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“I kind of feel like murdering your ex-husband,” he admits. “He doesn’t live in Vegas, does he?”
I let out a surprised laugh, and the tension in the air is momentarily lifted. “You’re joking, right?”
Thor’s lips curl into a wry smile. “Well, partially. I can’t promise I won’t feel a little possessive knowing what happened to you in your marriage, but I’ll keep my murderous tendencies in check.”
I could shrug it off that he’s kidding, but a part of me knows that if he knew where Terrance lived, he’d be true to his word. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I don’t want revenge. I just want to move on and find happiness.”
“You’ll get there, Charlotte, but in the meantime, what would you like to do? I know I kind of hijacked dinner, but I want to do something you want to do. We’re in Vegas, after all. The city that never sleeps.”
I consider the options. I’d missed out on so much in the last several years—experiences and memories that will never be made. Maybe it’s time I make memories of my own. A billboard behind us flickers to an advertisement, which sparks an idea.
“How do you feel about heights?” I smile at him.
CHAPTER 9
THOR
“This is not what I had in mind,” I answer, staring down at the Vegas Strip below us. I’d heard about shit like this before, but I never thought I’d be standing on the ledge about to jump off it. Flying in an airplane is one thing, but willfully jumping off and trusting a cord to keep me alive is something completely different.
Charlotte steps forward, a matching harness to the one I have on strapped around her body. The hem of her dress is tucked neatly to avoid flashing the people walking below us.
As the wind whips through Charlotte’s hair, she turns to face me, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. “I did ask you about heights. You could have stayed on the ground,” she says, her voice laced with excitement.
“I’m not afraid of heights,” I lie.
She shoots me an accusatory look. “Sure, seems like you are.”
I step closer to the edge, peering over it again. My heart hammers in my chest. All the shit I’ve done in my life and zip-lining may be how it all ends. V would have a field day with my obituary.
“Are you folks ready?” the attendant asks. His eyes trail to the long line behind us waiting their turn.
“Yeah,” I mutter.
“I’ll go first,” Charlotte answers, moving around me. The attendant clips her onto the line and checks her harness one more time. She peers over her shoulder at me and with one leap, flies forward, squealing as she does. The crowd below her looks up as she passes by. The sound of her infectious laugh makes me forget for a second that I will have to follow her.
I step forward, and the attendant repeats the routine with me. With a pat on the back, he steps away, waiting for me to go.
“Fuck it,” I mutter to myself before I jump. Unlike Charlotte, I don’t soar forward at a fast pace. I stay there, suspended. The attendant laughs with a shake of his head before he gives me a shove, and I shift forward finally. My weight slows me down in comparison to her. I creep along until I finally reach her on the lower platform, where she is waiting for me.
“That was interesting.” She smiles, her hair still windswept from her trip down and a teasing tone in her voice.
I take a moment to catch my breath, my heart still racing from the adrenaline rush. “Interesting is one way to put it,” I reply, a mix of relief and exhilaration in my voice. I can’t help but smile back at her, feeling a sense of accomplishment for conquering my fear, even if reluctantly.
Charlotte’s eyes sparkle with mischief as she steps closer to me, her hand reaching out to lightly touch my arm. “You did great, you know,” she says, her voice filled with genuine admiration. “I knew you had it in you.”
The attendants help us remove the harnesses, and once we are free from them, we take the stairs down from the platform. As we near the bottom, Charlotte’s heel slips, and she grabs my hand to steady herself. She doesn’t let go.
As we walk away from the zip-line platform, hand in hand, the bustling energy of Las Vegas surrounds us. Neon lights flicker and dance, illuminating the night sky. The sounds of laughter and music fill the air, blending seamlessly with the distant hum of traffic on the Strip.
Without hesitation, Charlotte leans in and presses her lips against mine—a sweet, lingering kiss that sends shivers down my spine. “Thank you for doing that. I know I kind of messed up our moment on the rooftop.”
“You didn’t ruin anything.” Her fucking ex-husband did. A woman as beautiful as Charlotte deserves to be cherished, not used like a fucking punching bag. If I can figure out who this motherfucker is and where he leaves, I’ll be the last thing he sees. Not just for her but for every woman who could come after her.
Charlotte peers up at me, my face giving away where my thoughts have gone. She squeezes my hand tight.
“He’s not worth it.”
We continue our stroll along the Strip, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere. Twenty minutes later, we’re back at our hotel. Charlotte stops outside the main entrance and peers up at the lights.
