Page 21 of Switch

Me:Fine. What are we doing?

Jax:You’ll see. Wear something you can move in.

I stare at the message, my heart thudding in my chest. What does that even mean? My curiosity is officially piqued.

It’s just past four when a knock sounds at my door. I grab my bag, exactly like Jax told me to—comfortable clothes and tennis shoes, though I still have no clue why—and pull the door open.

He’s standing there, leaning casually against the doorframe, looking ridiculously good in his leather jacket and worn jeans. His gaze sweeps over me, slow and deliberate, before locking onto my eyes. That look—the one that makes me feel like I’m the only thing in the world worth noticing—sends a rush of warmth through me.

“You look good,” he says, voice low and smooth.

I smirk, shifting my bag over my shoulder. “Thanks. You still not going to tell me where we’re going?”

Jax just grins, reaching for my bag and taking it from me like it’s his job. “You’ll see,” he says, turning and heading toward his bike parked in the lot next to my car.

I follow, watching as he tucks my bag into his saddlebags like it belongs there.

“So, should I be excited or worried?” I ask, crossing my arms.

Jax swings a leg over his bike and pats the seat behind him. “Just trust me, baby.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You’re not exactly giving me a choice here.”

“Nope,” he says, handing me a helmet. “Hop on.”

The ride is exhilarating. The roar of the engine, the wind whipping against my face—it’s a rush I didn’t know I needed. I cling to Jax, my arms tight around his waist, and for once, I don’t overthink anything.

When we finally stop, I look around and realize we’re at an indoor rock climbing gym. The bright lights from the parking lot illuminate the sign above the door, and I turn to Jax with a mix of surprise and curiosity.

“Rock climbing?” I ask, pulling off my helmet.

“Figured it’d be fun,” he says, his grin widening. “Unless you’re scared of heights.”

I cross my arms, narrowing my eyes at him. “I’m not scared of heights. But are you sure you’re ready to see me completely outshine you?”

He laughs, a deep, genuine sound that makes my stomach flutter. “I like the confidence. Let’s see if you can back it up.”

Inside, the gym is alive with energy. People of all ages are climbing walls of varying heights and difficulties, and the faint scent of chalk dust hangs in the air. Jax handles the paperwork while I look around, taking it all in.

When he comes back, he hands me a harness and a pair of climbing shoes. “You ready?”

I nod, slipping into the gear. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

Our first climb is on one of the beginner walls. The instructor walks us through the basics, showing me how to clip in and find the best handholds. Jax, of course, picks it up immediately, like he’s been doing this his whole life.

“You’ve done this before,” I accuse as he scales the wall effortlessly.

“Maybe once or twice,” he calls down, a teasing edge to his voice. “You need help, or are you good?”

“I’m fine,” I reply, narrowing my eyes at him.

I focus on the wall, taking my time to find the right grips and footholds. It’s harder than it looks, but the challenge is oddly satisfying. By the time I reach the top, my arms are burning, but I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face.

“Not bad,” Jax says as we both rappel down. “Took you long enough, though.”

“Excuse me,” I say, hands on my hips. “I didn’t see you offering to race.”

“You want to race?” His grin turns wicked. “All right, let’s go.”

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