Page 118 of Unsuitable

“Fine. Let’s get this over with then.”

I drop my bag onto the grass and walk toward the pommel horse. Kas follows behind me.

“What do I need to do?” I ask him.

“Just take a good run at it. Then, when you reach it, put your hands on the top, and vault yourself over.”

I glance over my shoulder at him, giving him a skeptical look. “That easy?”

“Yeah.” He smiles. “That easy.”

I take a deep breath and walk backward, putting plenty of space between the pommel horse and myself.

Kas steps off to the side, smartly not saying a word.

I stare at the pommel horse like it’s Mount Everest. My heart has stepped up its tempo, and my pulse is beating in my neck. I can feel my hands starting to sweat.

I clench my fists in and out, and then I press them to my pants to dry them. I take a deep breath and set off running. I make good speed, but too quickly, the pommel horse is on me, and I can’t do it.

I skid to a stop in front of it, hands pressing to the top.

“For God’s sake!” I grumble, annoyed with myself.

I glance back at Kas, who is standing, watching me.

“You can do it,” he encourages.

Turning away, I take another deep breath. Then, I jog back to my previous starting point.

Come on, Daisy. You’ve faced worse than this stupid pommel horse. You can do this. Just imagine it’s Jason; you’re running at him, and you get to smack your hands on his head and jump over the bastard.

And then maybe go back and kick him in the nuts.

My little pep talk seems to have ignited something in me. I start running, like I did before, but this time, a determination builds in me as I go. When I reach the pommel horse, instead of wimping out, I plant my hands on it and vault myself over, landing safely on the other side.

I did it.

I bloody did it!

I spin back to Kas. “I did it!” I throw my hands up in the air, doing a little victory dance.

Smiling wide, he walks over to me. “I knew you could.”

I stop my victory dance. “Yeah, you did.” I smile softly at him.

Something shifts in my chest, and warmth spreads throughout my body, making me tingle.

“Want to try it again?” he asks.

“Yeah.” I smile. “But will you film it for me on my phone?” I walk over to my bag and pull my phone out. “I want to show Jesse. I think he’ll be impressed.”

“Sure.” He smiles, taking my phone from me.

“You need me to set the camera up?” I ask.

“No, I got it.”

He walks over to the spot where he watched from before, and I put myself in place, ready to run.