Page 76 of The Falcon and the Foe

He didn’t seem to know how to take that. Neither did I. “You never did anything like this?”

“Nope. Heights are not my thing.”

The guide waved me forward. He was a tall, thin, twentysomething bro whose schedule probably consisted of smoking weed, drinking with friends, fucking random girls he knew in high school, and making just enough cash from these outdoor excursions to keep the cycle going.

“You sure these ropes are sturdy enough?”

“Dude, you’re fine.”

I was not fine. I also didn’t appreciate that someone who held my life in his hands referred to me as dude.

“I will take your strongest harness. Whatever they used inFifty Shades.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Zipline Bro sifted through the harnesses on the wall. “Try this.”

He handed over a tangled mash of rope and fabric that was somehow supposed to be the only thing keeping me from imminent death.

I stepped into the large hoops and pulled it over my chest. It felt an inch or two tight, but I soon realized that was the point. The fabric hugged my thighs and made me very aware of my crotch. Zipline Bro gave me a once-over look while popping his gum.

“Good. How does it feel?” he asked.

“How is it supposed to feel?”

“Secure.”

I pulled at my harness extra hard, daring it to rip. Zipline Bro tugged with even greater force, his thin arms disguising surprising strength.

“Good,” he said without giving it another thought.

“Is there a test I can do to make sure it’s secure enough?”

“Nah, we’ll get you on the cables, and we can see if we have to make any adjustments from there.”

“Once I’m already in the air?”

“Dude, relax. It’s all good.”

I could practically hear the pot smoke swirling through the guy’s brain. Familiar hands rubbed my shoulders, and I leaned into Russ’s soothing touch. I didn’t understand why he was so relaxed about this.

“These are very strong ropes.” Russ pulled on my harness, which gave me all sorts of naughty ideas.

Zipline Bro studied my head for a disturbing amount of time.

“I think we should have a helmet for you.”

“Think? What does that mean?”

“You have a large head.”

Russ snorted behind me.

“Dude, it’s a compliment. Means you got a big brain.” He swiped a helmet at the far end of the row. It pressed into my skull. “How does that feel?”

“Secure?” I dug fingers inside to scratch. “Does it look secure?”

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