Page 75 of Seduction Under the Southern Stars

“Apparently you can bungee nude if you want to.”

“Holy shit, Linc! Stop it!”

I laugh. “Chance of a lifetime, babe. YOLO.”

“And I’d like my life to extend beyond this afternoon. How many people die doing this crazy stuff?”

“One in five hundred thousand, apparently. I guess some poor fucker still has to be the unlucky one, but it shows how rare it is.”

“Oh, well…” She shivers. “I don’t know…”

“Wait till we arrive, and then decide.”

It doesn’t take us long to get there. We cross the Kawarau River, and then I turn off at the sign for the bungee jump and park in the car park. After locking our cases in the car, we head toward the building, go inside, and check in.

“I’m Clive,” a tall, athletic dude says, shaking hands with us as we introduce ourselves. “So you’re up for a tandem jump, eh?”

“I’m not sure about it,” Elora says, looking a little pale. “Maybe I should wait in the car. I don’t want to waste anyone’s time.”

“You’re not wasting our time,” Clive says kindly. “Lots of people are nervous, but it’s a wonderful thing to do and gives you such a buzz. You’d be really proud of yourself if you did it, everyone is. Look, why don’t you go with Linc to the bridge and get the safety talk? And if you decide then that you don’t want to do it, that’s fine—Linc can go on his own. It’s not a problem at all.”

She swallows and nods. “Okay.”

“Great. Come over here and let’s weigh you.”

He weighs both of us, making sure that the weight difference between us isn’t more than thirty kilos, and then shows us the lockers where we can leave our phones and anything that might fall off. It turns out that we don’t need warm clothing as it’s summer, although Elora puts her sweater on anyway as her teeth are chattering.

Clive takes us along the bridge. I hold Elora’s hand tightly as we walk. She hasn’t said anything since we arrived at the site. I’m pretty sure she’s going to back out at the last minute. It’ll be a shame, but of course I’m not going to force her to jump. I hoped she’d embrace the challenge, but it’s not for everyone—I understand that.

Even though I’ve done it before, the notion of throwing myself off a bridge still makes my heart race. But I know that’s not the only reason why I feel excited today. I’m going to meet my father. And I’m spending the next two days with Elora.

I’m not sure which activity makes my pulse race the most.

*

Elora

A large observation area faces the jump platform, and it’s filled with people cheering those who are about to take the plunge. We join the queue and watch a woman walking out onto the platform. One of the jump managers checks her body and ankle harnesses, and although I can’t hear what they’re saying because of the cheers, I know he must be reassuring her. She clutches the railings on either side, and then, because I guess she decided it’s best not to hang around and get nervous, she leans forward, arms outstretched, and tips over, head down, toward the chasm.

My stomach flips. Everyone cheers, and we watch as she descends all the way until she touches the water, then as if in slow motion bounces a little before they lower her down into a waiting dinghy.

Linc is leaning on the barrier next to me. His eyes are super bright. “Fucking amazing,” he says. “Don’t you think?”

I’m so terrified, I can’t talk. He studies me for a moment, then gives a short laugh. He puts his arm around me and kisses my forehead. “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” he says. “I’m not going to make you do anything you don’t want to do. I promised Fraser, right? I just thought it would be fun, that’s all.”

I don’t reply, and watch the next person take their place. Clive said, You’d be really proud of yourself if you did it, and I know he’s right. I want to do this. For me, and, oddly, for Linc. I want to share the experience with him. To experience the thrill. I don’t want him to have to do it alone.

The man on the jump platform takes a little longer to build up the courage, but he eventually makes the leap, and everyone cheers. They lower him into the boat. And then it’s our turn.

My heart hammers as I follow Linc toward the platform. A guy dressed in a black tee and shorts comes forward to meet us and holds out his hand. “I’m Brandon,” he says, “and I’m your jump manager today. How are we feeling?”

“Yeah, excited,” Linc says.

“And you?” Brandon asks, smiling at me.

“I think Elora might like to sit this one out,” Linc answers for me.

And that makes up my mind.

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