Page 58 of Ice To Meet You

Moving an errant strand of hair from my eyes, I recalled the information from the safety briefing. The key points came back like a beacon in the dark. Once we were clipped to the wire, we couldn’t fall off. Even with our pulleys attached, the wire was a lifeline—a constant connection to the course that couldn’t be broken.

As long as I stayed attached, I wouldn’t die. Simple.

I nodded, reaching for Matteo. He guided me into his body with his outstretched hand. The second our fingers met, his curled around my gloves like bindweed.

After helping me attach to the safety wire, he turned me round, bringing his mouth to my ear. We were close to a sheer drop, and I struggled to keep my eyes off the void.

“When you reach the other side, you’ll see another platform, just like this. Plant your feet securely and anchor yourself onto something.”

I stared at him, blinking rapidly.

“Hold on to something. Move away from the platform’s edge and I’ll follow you over. Ready?”

I swallowed. Was I ready? Not even remotely. Right now, as I looked over the edge to the distant ground, my legs resembled jelly. But I couldn’t deny the hint of safety I felt as I stood tucked against him.

I dared another peep over the side, and my head spun. The forest floor seemed miles away and when a stiff breeze barrelled into us, my breath thinned. Matteo held me tight against him until the wind settled.

“You’ll be fine,” he whispered.

“I wish I shared your optimism,” I hissed. Right now, I was smack bang in the middle of the mother of all fight-or-flight battles; and flight was well and truly winning.

“Just keep looking forward,” he said, pointing to the wire that disappeared into the treetops ahead. My heart thumped a rhythm in my chest. “I can’t do it," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the wind.

"Come on. You’ve got this," Matteo said, his voice steady. "I’ll be right here. Trust me."

"Trust you? You’re the one who dragged me up here!"

"And I’ll get you back down. I promise. But first, it might be a good idea if I hook you to the zip wire."

Matteo reached down and untethered the pulley attachedto my harness. Pushing me gently from behind, he nudged me to the lip of the platform and took my hand, closing it around the pulley. With little effort, he hooked it onto the wire, moving it back and forth, showing me how easily it shifted.

“Keep your fingers away from the top,” he instructed. “Hold the base of the pulley, step out, and just let go.”

My gut lurched. What did he mean “just let go?” I ran my eyes over the shiny metal. Would it even hold my weight? It didn’t look very substantial. But Matteo didn’t let up with the pressure at my back. His breath was annoyingly calm and settled—like we were deciding what to order for lunch, not throwing ourselves to the forest floor.

“And you’re sure this is safe?” I asked, stalling for time.

"You’re overthinking it," he said, his voice warm and teasing at my neck.

"I don’t overthink," I shot back, lips tight. "I prepare."

"Then you’re fully prepared to step off the side,” he replied, moving even closer, his presence solid and steady at my back.

“But …”

"You’re safe," Matteo murmured. "Just lean forward, and jump. Trust the harness and enjoy the ride."

I turned my head to look at him, and his expression took my breath away. His eyes were bright, alive, vital. He wore the most irritating smile—all calmness and peace—and damn if I didn’t melt a little at the sight.

Fine. If he wanted me to hurl myself off the platform in the name of pasta pay-back, so be it. I could be spontaneous. Daring.

I shut my eyes tight and counted to three in my head. Finally, after taking a huge gulp of air, I stepped into nothingness.

The drop was sudden, and I screamed louder than a parent stepping on Lego. The harness didn’t break, and relief instantly mixed with a motherload of adrenaline. Blood sung in my ears.Against the soundtrack of wailing metal-on-metal, another feeling replaced the terror.

A fizzing filled my belly and reluctantly I peeled my eyes open. The world rushed past in a blur of green trees and sky. By the time I reached the other end, my cheeks ached from the biggest grin in recorded history.

I hit the landing platform feet-first, with a thump, and my knees wobbled like a newborn giraffe. I reached out with my hands, finding salvation in the rough bark of the tree trunk. The harness jerked slightly, securing me in place, but I refused to let go of the wood. Not even when Matteo’s boots thudded onto the platform behind me. The sound of his laughter trailed somewhere after him.

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