Page 73 of Party Favors

Okay, he was, but I still wasn’t willing to risk my life just because he was hot.

We went out into a giant room filled with mirrors and massive windows. There were people everywhere, taking photos. I could see the entire New York skyline spread out beyond the windows. It was a gorgeous view, but not one I wanted to examine more closely.

He held on to my hand firmly as we walked toward the edge. I realized that there were glass skyboxes that jutted out over nothing. There was just blackness, empty space, with lights sprinkled in.

Max stepped out onto that glass ledge, and for one hysterical second, I imagined him being like a cartoon character who would realize too late what he had done, hovering in place until gravity finally reasserted itself.

I tried to swallow back the lump of fear in my throat. “I did tell you that I nearly had a panic attack last year at a rooftop event, right? And that I was nowhere near the edge?”

“We can leave if you want,” he said. “You are totally safe, though. I’m here with you and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I believed him, but I couldn’t chase off the clawing panic I felt in my gut. “How high up are we?”

“A bit over three hundred meters.”

“I don’t know what that is in actual distance!”

“About a thousand feet.”

I put my hands on my knees, bending over slightly. That was so very many feet. “Is there a weight limit in that thing?”

He smiled sweetly at me. “Do you trust me?”

Then he held out his hand.

I let out a giant breath, straightened up, and took his hand. “Yes, I trust you.”

Without letting myself think or my body react, I stepped out onto the glass ledge. We were completely encased in glass, I logically knew that I was safe, but I was still trembling.

I took several deep breaths and was intensely grateful that it was nighttime. If it had been during the day, I would have been able to see everything beneath me. As it was, it was almost like standing in a night sky with the lights of the city twinkling like stars all around us. I could appreciate the view even if I was still slightly terrified.

“Beautiful,” I said.

“Beautiful,” he echoed in agreement, only I turned to see his gaze fixed on me.

I swallowed hard and turned my face back to the skyline. “There’s the Empire State Building,” I said. “I should take you there sometime. No tour of New York City is complete without it.”

“Are you doing okay?” he asked.

Admittedly, my limbs were still shaking and my breaths were coming out in sporadic bursts, but I was managing. “I think so.”

“I’m sorry if I sprang this on you,” he said. “I think so highly of you. I wanted you to see that you can do things that scare you.”

I can if you’re with me.

While I didn’t say the words, he seemed to sense them and pulled me against his side, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, and we stood there, pressed together, staring out into an endless night.

I had stopped shaking, his presence soothing me. “I’m ready to leave,” I told him.

We walked back through the bigger part of the room and Max mentioned that there were other exhibits that we could visit, but I’d had more than my fill of being up so high. “I’m good.”

“Then I should probably get you home. It’s late.”

“Sounds good.” It didn’t sound good, though. I wanted to stay with him.

We went back down in the elevator, and he used an app to get another ride, as the rain was still dripping down. I was very grateful to step foot onto the sidewalk. Even if I’d faced my fear, I much preferred having the firm earth beneath my feet.

Our car arrived and Max opened the door for me so that I could climb in first. He got in and there wasn’t much room for both of us. His legs were pressed against mine, and I was tingling from the contact. He took my hand and held it near his knee. He was rubbing his thumb along the back of my hand and it was all I could focus on. He was sending out little waves of pleasure along my skin and I didn’t know if anything could feel more amazing.

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