Page 68 of What Happens in Paradise

‘Por supuesto,’ he nodded, confirming that’d be fine.

‘Okay.’

After I’d got changed, I put our phones and credit cards in a waterproof bag, slid it over my neck then followed Alejandro to the first level.

My heart thumped loudly in my chest. I couldn’t believe I was really going through with this.

Part of me hoped there’d be a queue to psyche myself up, but when we were able to walk straight to the edge, I reasoned it was probably better to just get it over and done with before I chickened out.

‘Ready?’ Alejandro asked, holding out his palm.

‘Not really, but I’ll give it a go!’

I slid my hand in his and fireworks exploded within me. There was something about being close to Alejandro that made me feel fearless. It was like he had some kind of superpower that instantly made me feel calm and completely safe.

The feminist in me wanted to cringe for thinking this, but somehow, when I was holding his hand, it was like I was capable of doing anything.

‘After three: one, two, three, let’s go!’ he shouted and we both leapt off the cliff.

I’d love to say I played it cool, but I didn’t. I screamed my head off like I was running from an axe murderer.

Yet, as we floated through the air before our bodies plunged into the water, adrenaline rocketed through my veins. It was then I realised that as well as being one of the most terrifying things I’d ever done, it was also one of the most exhilarating.

‘You okay?’ Alejandro asked as we surfaced from the water, still holding my hand.

‘That was amazing!’ I wiped the water from my eyes. ‘Let’s do it again!’

No one was more surprised than me to hear those words fly from my lips.

Miraculously, I voluntarily jumped into the water two more times. Each jump was just as exhilarating as the first. Who knew I was an adrenaline junkie?

Alejandro had asked if I felt brave enough to try the next level up, but I decided it was best to quit whilst I was ahead.

‘I’msothirsty!’ I said as we returned to main area. ‘Let’s get some drinks and sit by the pool. What would you like?’

‘Jamaican Viagra,’ Alejandro said casually.

‘Sorry, what?’ My eyes flew from their sockets.

He was so matter-of-fact about it. I mean, I knew we’d had a connection and I definitely felt even closer to him after he helped me do that jump, but asking for Viagra was a bit presumptuous.

Firstly, I was surprised he thought I’d be able to just walk up to a bar and ask for it and secondly, judging by what I’d felt during our dance lesson, I wouldn’t have thought that he needed it.

‘I said I would like the Jamaican Viagra,’ Alejandro repeated. ‘It is a cocktail they have here.’

‘Ohhhhh!’ I blew out a breath.

‘You thought I was asking you to go to a bar and ask for therealViagra?’ He laughed.

‘Well, yeah…’

‘No!’ He smirked. ‘I do not need any help getting hard.’ Alejandro licked his lips and my pulse raced.

‘Yes.’ My eyes met his. ‘I thought so.’ Alejandro held my gaze. ‘I better get the drinks. Looks like there’s a queue,’ I added quickly, desperate to break the spell and shut down the electricity that was pulsing between us.

‘Vale,’ he said. ‘I will find us some seats.’

When I got to the bar and scanned the menu, I saw that Alejandro was right. There was indeed a cocktail called ‘Front End Lifter AKA Jamaican Viagra’which was beer blended with white rum, rum cream, clear syrup and oatmeal topped with chocolate syrup.

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