Page 23 of Love's a Glitch
“Sure you’ll be okay on your own for a few?” Luke asked, and I nodded.
“I’ll stay here on the safe-and-sound ground and cheer for you.” As Luke started toward the course, I smacked him on the butt and said, “Go get ‘em, Gandalf.”
11
Luke
Gandalf.
If it hadn’t come with agood-gamesmack, I’d be horrified to be called such a thing. Like a muscle that’d gone unused too long, my cheeks ached from the grin stretching the limits of my mouth. The instant I’d seen Ellie, it’d been stuck on my face, and I’d been laughing and smiling ever since.
I pivoted on my heel, continuing toward the course, only walking backward. “Now I’m kicking myself for not bringing a giant staff. Then I could ask you to hold it for me while I’m racing.”
Ellie giggled, the cheeks pinkened from the sun and her earlier exertion turning a deeper shade of red. Damn, she was pretty. Thanks to the pictures she’d sent, I’d known that, yet knowing it and experiencing it? Whole different ballgame. I could hardly take my eyes off her as she’d been crossing the rope bridge, and it was due to more than acting as her instructor or the way the harness showcased her ass. With every move, determination would creep into her features, the tip of her tongue would poke out, and it’d led to a whole lot of contemplating how it’d feel to have all that intense focus aimed at me.
When she’d ended up stuck, I’d gotten my wish, along with the chance to play knight in climbing armor.
Despite looking forward to our meetup since the other night, I’d spent the entire day leading up to it worrying it was a bad idea. Sorting through the books, dealing with the website, and being trapped indoors kept my mood perpetually stormy, and Ellie was the ray of light getting me through my time dealing with the company I’d never wanted. The risk of losing that seemed too high.
If anything, joking and chatting as we hung out felt so bizarrely natural that I almost forgot it was our first time doing so in person.
With the exception of my unsteady heartrate, and those moments on the rope bridge when she’d been pressed up against me and my blood had turned molten. Earlier, I’d been concerned if I’d dropped enough hints to Ellie that I wasn’t interested in a relationship, not wanting her to get the wrong idea.
Now my thoughts on the matter flip-flopped, like a politician who’d say or do anything to win extra votes. Every second in person with Ellie was a second that required working to control myself. I wanted my hands on her body. Pressed against her back, tangled in her hair, and what I wouldn’t give to cup them full of that ass I’d stared at for way too long in the name of ensuring she crossed the bridge safely.
Truth was, if I was capable of staying in one place and doing the conventional dating thing, I’d want it to be with someone like Ellie. But after having my entire life planned out for me, any thoughts very far into the future caused my throat to close up.
For someone used to diving head-first and taking huge leaps and risks, when it came to relationships, I was a scaredy-cat. One who experienced jealousy over Ellie dating other dudes, and I’d almost smacked Tomas upside the head for holding onto her hand for so long.
You’ve tried that before, remember?
Jennifer had sworn up and down she was fine with my sporadic lifestyle, as hers involved a lot of travel as well. Then, in a flash, things had gone from surprisingly calm to downright ugly. It’d been a punch to the gut, one I’d considered both a lesson and a reminder of why I was better off staying solo.
As I climbed the ladder to the platform, an idea I wasn’t supposed to have rose up. One involving throwing caution to the wind and seizing the chance to have a different sort of adventure with the woman who’d made me laugh more than I ever had before.
“Wahoo. Go, Luke, go.” Ellie’s chipper voice slammed into me as I hooked up my harness to the most difficult course in the place. I’d love to freestyle, just to show off and because I knew the course that well, but with all the liability rules these days, if the owner found out, he’d have my hide.
From her crossed-legged, seated position on a patch of grass, her unicorn helmet at her side, she added an ear-splitting two-finger whistle to her encouragement efforts, and happiness pinged through me. Over the phone, she was one of the most open, genuine people I’d ever spoken to, and she proved to be even more so in person. She was as down-to-earth as she was beautiful, with a goofy frenetic energy that brought to mind the light up bouncy balls I used to chase after when I was a kid. I’d catch the light and hold it in my hand for a while, the red and blue glow tingeing my skin. Then I’d toss the ball and do it all again.
I tugged on my rope, ensuring it was secure. “Did you want me to find a short skirt for you to change into so you can better cheer me on?”
“Only if you’re going to wear one, too,” she shot back and, yep, it was hard not to want to chase that high. “This course looks like something out of Super Mario Brothers. Are flying turtle birds going to be bouncing around, too? I hate those guys.”
“Dude, you got lucky with her,” Aarón said, lifting his hand in a wave. “The nerdy helmet gave me pause, but if she also plays video games, she’s a keeper.”
“Because video games aren’t nerdy?” I shot back, and he shrugged. While I enjoyed a game on the Xbox or PlayStation here and there, I’d far rather be out trying the crazy game tasks in person.
Tomas popped his head over his brother’s shoulder. “If you’re not going to pursue her, I will. I’d better get her number just in case you screw it up and she needs someone to help console her.”
“Watch yourself,” I warned in a low, growly voice, and both Aarón and Tomas grinned like they’d unearthed a huge secret.
Ellie cupped her hands over her mouth, turning them into a makeshift megaphone. “Please be careful up there. I’m planning on grabbing something to eat on the way home, and it’d be a bummer for you if you broke your jaw and had to just watch me eat my giant burger.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I hollered down, and how cute was it that she worried about me? “But have no fear. Aarón, Tomas, and I have raced this course enough times we have it memorized. What’s really sad is that I’m a bit rusty, while they’ve had loads of extra time to practice, and I’m still going to beat them to the finish line.”
That ignited a storm of trash talk and shoves until we finally lined up so our actions could do the talking for us. I asked Ellie if she’d do the honors and count us down, so no one would cheat, and she bounced to her feet, so excited to take the job thatIfelt her joy from way up here.
If I didn’t get my head straight—and soon—I’d end up ogling her and falling instead of impressing her with my speed and agility.
