Page 83 of Eight Steps to Alpha

He laughed, took the bottle from the grass and took a large swig. “I doubt that.” he set the bottle to the ground again and hoisted himself up on the ropes.

“You’re brave,” she said teasingly. “You do remember it was built by a city girl, don’t you?”

He grinned sheepishly, then pushed off the ground, setting himself flying. “If you were anything I imagine.” He began pumping. “You probably spent weeks tyin’ those knots up there.”

She leaned back on the trunk, knowing it was true. She practically rubbed her fingers raw making sure they were just right. But the fact he knew that about her filled her heart with pride.

His hair had fallen loose around his forehead, making him appear almost childlike. Kicking forward and back, forward and back. She couldn’t stop herself from grinning.

All of a sudden, without warning, his feet hit the dirt, and clouds of dust billowed in the air around them.

She coughed and sputtered, waving the dirt away from her face. “What are you doing?”

But he only looked at her, his hands firm on the ropes. “Swing with me.”

It wasn’t a question, but more of a demand. She picked up the wine bottle and took another drink. “It’s not strong enough.”

He glanced up to the knots that were as big as grapefruits, then back at her. “Don’t be a chicken.”

He was right. There was no way in the world it wouldn’t hold them both. “The swings not made for two,” she called out instead, even as she set the bottle to the dirt and stepped toward him.

“Haven’t you swung grasshopper before? Come over here!”

She scrunched up her nose and took another step. “What are you talking about?

“Come on. Sit on my lap, straddle my waist like a bug.”

She laughed, but grabbed hold of the ropes, and hoisted herself up to thread her legs on either side of him. “It’s called a butterfly, Elliot. Not a grasshopper. And I haven’t done it in year—” But he pushed off in that instant making her scream. “EEEPP! Elliot! Not so fast!”

He only laughed. “You say butterfly, I say grasshopper, same difference.”

At first she was hanging on for dear life, only able to pray. But after a few moments her grip eased and Elliot began yelling to her. “Forward, now back. Forward, back.”

And she listened, sending them sailing even higher.

When he to-ed, she fro-ed.

When he leaned forward, she followed him with her whole body. It was magical.

The wind caught her hair, whipping it around them like a curtain. It was like their private little space, one that was left just for them. If she’d been told an hours ago that this evening would have ended like this, she wouldn’t have believed it. But the truth was, it was soul freeing. Cleansing. Exactly what she needed. Everything had become so complicated back home, but now it all felt normal again. Better than normal. It was times like this, when they behaved like children, that she felt like she’d known him her entire life. Like he was there when she’d hung these borrowed ropes. Like their souls had known each other for eternity.

She pulled away from him then, leaning back so she could look at his face. His smile was boyish and wonderful, making her realize how much she missed him. “Can I ask you a question.” Her heart sped up a little when he looked at her with a calm, open expression.

“Shoot.”

“Why do you never talk about your family?”

His brow creased slightly, but he didn’t look away. “What do you want to know?”

“I don’t know…tell me about your mom, your dad.” Just verbalizing the question made her mouth go dry. She’d been wanting to ask him for weeks, but it never seemed the right time. Now it did.

“He’s a mechanic, him and mom were high school sweethearts—”

“Your real dad.”

His feet slowed in pumping, but then he picked up his pace again, this time maybe even faster. “I’m guessing Colton told you the story?”

She nodded. “He did.”

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