Page 69 of Keep Your Friends Close and Your… Work Enemy Closer?

"You've done this before?"

"Yep. And it feels amazing afterwards."

"You know what else feels good? A nice, warm shower."

Jared and Mona both laughed as Jim went on and on about the benefits of ice baths and how if we all conquered this last challenge together, it would help us overcome hurdles in the workplace as well, bonding us forever with a shared triumph.

Fuck. When he put it like that, I had to wonder how I could still weasel out of it. If I didn't do it, it'd be like I was failing my co-workers, and that made me feel terrible.

Damn it, Jim.

"So get into small groups again," he said, "and gather around the tubs. You'll find timers and towels for each group. Oh, and feel free to pair up if you think that'll help you. Now go forth and conquer!"

"Max Sterling, you'll pay for this," I muttered under my breath, Jared chuckling beside me.

Some of my more gung-ho co-workers began shedding their shoes, a few of the guys losing their shirts as well, and then a couple brave souls actually did the deed, shouts and screeches and laughter filling the air.

We all cheered for them, urging them on through the shivers, Jim reminding everyone to keep breathing throughout. One person called it quits after only ten seconds, probably longer than I would last. But another held on for a full minute.

They had broken the ice, so to speak, and little by little, everyone else tried it. It was one of those things where I should have just gotten it over with, going first or even second, so I could have that feeling of relief.

But instead, I postponed the torture, nervous energy swirling through my body as I watched everyone else go. Mona tried to talk me into going in with her, but I declined, so she went inwith Marcella, the two of them clinging to each other, Marcella jumping out a full ten seconds before Mona.

I handed them each a towel, and they stepped back with the others, going straight to the blankets that had been arranged on the deck where the sun was shining down.

"Okey-dokey, you two," Jim said. "The time to beat is one minute, forty-five seconds."

Jared whipped his shirt off and tossed it to the side, making me momentarily forget where we were. God, that chest was utter perfection.

"You ready?" he asked, a cocky smirk playing on his lips.

"Me? Ready? Not really."

"Come on. Let's do it together then."

"That's the spirit!" Jim said, his cheerful tone making me want to throttle him.

Trying to shake off my nerves, I looked at Jared, something in his eyes giving me courage. "Okay," I finally said, "together."

"That's it, baby," he said, the warmth in his voice making me feel a little bit braver.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped in, sitting down quickly before I could change my mind. The cold water hit me like a freight train, piercing through me, stabbing every single nerve in an excruciating shock to my system. It was way worse than I'd imagined, and for a few seconds, I didn't think I'd make it. Everything inside me screamed to jump out.

But then, Jared pulled me back into him, my back against his chest. "I've got you. Just breathe, baby. Just breathe."

I sucked in some air, and his arms came around me, wrapping firmly around my chest. I grabbed onto his arms, clinging to him with all my might.

"You can do this," he said near my ear in a low, reassuring tone.

Oh, God. I wasn't so sure about that.

"Breathe. Deep, slow breaths."

I focused on his voice and tried to block out the cold. His presence behind me was grounding, his confidence contagious. Our breathing synced up, every inhale and exhale together as we shared the most basic of functions, each breath a tiny victory.

Time ticked by as Jim counted down on his phone.

"One minute!"

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