Page 75 of If You Stayed

“That’s the whole point, I think.”

“But,” she said again, “what if I fall and break my neck?”

“Well, it will happen so fast, you won’t even realize you’re dead, so you’re all good.”

She shoved my shoulder with one hand as she held on to the swing with her other. “Don’t make jokes. I’m scared.”

I wanted to keep teasing her, but the fear in her eyes made me feel bad. So, I moved in, placed my hands on the rope, and held her close to me. “Okay,” I whispered, my voice low. “You don’t have to do it.”

Her eyes flashed with heavy emotions. “Really?”

“Yeah, really. You can be a little chickenshit if you want.”

Her mouth dropped open. She shoved me against my chest. I didn’t mind. A part of me liked whenever she touched me. A part of me teased her strictly so she’d react that way and touch me. I lived for her shoves. “I’m not a chickenshit, Gabriel Sinclair!”

I started making chicken noises.

She flipped me off.

I wanted to kiss her.

Whatever.

Ignore that impulse, Gabe.

“I’m just teasing,” I told her. “You don’t have to do it.”

She pouted. “And I’m not a chickenshit.”

“You’re not a chickenshit, no.” I wrapped my arms around her and inched her closer to the edge without her knowing. “You’re brave. And strong. And tough and—”

Before she could respond, I tightened my hold on her and the rope and launched us over the edge of the cliff. She held on to me, screaming the whole time as we flew through the air, until we hit the water with the biggest splash ever.

Kierra came to the surface splashing like wild, screaming at the top of her lungs. “Gabriel Ayodele Sinclair, I’m going to kill you!”

I couldn’t help but laugh at how livid she was.

She tossed her arms all over the place, shoving water at me. “You’re such a jerk!”

“I was just trying to help you cross this off your bucket list.”

She whined as she crawled out of the water and scrambled to get her towel. I was somewhat disappointed when she wrapped it around her. I liked the view without it.

I climbed out of the water and headed over to her. She gave me a stern look and pointed a finger my way. “I hate you.”

“You don’t.”

“I don’t,” she agreed. “But I could’ve died! We could’ve died!”

“We didn’t.”

“We didn’t,” she agreed. “But, ugh! You’re crazy.”

I smirked and nodded. “I’m proud of you, Kierra.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” She threw a towel at me, and I wrapped it around myself. I went and sat against a rock, staring out at the water. A few other people were swimming in the lake, splashing around like wild. Kierra came and sat beside me.

She grumbled and pouted.

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