Page 16 of Some Kind of Forever
“Rappel on,” he answers, letting me know he’s ready to spot me. I test my feet on the edge of the wooden platform while standing backward. Crouching down low, I move to a sitting position with my break hand gripping the ropes tightly. I take a deep breath and ease my way down slowly.
Making it a little over halfway, I look down and see eyes on me. To my left is Chase, sitting comfortably in his ropes like he isn’t hanging from the side of a wall. Lowering myself a little more, I stop when we’re almost eye level.This better not be a ploy to get me alone.
“Fancy meeting you here,” he jokes.
I tip my head to the side, wondering why he isn’t moving. “Everything okay?”
He gestures to his feet, and that’s when I see his shoelace wedged in between two of the wooden planks, making his left leg cross over the right. “Think you could help me out?” He smiles sheepishly.
“How did this even happen?”
“I think I bobbed when I should have weaved, and my partnerisn’t really the guiding type.” He tips his head down to Sami on the ground, who’s turned toward Samson, talking with her hands. “My shoe slipped, and the next thing I know, I’m sitting pretty,” he explains with a shrug.
“Everything okay down there?” Claire asks, peering over the edge.
“Just a little stuck, but I think I got it,” I call back. Moving sideways slowly, I place my feet next to his, reaching to pull on the shoelace with one hand while clinging onto the rope with my braking hand. The lace doesn’t budge. I try again, yanking harder, and almost lose my balance.
Taking a minute to think, I reposition my feet and scrunch up my face, looking at his shoe. I need to get some leverage, but there isn’t enough space for him to shift to the left without releasing his ropes. And I can’t use both of my hands without releasing mine. “I think I need to sit in your lap,” I say seriously, completely missing the blaring double entendre. His eyebrows shoot up suddenly, and color fills his cheeks as I try to explain. “I didn’t mean… I just can’t get a good grip unless I?—”
“Sit in my lap…” he finishes with a smirk. “Got it. I never thought you’d ask. Be my guest.”
Rolling my eyes, I release my rope a little more until I’m level with him. Slowly stepping side to side, I maneuver around his twisted lower half until my legs straddle the stuck shoe. His left arm encloses mine, and I have to choke down more butterflies. “You’ll need to hold my rope and yours at the same time,” I warn. He nods, brushing my gloved hand to grab the rope in my lap. Even with clunky gloves on, the flutters inside me abound. I look over my shoulder. “I’m serious, Chase. If you let go, we’re going to?—”
“I got you,” he whispers. His warm breath fans over my ear, leaving goosebumps trailing down my arms. The scent of sandalwood and something earthy wraps around me as his arm settles on my hip. I take a deep breath to try and release the excitement rumbling around in my belly. Bracing myself againsthim, I lean forward to grip his shoe and feel shifting underneath me.
“Really, Chase?” I say under my breath as I try to reposition out of the path of his bulge.
“Not exactly a choice right now…” he grits out.
With another breath, I yank hard, and the lace breaks, leaving a flimsy gray remnant as the only evidence of what just happened.
Silently, I wrap my hand around his and grab my rope from him. “I’ll-um…see you down at the bottom,” I choke out nervously, moving slowly to my side of the wall. He’s watching me, and I keep my eyes straight ahead to avoid looking at him. I can’t make it to the ground fast enough as my body tries to recalibrate after that sensory takeover. His arms, his cologne, his…well…himunderneath me, it was a lot to deal with all at once. Hitting the ground, I get a high five from Samson, and Sami mentions something about being fearless. But all I can think about is the tickle of warm breath on my neck and the strong arms that were wrapped around me.
I’m not fearless, proven by my heart skipping several beats as Mr. Sandalwood lands next to me. The jolt to my senses while being that close to him, feeling the hair raise on my arms at his whispered breath in my ear, that’s exactly what I’m afraid of. Chase is getting under my skin, and I need to nip it in the bud.
“What did we learn?” Claire asks as she climbs down from the platform behind Kyle.
“Kayla’s a badass, and Sami talks too much,” Kyle chides. Sami punches him in the arm before mouthingsorryover at Chase.
Claire nods thoughtfully, looking between Chase and me. “You two made a really good team up there. Calm, cool, and collected. Great job! Sami, a word.”
Chase catches my eye and smirks. Suddenly, nothing is more interesting than the rock I’m staring at on the ground. I kick at it with my boot, trying to rid myself of the nervous energy coursing through me.This is so, so bad.
CHAPTER TEN
KAYLA
Aclap of thunder shakes the ground outside, making me jump just before I reach the doors to the mess hall. The girls’ cabin isn’t far, but my jacket is already soaked, leaving my green camp counselor tee damp underneath it. I’m freezing, but the rain is pouring down in sheets hard enough that I’m not running back through it to get my heavier jacket from the cabin. According to today’s schedule, we’re supposed to be practicing survival skills outside—building fires, making shelter, purifying water—but with the lightning being a liability, I doubt Claire will let us venture out there.
After peeling off my sopping jacket and hanging it on a hook by the door, I head straight to the food line. Hopefully, a hot cup of coffee will take the chill off enough for me to stop shivering. Distracted by the involuntary shaking in my shoulders, I don’t notice Chase grabbing his breakfast in front of me until I’m standing right next to him.Great. I managed to avoid him for the rest of the night yesterday and had plans to do the same today. I didn’t like the twinge of jealousy I felt when I watched him interact with Sami, and I’m trying my hardest to convince myself I didn’t like the way he wrapped his arms around me up on that stupidwall.
“You okay, there?” He laughs at the shimmy coursing through my body. His gray Gradford U zip-up is dry as a bone.
“I’m fine,” I say through chattering teeth.
“Uh-huh…” His voice trails as he watches me.
I avert my eyes down, grab a tray and mug, and wait for him to move out of the way.
