Page 37 of Revival

At the bottom, she turns to me, fingers digging into the strap beneath her chin.

“I think my helmet is stuck.”

“Here, let me.”

She drops her hands, and I replace them with mine.

“Tilt your chin.” Focusing on my task rather than the long, slender expanse of her neck takes all my willpower. The buckle clicks. “Got it.”

I draw the helmet down the back of her head.

“Thanks.”

She turns at the sound of another couple descending behind us. The wind blows her black hair across her neck. There’s something there. A dark smudge peeks out behind her ear.

“I think the buckle got something on—” I reach forward.

“It’s nothing.” She turns abruptly and rubs the spot with her fingers.

I tilt my head. “What is it?”

Tension draws her shoulders taut. “It’s a stupid mistake I made.”

“You have a tattoo.”

“Why is that your first guess?”

“What other stupid mistakes do people have on them that they don’t want someone to see?”

She rolls her eyes and stomps off toward the equipment drop.

“C’mon, Kitten. Spill your little secret.” We both know I’m goading her. The question is if she’ll give in or put up a fight.

The two men unstrapping us prevent her from running away. She lifts her fingers to the mark again. Her lips move with her silent confession.

“Speak up, sweetheart. I can’t hear you.” I smirk as I peel the harness straps off my chest and step out, knowing her eyes are glued to my every move.

“Sebastian and I got matching tattoos!”

Well, shit.

I was hoping for a drunken bachelorette party. Not something to do with her fucking ex.

“Let me see.”

“I don’t think so.” She hops out of her harness. Before she can flee, my fingers wrap tightly around her elbow.

While murmuring, I draw her closer. “Just a little peek.”

Tucked neatly behind her ear is a fine-line design. A pair of dice with black dots indicating the numbers one and two on them.

“What do they mean?”

“It was supposed to be our wedding date.”

“You were meant to get married January second?”

She sighs. “June twelfth. I have the twelve, and his dice has a six.”

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