Page 67 of Just Between Us

Before anyone could answer, movement caught my attention, and a streak of black whizzed past me. I watched in shock as Veda ran straight for the edge and flung herself over the cliff without hesitation.

The four of us leaned over the edge to watch as she fell in a straight line, her toes pointed and her arms planted against her sides. The splash was barely audible, and I finally exhaled when she popped to the surface.

“What are you all waiting for?” she called from the water as she swam to the edge.

In a line, we gawked down at her swimming safely to shore in the dark water. As a group we took three steps backward. MJ grabbed Annie’s hand. Annie clutched Lee’s. Lee looked at me and smirked, holding out his hand.

I shook my head in disbelief but grabbed it.

As we all rushed forward, Lee looked right at me as we jumped. “Dude. You are so fucked.”

Together we free-fell over the cliff. I released Lee’s hand and crossed my arms in front of me as the water came rushing up. Cold water surrounded me as I kicked and pushed my way to the top of the water. I was panting by the time I broke the surface. Lee was swimming ahead of me, and when he reached the shoreline, he turned to pull Annie onto the beach. I scanned for MJ, who was also making her way to the shore in smooth strokes.

I hauled myself onto the beach. Water dripped down my chest and off the end of my board shorts as I met the rest of thegroup on the shoreline. Everyone was laughing as excitement mixed with relief.

“Veda!” Annie shouted. “I can’t believe you weren’t afraid. My knees were shaking.”

“You want to go again?” MJ asked, wiping water from her eyes and ringing out her long hair.

Veda was smiling, as relaxed and happy as I’d ever seen her. She’d never been more beautiful.

“Nah,” I teased. “Veda doesn’t like to break the rules.”

She popped a hand on her hip. “I think I’m starting to see that sometimes breaking the rules can be a lot of fun. I’m up for it if you are.”

“Let’s goooo!” Lee pointed at the top of the cliff and started walking toward the path back up.

I was drawn to Veda, my body calling to her side. “Race you to the top?” I whispered in her ear.

“I don’t know ... maybe we—go!” Veda took off like a shot, her squeal echoing through the trees as I chased after her.

I laughed and called out: “Cheater!”

Her warm, easy laugh was a shotgun blast to the chest. When I heard the snap in my ankle, I was far more pissed about losing the race than about the sudden pain shooting up my leg.

NINETEEN

ROYAL

Dealingwith a broken ankle was infinitely less annoying than feeling like I owed Lee Sullivan. When I felt the snap, I crumpled to my knees in agony. Lee came up behind me, assessed the situation, and could tell right away that it wasbadbad.

I could barely limp to traverse the rocky, uneven terrain, so Lee gave me a once-over before hauling me across his shoulder as we climbed to the top. MJ grabbed our things as I hung limply down his back. I flipped my little sister the bird when she started giggling and taking a video.

Lee made his way to where we had parked and deposited me onto the tailgate of his truck. He used his EMT training to stabilize my leg, and I didn’t miss the internal war going on inside Veda’s head. It was clear that a part of her wanted to comfort me while a sensible side kept her emotions in check. The line between her brows deepened, and when I shot her a wink, she softened.

It was a bumpy, excruciating trip, but I rode to the hospital in the bed of Lee’s truck.

The remainder of our night of debauchery was spent at the hospital getting X-rays and a cast. I stared down at the hot-pink monstrosity.

I was about 99 percent positive Lee’s smooth words talked the nurse into claiming it was the only color available. Sure, I could have bitched and moaned for them to change the cast to black or navy, but fuck it.

If I had to walk around with this thing for the next few weeks, I was doing it in style.

It had been a week since our night out, and I was itching to get my hands on Veda again.

Speaking of itching ... Jesus fucking Christ.

I wiggled my toes and growled down at the cast that extended from below my knee, over my foot and to my toes. I hobbled toward the front desk of the tattoo shop.

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