Page 16 of When Glitter Meets Gold

I spin, my back hunched over like that damned witch who gives Snow White the apple. “You’re asking me to be careful? You have no idea the trauma you inflicted on me back then. You and your brother and sister. Do you know what you did to me? I moved to New York so I’d never have to be close to another swamp as long as I live.”

Jack rakes a hand through his hair. “Come on, that swamp was only three feet deep. You could sit down and still have your head above water.”

“Water!” I yell. “Water never existed in that swamp, Jack. There was only ever slime and mud and things that should never come into contact with skin.” I curse at the memory, taking a long stride back while listing off all the terrible things I encountered that day.

“Okay, calm down.” Jack holds out an open palm. “And would you stop moving? I’m serious, one wrong step and you’ll end up down there with your car.”

“Like you care. A second ago, you wanted me to hike alone in the dark with my injuries.” I take another step into the distance, ignoring the crunching under my feet. “Well, you know what, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Because I’d rather impale my bare foot on every sharp object in this forest than spend another second with the man responsible for more than just my childhood therapy bill?—”

I stop abruptly because dread pools in my stomach as the ground beneath me starts to give.

“Sara!”

“Jack!” I screech as the ground disappears. And for the second time in my life, I’m falling backward, my arms flailing, and this man is the reason.

The last thing I see is his body lunging for me, two hulking arms reaching over the edge of the hidden cliffside.

But it’s too late, I’m already gone.

8

SARA

I’m sliding down the cliffside, my front dragging over every sharp, pointy thing protruding from the slope. I plunge my hands into the foliage and force my nails to claw into the jagged sides of branches and rough-limbed vines. My feet dangle beneath me before my brain forces my legs to scramble for something to wedge my feet into. I cling to the side, my heart beating like it might rupture from my chest at any moment.

“Hold on.” I hear Jack call from above. I watch him climb over the edge, lowering himself by gripping branches and using rocks as footholds. He travels effortlessly, even with the huge backpack still attached.

“Don’t move,” he orders as he climbs past me.

My breathing is rapid and my throat’s swollen from severe gasping. I can’t even find the words to tell him that remaining still and glued to the side of the mountain is my only plan.

A thud sounds below, like boots connecting with gravel.

“You can let go,” Jack calls. I can’t tell the tone from up here, but if I were to hazard a guess, I’d say it was…boredom.

“What?” I shriek, tightening my grip.

He calls again, and this time I’m sure I hear boredom. “Are you waiting for sunset, or are you coming down here?”

I attempt to twist my head, but the small movement causes one of the branches in my grip to tear from its roots. A cry leaps from my lungs as I make a grab for another section, clinging tighter to the spot. “I…can’t,” I manage to choke out.

“It’s not that far, you either climb down or let go,” Jack says, the boredom quickly morphing into frustration.

I squeeze my eyes shut, grind my teeth, and take several deep breaths. I keep my body rigid as I carefully twist my head to the side, daring to look down.

Jack’s standing a few feet beneath me, close enough to reach out and touch me, both hands on his hips, backpack cast aside, jackass expression stamped on his face.

He’s on a ledge, a very wide ledge with trees and bushes lining the edges. Admittedly, there’s plenty of room to fall without fear of sliding farther down the mountain.

The only problem is that my limbs are completely frozen.

“I can’t.”

“Sure you can. Come on, just let go.” He says it like I’m holding up a line at Starbucks and not dangling for dear life.

“No,” I whine.

“Fine, I’ll catch you.” I can practically feel his growl vibrate through the brittle branches next to my head.

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