Page 60 of F*cking Shattered

“Thanks for the use of your keg and I’m sorry about barfing in your yard, but I think I’m going to go. I’m not feeling very well.” Without waiting for a word from him, I walk back through the house and out to the car.

River comes chasing me out. “Are you okay?”

I nod while rubbing my head. “You really shouldn’t have spun me around. I was already dizzy.”

He lets out a small, embarrassed laugh, realizing his mistake. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Do you forgive me?”

I pull out the list and mark it off. “I guess. But now you have to tell me something.”

He starts the car and starts off to our next destination. “What?”

"What are your plans when we get back home?" I don't look at him. I can't. I'm too nervous about his answer.

I can feel him watching me. "The first thing I'm going to do is get a driver’s license."

I can't hold in my laugh.

"Then I'm going to drive over to your place and never leave. I hope you're okay with that. You're stuck with me." He grins making his eyes light up.

I feel something flutter in my chest, a feeling I've never felt before. "Okay, but you're going to have to get a job. We can't both be unemployed."

His deep, sexy laugh fills the car. "We’re a fucking mess, you know that?"

I nod with a smile. "I know. But I'd rather be a mess with you than put together with anyone else."

He leans over and kisses me breathless. "Let's go get this list done."

Soon after leaving the run down house, we're pulling up to some kind of amusement park. "What are we doing here? This isn't on the list."

He shuts off the car and removes his seatbelt. "I know, but bungee jump is." His eyes fill with excitement as he flashes me a wicked smile.

I clap my hands together as I bounce up and down in my seat. "I've always really wanted to do this but I was always too scared. It will be so much fun jumping together." I swing open the car door and climb out.

"Wait! Jovi, no!" He rushes to my side. "This one's just for you."

"Oh, no. If I go, you go!" I grab his hand and lead him to the gates.

We stand in line for what feels like three hours. But we're finally up next.

"Jovi, I seriously can't do this one.” His voice is laced with nerves.

I turn to look at his pale face. "Are you afraid of heights?"

He swallows, a lump forming in his neck. "I can't do it. I'll tell ya what. How about neither of us do it and you just mark it off?"

"What? No! That's cheating! I have to do this. You don't."

"Really? You won't hate me for making you go alone?” His facial muscles go at ease with relief.

"You're not making me. I want to do this."

The man tells me to step forward to fit me with my harness. They go through an incredibly long list of technicalities before letting me walk over to the side where I jump. I spin around so I can look at River while I fall backward, wanting to take the love and excitement he makes me feel with me.

I hold my arms out at my side and slowly lean back, letting gravity take me over the edge. My stomach feels like it's still up on the platform, but I feel completely weightless, free. The wind whips my hair around me and makes me feel like I’m flying. My cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing. However, I'm not brave enough to open my eyes. I keep them squeezed shut. I don't need to see. I just need to feel.

I bounce around for a while, feeling like a cork that keeps getting pulled under water, but I'm finally pulled back up to the platform.

River is standing there with his hand covering his mouth, skin so pale it looks green.

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