Page 30 of Rush
“Rise and shine, J,” Ryan called out. “Time’s a wastin’.”
“Nooo…” I said into the pillow before it was snatched away from me.
“You better put your bathers on, J,” he said with a wink.
“Why?”
“We’re free falling today, remember?”
“We’re going to a water park?” I made a face and immediately remembered how much I didn’t like swimming. Water rushed up my nose every time and burned the hell out of my sinuses. I’d made total avoidance of pool sports a personalized skill set during high school and beyond.
“The Adventure Park in Geelong,” he said.
“Did you ever go to the Cherry Berry Farm when you were in primary school?” I asked with a pout.
“What’s a Cherry Berry Farm?”
“That’s what it was called,” I declared, sitting up. “The Cherry Berry Farm. I went there on a school excursion one time. It was one of those pick your own berries kind of places, but they had one of those water rapids rides where you went tubing from one end to the other. I was a really uncoordinated kid, and my tube flipped, and I was stuck underneath while other kids piled on top of me. Took me ages to get out. I almost drowned, and everyone laughed at me.”
“Shit. I didn’t know.”
I shrugged. “Yeah, so I don’t go swimming.”
Ryan sat next to me and frowned.
“You know,” he began. “This whole bucket list thing… It’s all about doing the things you missed out on, right? But it can also be about facing your fears, too.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and scowled.
“I’m not going to let you drown.” He placed his hand on my knee and squeezed.
His touch sent warmth flowing up my thigh and into places I shouldn’t have been thinking about where Ryan was concerned.
“C’mon,” he went on. “It’ll be fun, and I’ve already arranged our ride. It’s part of the whole experience.”
I glanced at him, my curiosity getting the better of me. “Ride?”
“Yeah. Come see.” He grinned and sprang up off the couch.
I kicked off the blanket and followed as he flung open the balcony door, wondering what I was going to see when I looked over the edge. A Hummer? A limo? An Alfa Romeo? I didn’t even mind that I was standing outside in my singlet and knickers, I was that curious.
Curling my hands around the railing, I stared down at the street below. My mouth fell open, and I shot a glare at Ryan, but he looked so excited, I melted.
“A Harley?” I asked. “You want me to get on the back of that?”
“Sure, why not?”
I raised my eyebrows. “Do you know how to drive it?”
“I’ve had my license for years,” he replied. “You’ll be fine, J. You’re in safe hands with me.”
I peered down at the motorcycle and sighed. We’d done two out of the five items on my list so far. I couldn’t back out now without looking like a complete hypocrite.
“Bathers, you say?” I murmured. “I think I grabbed some when I packed the other day.”
“We have time to stop somewhere if you don’t,” he offered, giving me more options to not back out.
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks, Ryan.”
