Page 35 of Rivals

Rathe studies me as we make our way to the elevator bay. “Noted, but I can promise you’re going to have a ton of fun.”

“Didn’t someone tell you that you shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep.”

The elevator doors open, it’s empty as we step inside. I feel Rathe on my heels, his body heat wrapping around me like a blanket. When he leans down his breath tickles the skin on the back of my neck. “Oh, I keep my promises Sutton.”

I don’t reply because honestly what could I say to that? I want him to keep his promises to me, but I know better than to actually believe in something like that. Even a person with the best intentions will fail at keeping a promise. The world will change and the people in it change as well. Promises are changed or broken, it’s just the way of the world. When we step outside of the hotel the valet steps forward and hands a set of keys to Rathe. A beautiful burnt orange Astin Martin DB2 is sitting in front of me. A true classic car. It causes my heart to race. It’s a truly beautiful piece of art. “Wow,” I whisper. I’m afraid if I say it any louder that I’ll break the magic of the moment.

“That fact that you can appreciate the true beauty of this car only makes you more beautiful.” Rathe steps forward and opens the passenger side door for me.

I look up at his dark eyes. “Is it yours?”

“It is as of a couple hours ago.” Rathe smirks, before he shuts the door and walks around to the driver’s side of the car. The car is a convertible and the top is already down, so I grab a hair tie from my bag and quickly pull my hair into a messy bun. “You ready for a night you won’t be able to forget?” He wags his eyebrows at me, and I can’t help but laugh at how silly he looks.

Rathe drives us through downtown Miami. It’s a beautiful city with tons of culture. You can hear the Latin music coming from inside some of the buildings we’re passing. The air is filled with the smell of Cuban food and the underlying sea salt from the ocean. Rathe pulls in front of the tallest building I’ve seen here yet and hops out. He hands his keys to the valet before turning towards me and opening the car door. Rathe extends his hand to help me out. I’m reluctant at first to take it, because what if someone sees? We could be jeopardizing everything. However, one look into those eyes so full of hope and mischief and I know it’ll be worth it. When my skin comes into contact with his, the fire reignites within me, so strong even the ocean a few blocks away couldn’t put it out. “What are we doing here?” I hear screaming coming from above us, but I can’t make much out right now.

“Trust me,” Rathe tells me, as he places his hand on the small of my back and leads us inside. I don’t really have time to take in our surroundings because Rathe waves at a young man standing at a podium to greet us. I believe we are at a hotel or maybe a club of some sort, but I never see behind the large wooden doors. Rathe ushers us towards the elevator which we take to the top floor. He looks down at my shoes. “I’m glad you wore those shoes because we have to climb the last flight of stairs.”

I’m half excited, half worried about what I’m going to be walking into, but I follow behind Rathe quietly. Every now and then he glances back over his shoulder in my direction to check on me. Eventually, we reach the top and knock on the door. A young girl opens it and Rathe gives her his undercover name in an attempt to secure our privacy. As I step through the door, I hear a squeal and look to my right where I see a zipline set up. I swing my head back to Rathe. “We’re ziplining?”

“Technically, we’re going to eat.”

I scoff. “Oh really? Where? The moon?”

Rathe laughs. “No, just over there,” he tells me pointing. I follow the direction he’s pointing and see another building a couple of blocks away that is slightly shorter than the one we’re currently standing on. I can’t make anything out from here though. Rathe urges me into the line of people waiting to zipline next. From here the city looks gorgeous but I always had a thing for city lights. Rathe leans down. “Are you okay?” I just nod my head in reply. “You aren’t afraid of heights, are you?”

“Kind of. I mean, I’ve never really been this high up until now. I’m not sure what to think.” I hate admitting that since it probably makes me seem so inexperienced compared to him but it’s the truth. Rathe and I come from completely different worlds. This is yet another reminder of that, but I won’t let that damper the evening or my mood. Before I know it, I step up and get harnessed into the zipline. When I look down at the city below me, I get a little dizzy. “I’m not sure I can do this.”

I feel his presence behind me before I feel the warmth of his hand on my shoulder. “You’ve got this.”

I nod my head. “So, what was the point of this again? I mean, what’s on the other side of this zipline that was so important that we just had to go this route?”

“Dinner,” he replies simply, before the employee pushes me away from the building.

I scream at first, but it quickly morphs. The wind whips through my hair. It reminds me of being in my car, racing. Adrenaline quickly takes over my body and I let myself enjoy the moment, to drink in the city in a way most people will never do. The city lights are a beautiful blur and Rathe was right, this is a night I’ll always remember.

Thirty-Seven

Rathe

This zip line and rooftop dinner has been on my bucket list since I first visited Miami a few years ago. I never had time in my schedule to do it though, until now. The fact that I brought Sutton with me says a lot but there is this part of me that doesn’t want to acknowledge how my feelings for her have grown over these two weeks. It seems like such a small, insignificant amount of time but for me it’s changed just about everything.

I watch as the employee pushes Sutton away from the ledge. The initial squeal, partial scream that comes from her causes me to laugh but I can tell the moment she actually starts to enjoy it. I’m really glad I brought her with me to experience this. I hadn’t considered that she might be scared of heights until we were already on the roof. I just figured this was something that would be right up her alley. She seems like a bit of an adrenaline monkey, much like myself.

“Your turn sir,” the employee that just pushed Sutton away from the building tells me. I step up and let them adjust my harness and connect me to the zip line. Standing on the ledge of the building, looking down at the world below, well it’s frightening really. I didn’t expect to have such a nervous flutter racing through my body. Heights have never bothered me but this right now, is testing me. “Are you ready?”

I nod my head. “Yeah, let’s do it,” I reply. Taking the first step off the ledge was the worst. There’s a split second where you are in free fall before the harness snatches you and sends you speeding through two blocks of the city, high above the streets and pedestrians. The city lights are a blur as you whirl past them, but it’s a total rush. The zip line starts to slow as I approach the rooftop of the destination. I spot Sutton standing to the side, a smile from ear to ear on her face. She looks slightly windblown but so damn beautiful that my chest aches. The employees pull me in and get me unhooked. Once the harness is removed, I step down. “So, how was that?”

She gives me a coy smile before rolling her eyes. “As much as I hate to admit it, that was definitely something I’ll never forget.”

I pump my fist in the air like I just won something huge. “Yes! I knew it!”

“How did you find out about all of this anyways?” Sutton asks.

The hostess greets us before leading us to a table near the edge of the roof. The lighting is muted, just a soft, warm glow. The iron table with glass tops are just enough for two people. A small vase with two yellow flowers sits in the middle along with a candle lit lantern. The entire rooftop is done to make you feel like you are in another place and up here, above the city, it’s easy to slip into that feeling. Everything feels very romantic. Sutton sits across from me and studies the menu. “To answer your question, this is something that’s been on my bucket list. I found out about it a few years ago when I first visited Miami, but I’ve never had enough time to do it. Miami is usually in the middle of the press tour, not at the end. We lucked out this time.”

“Seems like it. That was amazing.” Her eyes roam as they take in the city around us. I wish I could see everything for her eyes. I wish I could hear what she is thinking.

I smile over at her. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

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