Page 95 of All Your Firsts

“Yes, sir.”

Vic holds his stare for a moment longer before looking down at me. “I’ll see you when you get back up. Have fun.”

My gaze slides over to the other side of the bridge, where some of the guys are jumping.

“Vic, I can’t do it. I’m scared,” I whisper, shaking my head as I look down. My feet won’t move as fear paralyzes me, and the weight I thought was gone from my chest reappears.

Vic’s face softens as he rubs my cheek.

“Okay,” he says before looking behind me. “Can we go tandem?”

“Yeah. Let me get you a harness.” The guy says.

My eyes widen when I figure out what he’s doing. “But you don’t like heights.”

“No, I don’t.”

“You don’t have to do this.”

“But I do.” He rubs my cheek softly before kissing my lips. “For you.”

My heart soars at the sacrifice he’s making for me. I don’t know when he deemed it okay to kiss me in public for anyone to see, but I love it.

We unlocked a new level in our relationship after the night in the pool. One that left me feeling light, and dare I say loved? Not in love, because I know Vic would never want that, but cared for.

With him securely fastened to me, we walk toward the edge. Our bodies intertwine as I securely hold his waist with my arms, while his arms provide a comforting embrace around my shoulders.

I can hear Vic’s heart pounding in my ear, its rhythm erratic. I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward him. His selflessness grants me the opportunity to experience yet another first.

“Alright, guys, whenever you’re ready.”

“Are you ready?” I ask as I gaze up at Vic.

,“No,” he says with a nervous laugh, his eyes vulnerable. “But for you, I’ll do anything.”

That’s all the answer I need. I go on my tiptoes, give him a peck on his lips, and then lean over the edge.

We free-fall off the bridge that has a river running through the bottom. I scream loud enough for everyone to hear as the weightless feeling hits me, and my stomach drops. Vic’s armstighten around me as we move back and forth at the bottom of the bridge like a bunch of rag dolls.

“That was—”

“Awful.”

“It wasn’t that bad.”

“With you, it wasn’t.”

“I appreciate you,” I say as I kiss his chest.

Another first and core memory this beautiful man has given me.

We split from the pack of bikes and off toward another highway. Different shades of green zoom past us as we fly to our destination.

It’s getting colder, so I burrow even closer to him, feeling his muscles bounce as I wrap my chilled hands around him. He takes one hand off the handlebars and gently rubs mine back and forth, spreading warmth through my entire body.

I love when his hands are on me.

Before I know it, the ride is over and I look around. “You brought me back to the lake!”

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