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Hope smiled as she finished texting. “It’s clear you want to tell him something, and I want you both to be happy.”
I hugged her. “Thank you, Hope.”
Hope took my hand. “No problem, though I do have to say it would be great if you turned out to be my sister and not just my friend. Now, get going. The limo driver will get you to the helicopter and the plane.”
I waved to my friends, who all seemed to laugh at me. “Thank you, everyone.”
I hoped he would never take crazy risks for me. Kir didn’t need to hurt himself. I needed him safe and alive because he had my heart. I’d been blind, but if he forgave me for being an idiot, we had a shot. First, he needed to know the truth.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Kir
* * *
Avril had run out the door like she’d hated me. I reached for the next rock ledge, looking for a place to hold and tug myself up higher. I needed to climb and focus. When I thought about that moment, I cringed. Every inch up the rocks, as I tugged my body higher and higher, looked like a good place to jump. I needed to forget how I felt because we clearly weren’t on the same page. My fingers dug through the edge between the rocks.
I was reaching for the next one when I thought I heard Avril’s voice saying, “Kir.”
I ignored it and went higher. My leg needed to go where my hand had been.
As I stepped, I heard, “Kir!” I clung to the rock and secured my footing and then gazed down. Following behind me on the climb was Avril, and her gaze was laser focused on me as she shouted. “Kiiirrr!” She continued her climb with a rope around her waist.
I moved my foot back to where it was and started on my way down. “What…? Avril, don’t come up here.”
She moved up. “I need to talk to you.”
“I’ll come down.” I held on as I found the spots in the rocks I’d used before that.
She rocked and then held on. “How can you do this? I can’t look down.”
My heart surged, and I moved faster. “Don’t freeze.” I methodically made my way to her and, when I was beside her, hooked her to me so that we supported each other. “Come.”
“What if we fall?”
I moved a hand lower, and she copied me. “You look equipped.”
“The driver set me up and then left.” She had tears in her eyes. “What if the ropes break?”
“Trust me.” I tightened her gear. I saw no guide, but someone must have helped her.
She moved her hand down as I directed. “I do. I came up here to tell you not to do this anymore.”
As we continued to crawl our way back down, I asked, “Why?”
“Because I love you, too, and I hope you still love me.”
My heart pounded. I wasn’t sure I’d heard right, but if she loved me, maybe we’d be happy. I lowered myself again and pointed toward her leg. “Let’s get you down.”
She clung and grew tense. “I don’t want to die.”
“I’m with you.” I needed to hold her, but I motioned for her to stay with me. “Put your foot here, and no, you’re not going to die.”
She placed her foot where I directed her. “I’m not?”
I moved and then told her, “Other foot here, and lower your hand.”
“How do you do this for fun?”
