Page 87 of When Annika Met Thom

And it was over. Already.

He wanted to ask her to stay or to return, but he didn’t want to compel either of them to make promises they might not be able to keep. He was a big believer in time healing all wounds, but this time, he didn’t want to wait.

Because he loved Annika and he knew he always would.

The question was whether she really cared for him, or whether, once again, he was convenient. Thom had a definite sense that history was repeating itself.

His heart was in his throat when he approached the new rock climbing wall at quarter to three on Friday. He locked on his harness, his mind full of all the things he wanted to say before she left, and knowing he didn’t have the words to do it right. He looked up at the wall, which would be every bit as challenging to climb as he’d hoped, and pretended to be assessing it instead of looking for Annika.

Annika.

He should feel lucky to have had any time with her at all, to have known her, to have laughed and loved with her.

But Thom didn’t feel lucky, not with her leaving. He had to think of the perfect thing to say, even though he wasn’t very eloquent. He had to let her know that he’d be waiting for her if she wanted him after she’d gotten over Leo. He had no clue how to tell her that, but he had to tell her soon.

When they reached the top of the wall. That would be the moment. He’d say something. It would come out all wrong, but maybe Annika would understand.

She usually did.

He heard Kyle hoot and turned to watch Annika coming toward him. She was dressed casually, in yoga tights and a singlet, her hair tied back in a long braid. She was wearing boots and stopped beside him to buckle on her harness. “Ready to get your butt kicked?” she asked quietly, then flicked him a mischievous look through her lashes.

“Not me,” Thom said, smiling at her tone. “I’m going to own this wall.”

There was a crowd gathering in the lobby, thanks to Kyle’s efforts to round up an audience. All the partners were there, Ty having left his day job early. The sun was out, shining through the glass wall to illuminate the wall.

“It looks great, doesn’t it?” Annika said, looking up.

“Yes,” Thom agreed. “You really did it.”

“We really did it.” She looked at him, then offered her hand, already dusted with chalk. “A team effort,” she said.

“It was,” Thom agreed and shook her hand, trying to act as if they were just work acquaintances, not as if the memory of feeling her wrapped around him filled his dreams each and every night.

He knew that wasn’t going to change anytime soon.

“All right, people,” Kyle called. “Can I have your attention, please?” He waited for something closer to silence. “Welcome to the biggest and the best rock climbing wall in the city, maybe even in the state.”

“On this coast,” Annika said under her breath and Thom nodded agreement.

The belayer ropes were being uncoiled and Damon took up Thom’s rope. Kyle would be Annika’s belayer.

“These two designed this wall together,” Kyle told the crowd. “Each bringing specific experience to the project. I think the result is incredible!” The crowd cheered. “What a team!” There were whistles and hoots from those assembled to watch. “And their reward is that they get to make the inaugural climb. Who will reach the top first? Who will be the first champion of the F5F rock climbing wall?” Kyle picked up the rope and Annika moved away from Thom. He watched her looking up, choosing her strategy. Thom figured he should do the same. “Who will win?” Kyle concluded. “Ready. Set.”

“Let me win and you’re a dead man,” Annika threatened under her breath.

“Not a chance,” Thom growled. “You’ll have to earn it.”

She flashed him a smile and his heart went thump.

“Go!” Kyle roared and they leapt at the wall in unison. Thom found handholds where he expected them and then didn’t find them where he wanted one. He made steady progress, even when he had to backtrack, then reached the outcropping that leaned back over the floor of the club. This one went only halfway across the width of the wall, although it had a partner on the other side, higher up. It was tough to get over it, hard in a truly excellent way, and when he surmounted it, he wanted to roar with satisfaction. His muscles were aching but he was loving it. One glance proved that Annika was ahead of him, though she still had her outcropping to face, still above them. The members were cheering below, but Thom ignored them. He was completely focused on his next move, his next grip, his next footfall. His heart pounded and his breath came quickly, but it was an exhilarating climb.

He reached the summit of the wall and reached out to pull himself atop the wall, only to see a booted foot already there. He looked up, way up, to Annika’s flushed face and the triumphant flash of her eyes.

“Come on up,” she said with a grin. “The view is fine.”

Thom laughed, then pulled himself up beside her. The members shouted approval, applauding and stamping their feet, while Annika and Thom waved to them.

This was the moment, and he had no words.

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