Page 94 of All Your Firsts

This feels like living.

We make a right and come to a halt on an arched metal bridge, joining a truck and a small group of people. As I dismount from the bike, my legs tremble like gelatin from the long ride. When I stumble, Vic reaches out his hand to steady me.

“Whoa there.” He chuckles while his eyes sparkle with amusement.

Embarrassment from almost meeting the floor again colors my cheeks, so I blurt the first thing that comes to mind. “You know you’re kinda beautiful.”

“And you’re kinda perfect,” he murmurs as he rubs my hand with his. The gentle touch accompanied by those words stirs a profound yearning for him within me. “You ready?”

“For what?”

“I remember someone saying they wanted to bungee jump.”

I squeal. “Are you for real?”

“Yep.”

“You did this for me?”

“Of course. Let’s go, baby,” he pulls me over to where the guys are setting up.

“You shouldn’t have, Vic,” Trey says as he gets buckled in. A huge smile graces his lips. “Later fuckers” is all he says before doing a back flip off the bridge.

He’s definitely a little unhinged. Trey disappears over the side, and I look up at Vic with wide eyes.

“You scared?”

“A little.”

“You’ll be safe.”

“Are you going to do it, too?”

“Fuck no.”

“Why?”

“Vic’s scared of heights,” Axl says with a laugh.

“Fuck you, Ax.”

I can’t help but smile. Vic fearing something makes him almost seem more human. I’ve thought of him as someone who’s immune to that feeling.

It sounds bad, but I find comfort in him fearing at least one thing.

I look over at Jess, who’s close to Axl’s side. “What about you, Jess?”

“Uh.” She looks over at Axl, who shakes his head, then she looks back at me.Weird.“I’m with Vic. I don’t like heights.”

“You’re up,” Vic says.

I look over to the ledge where they’re waiting for me. Second thoughts race through my mind. Vic threads his fingers with mine and pulls me over.

The guy clips me in as I look up at Vic with trepidation.

“You can do this,” he says while watching the guy. “Watch those fingers, buddy.”

When the guy stands back up, Vic narrows his eyes at him. “Are you sure everything is secure and safe?”

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