Page 45 of Click of Fate

The gym is quieter than the last time I was here. I noted the hours of business on the door as I walked in. The place closes in thirty minutes. A few climbers dot the walls, but it’s mostly staff wrapping up for the night. The fluorescent buzz of the lights has dimmed to a softer glow, and the air smells like chalk, effort, and something faintly citrusy.

Luke is waiting near the front desk, leaning against the counter like a man who knows he’s about to win something.

“You’re on time,” he says, grinning.

“You sound surprised.”

“I’m not. Just impressed.” His eyes skim over my outfit: black leggings, tank top, half-zipped hoodie. “You came prepared.”

“You said wear something I can move in,” I reply, trying not to notice how good he looks in a fitted T-shirt and joggers—forearms on full display. Rude.

“I did.” He moves to behind the counter where the climbing shoes are organized in neat rows by size. “I pulled a route for us. It’s technically intermediate, but I have faith in you.”

“Oh, that’s your first mistake.”

He laughs. “We’ll see.”

Twenty minutes later, I’m standing at the base of a wall that looks… vertical.

Luke’s at my side, explaining handholds and technique, the basics I already know but let him say anyway. His voice is low, warm, and a little too close to the shell of my ear.

I glance up the route. “So this is your idea of a fun Tuesday night?”

He shrugs. “You learn a lot about people when you watch them climb.”

“Oh? And what will you learn about me?”

He smirks. “That depends. Are you gonna play it safe or try to beat me?”

I lift an eyebrow. “Is this a race?”

He steps back, gesturing toward the wall. “Let’s call it a challenge.”

I don’t answer. I just smirk, chalk my hands, and start to climb.

By the time I reach the top, I’m sweating, but I don’t hesitate. I slap the final hold like it’s a buzzer, grinning down at him.

“Your turn, Farley. Let’s see if you’re all talk.”

Luke’s grinning up at me. “Damn. Alright, Snapshot.”

"Don’t start with the nicknames,” I call down, but I’m already smiling.

He laughs, stepping up and clipping into the auto-belay system. “Watch and learn.”

I descend, unclipping at the bottom and catching my breath just as he pushes off the wall and makes it look… easy. Of course he does.

When he lands beside me, he barely looks winded.

“Show-off.”

He tosses me a water bottle. “I earned that one.”

The gym is quiet now. Empty. It’s just us.

“You’re better than you let on,” he says, still catching his breath.

“I’m full of surprises.”

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