Page 22 of Inevitable Love
“No. My sex life is none of her business. Is that what you’re worried about? Let’s set that straight right now. I don’t talk to my sister about personal stuff. It’s between you and me.”
Her hands stop fidgeting, and the swing keeps moving. She’s not running away, which I’m taking as a win. “Okay, I won’t tell her either. I won’t lie to her. But I won’t bring it up either. Do we need to establish boundaries? Set some rules?”
I scoff at the ridiculous idea. “Mags, you know me.”
“Right, Mr. All Rules Are Meant To Be Broken.” There’s something in her voice, some emotion I can’t put myfinger on and don’t want to name. “We just can’t do it again. You and I are just friends.”
My stomach sinks, even as a weight is lifted, but finally, we’re making a step forward. “Agreed. And as adventure buddies… Tomorrow is our normal adventure day. Are you still up for hanging out?” I take my shot before she can put more space between us. This time without her has been awful, and I don’t want a repeat of the last week.
“Yeah,” she agrees with a sigh. I can’t tell if it’s a good thing or not. All I know for certain is that I’m getting us back to solid ground, come hell or high water.
“Good. I’ve got a surprise planned.”
“You say that every time.” Her tone isn’t quite back to her normal tease, and it makes me want to double down.
I nudge her with my shoulder. “You know you love it.”
When I eventually get a small tilt of the lips from her, it feels like I’ve won the damn lottery. Maybe things between us will be okay after all.
Chapter Eight
Jackson
“Why in the hell did I let you talk me into this?” Maggie gripes as she secures her helmet and then double-checks the buckles on her harness. I love this particular frown from her—it’s adorable, and it means she finds the experience challenging.
“Because you know you wanted to do it. Quit messing with the harness. It’s fine.”
She’s been fiddling with the way it fits ever since she stepped into it.
I thought for sure she’d absolutely refuse to get out of the Jeep when we first pulled up at the adventure park that boasts the longest zip line canopy tour in the state. But she climbed out and followed me inside and signed the endless release forms, even though her hands were shaking the whole time, entirely at odds with herBelieve In YouT-shirt.
“You do look terrified, though. Are you gonna freeze on me once we get started?”
The guide meets us before she has a chance to answer,and begins his spiel. Maggie’s pulling at the leg harness the whole time, glancing around at the group of five women who are also on our tour. They’re all our age, all fit, and decked out in athletic wear that’s more brand name than functional. I’ve noticed one of them casting glances our way more than once, both in judgment and interest.
None of them hold a candle to Maggie. Knockout gorgeous, plus she’s a hell of a lot of fun. I know she’s self-conscious about her body, but I wish she could see herself the way I see her. She’ll settle in soon enough; I’ve just got to get her out of her head long enough to realize today is going to be a blast.
I notice the ringleader of the mean-girls squad giving Maggie the once-over again. What is it with women sizing each other up? Just like how that group of women at the wedding reception were judgmental. I step in front of her, turning my back on the group.
“Mags.” I take her hand to get her attention. It feels weird touching her now. Over the last year or so, we’ve become casual touchers, so comfortable with each other I didn’t even notice it. Now that it’s suddenly forbidden, I am hyperaware of how awkward it is between us because of that night. But at the same time, it feels so right to take her hand. “Are you gonna freeze on me?” Her fingers are limp in mine, so I give them a squeeze and dip low enough to get in her face. “Talk to me.”
Chocolate eyes dart to the group of women who are now getting their safety check from the guide. He’ll be on us in a moment, and once we start from the platform, there’s no turning back, so if she’s bailing, it has to be now. She tugs my hand and pulls me away from the group.
“What if this won’t hold me,” she murmurs, eyes swimming with fear. Holy shit. This really has her freaked out.
I take her by the shoulders, resisting the urge to pull her in for a hug. She might think I’m unaware of how nervous she gets before we set out on any kind of demanding physical activity, but I’ve noticed every time. At some point, she’s going to believe all the motivational shit she wears on her T-shirts for herself. “I promise this will hold you. It will hold me. It’s safe.”
Body rigid and eyes wide, she’s still radiating fear, but she nods, almost like she values my word above even the release form she signed ten minutes ago. I want to thump my chest in victory.
“Can we let them go ahead of us?”
“We can do whatever you want to do. I knew you’d be nervous, but you usually work past it. If I’d known you were this terrified, I wouldn’t have planned this.”
“You guys ready?” the guide interrupts.
“Are we?” I ask her, giving her one last chance to call this off. “It’s your choice.”
Maggie shakes her arms and torso loose, like she’s shaking out all the tension she’s been storing, then gives him a nod. “Yep. Let’s go.”
