a fifteen to twenty-foot drop, and I was more focused on keeping Bryn safe than pandering to our audience.
“Make sure to jump out away from the rocks,” I said, trying not to let my worries for her undermine the courage it had taken her to make this decision.
“I will.” Her hand was shaking in mine, and yet, she didn’t waver.
“Tell me when you’re ready.” I rubbed my thumb across the back of her hand.
She turned to me, grinning this time. “Let’s do this.”
“One,” I said, taking a step forward. “Two.” A few loose rocks tumbled over the edge, plunging to the bottom, along with my stomach. We were really going to do this. She was really going to do this. “Three.” And with that, we launched ourselves off the edge.
Bryn screamed almost the entire way down.
I let out a whoop, and before I knew it, I was hitting the water, the impact almost as shocking as the drop had been.
I kicked my way back to the surface, only to find that Bryn was already there, waiting for me.
She was laughing, and I could hear Allie cheering on her sister.
I swam over to Bryn, snagging the paddleboard on the way. I didn’t even have to ask if she was good; I could tell from her smile.
“That was terrifying,” she panted, smiling the entire time. “But also liberating.”
I nodded. I couldn’t have said it better myself. We hadn’t just physically launched ourselves off a cliff; we’d taken a leap of faith. Our jump had been about so much more than just pushing our physical limits. Our mental ones had felt the impact as well.
I pushed the paddleboard toward her, and she hung on, the two of us facing each other in the shadow of the cliff. The water lapped at the rock wall, and it felt as if we were completely alone. Everyone else was snorkeling, not paying us any attention anymore.
I lifted my hand to Bryn’s cheek. “That was incredible,” I said. “You were incredible.”
Part of me still couldn’t believe she’d done that, and yet it also made complete sense. I thought about the way she’d looked at me when she’d said, “Life is meant to be lived.” And I thought about her desire to stop letting her head run the show.
Maybe it was the adrenaline rush or the words she’d said, but I was sick of talking myself out of pursuing a relationship with Bryn. I wanted more, and her leap of faith emboldened me to take one of my own.
I inched closer, and she seemed to drift toward me as well. I dragged my thumb across her lips, imagining tasting the salt from them. I was done waiting to feel “ready.” It was time to take the leap.
I cupped her cheek. I was about to brush my lips against hers when she said, “Frasier.”
“Yeah?” Could she tell how nervous I was? Was she trying to stop me before I crossed that line? Was she trying to let me down gently?
“I know we kissed the other night as part of the dare. But I don’t want you to feel like you have to kiss me or do anything that makes you uncomfortable because of…you know.”
I barked out a laugh. “Have to kiss you?”
Was she for real right now?
The only reason I’d had to kiss her was because I’d been desperate to. Yes, the dare had been a convenient excuse. Just like our fake relationship was a convenient excuse. But I’d wanted to kiss Bryn.
Our legs tangled as we treaded water. “First of all, no one forced me to do anything I didn’t want to do.” I tucked her hair behind her ear.
She released her bottom lip, and I watched with satisfaction as it slowly lowered until she was sporting a little “o.” Her gaze searched mine.
I trailed my knuckles down her jawline, and she sucked in a jagged breath. The moment felt fragile and delicate because the stakes were so high. Like jumping off the cliff into Little Bay but even more so.
“And, Bryn?” I said, feeling more confident as she licked her lips, her eyes darting to mine. “The next time I kiss you, there will be no doubts about me wanting you.”
She flashed me a shy smile, peering at me from beneath her lashes. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Thank fucking god. If we’d been standing on the edge of the cliff right now, I would’ve been convinced I could fly. That was how light I felt in that moment.
It was so tempting to do it, to close the distance and take what I wanted.
But her family was floating nearby, and I didn’t want there to be any question in either of our minds.
When I kissed Bryn again—and I would—I wanted her to know that it wasn’t part of a fake relationship or a dare. It was real.
“So am I.” I guided her hand to my mouth, watching her as I pressed a kiss to her palm. So am I.