Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“I’m gonna go rock climb,” I said with irritation in my voice and hooked a thumb behind me.
At least they both glanced behind them, rather than staring so intently at one another. “That’s awful high,” my mom said.
“Yep. That’s the cool part,” I said, letting her chew on that as I started toward the attendant manning the wall. “He isn’t afraid of heights, but I don’t know if he’s ever climbed something so tall,” she explained to Carter. I heard the concern in her voice, which was silly. I’d be harnessed in if anything went south.
Hours later, I was hot, sweaty, probably sunburned, and out of money. I also had scored mad respect from the attendant.
“I doubted you,” he said while helping release me from the harness. “Not too many guys your size have the strength-to-weight ratio needed to be a contender, but you held your own. With proper training to perfect your technique, you could compete.”
Even with the words tickling the competitive part of my being, I shook my head. “Nah, I don’t want to be on the competitive level of anything anymore, but I’d like to learn how to mountain climb properly.” I glanced up at the wall and smiled. “I really enjoyed this today. How’re you involved here? Is this your business?”
“No. This is owned by the city, but I’m here every weekend and holidays to earn extra cash.” As I stepped away from all the safety gear, he handed over a business card. “The money I make goes back into rock climbing. I’m addicted.” His good-natured grin showed how happy he was to be hooked on the sport. That said a lot. “I suggest you go with Spider-Dan’s local group, Clutch. Here’s the number on the back. They’ll teach you what you need to know and give you real time experience.”
With my forearm, I brushed away the sweat collecting on my forehead. I tossed my shirt to the side about an hour ago when the warm sun and high humidity caused it to cling to me. My adrenaline had surged as the attendant had taught me the process for climbing the wall then again when I’d tossed to the top. I’d broken records for the wall, then broke my own time when I went again.
For the first time since the beginning of the climb, I searched Dash out. I found him in the crescent-shaped clique of his friends. My mom, Carter, and everyone else were all now facing me. My guy stood from the beach-style lawn chair and whistled loudly, clapping his hands. The others followed suit.
The irritation I had harbored while being so completely ignored by Dash was now fully resolved. I swiped my hand through the air, downplaying my accomplishment, but my joy was impossible to hide. The attendant playfully knocked me in the back when I started toward Dash.
“I forgot to add, rock climbing brings the ladies out of the woodwork.”
Not the incentive it might have seemed. Dash jogged through the sand toward me. I grabbed my shirt and started in his direction while pulling my ring out of my pants pocket where I’d tucked it for safety and sliding it back in place. I swore the energy of the gold band liberated me. A material symbol of what we shared that gave me the same feelings as if Dash were right there with me, whispering all his reassuring words of love that scooped up my doubt and tossed it away.
“My guy’s such a badass,” Dash said and extended a cold Gatorade, condensation dripping down the outside. He slowed a couple of feet from me and walked the final steps, a giant grin on his face. “We ended the game, and I spotted what you were doing. We’ve all been watching you climb, shocked that it was your first time.”
Dash came straight in, chest to chest, and kissed my lips. He never backed away or worried how others might react, he just loved me through and through.
“We should go home and get cleaned up,” he said, staring me straight in the eyes, his face only inches from mine. My arms circled around him and squeezed tightly before I let him go, turning in the direction of my mom. “We have dinner reservations in two hours,” Dash called to my mom. “Carter, you’re welcome to join us.”
Dash’s hand intertwined with mine. Life was back to right as rain.
Dash
One iPod, one set of earbuds split between two ears, his and mine, while slow dancing, locked in Beau’s strong embrace… My belly was full from a delicious dinner. Life was so good. I had my face resting in the crook of Beau’s neck, breathing in the spicy, erotic scent of his cologne. Our bodies did a slow sway to the sounds of “Better Together” by Jack Johnson. Our shoes were kicked off, our bare feet sifting through the sand as we moved together, with a darkened Lake Michigan churning in the background. The full moon helped set the romantic scene. We were somewhere between the parked truck and a section of the beach we claimed as our own a couple of hours ago. Booming pops of fireworks sounded off in the distance from the shows in the suburbs.