Page 70 of The Triple Play

“Let her focus, idiot,” Griff grumbles from next to me. He’s attached to her belay rope, which means he has to focus on her safety instead of…other things.

Meanwhile, I’m free to enjoy the view.

I take a quick glance around, then as discreetly as possible, adjust my junk. Climbing harnesses are a pain in the ass, and even more so when you’re battling a hard-on. Which I have been, ever since Olivia showed up in dark blue workout tights and a cropped T-shirt. The stretch of skin that’s bared every time she reaches for a hold overhead has made me check my face for drool more than once.

And that ass.

Perfectly framed by her goddamn harness, strong and muscular, and just fucking perfect. I want to go all Spiderman and climb the wall right behind her, pin her to it, and do bad things.

Alas, I do not have sticky web shit that shoots out of my hands.

I do have eyes and an active imagination, however, so I file the idea away for another time.

Moments later, Olivia hits the top of the route and sits back in the harness so Griff can lower her to the floor.

“That was fantastic, you followed every hold perfectly,” he praises when her feet hit the ground.

“Thanks, that was a tough route.” She’s breathing slightly heavier than normal as Griffin reaches for her waist to unclip the rope tethering them together.

If it were me, I’d take advantage and pull her in for a kiss, but⁠—

There he goes.

Griff tugs on the rope, and I see Olivia’s eyes widen a little bit before she stumbles forward. He taps the tip of her nose with a smile, and it’s so goddamn cute. Is it weird that I can think it’s cute, seeing the girl I want being touched affectionately by someone else? By my best friend, no less?

Nah, it’s not weird. It actually feels totally normal. Like we were meant to end up like this.

While I’m lost in la-la land, Griff has started to mess around on the bouldering wall. I look around for Olivia and find her walking back over from where we stashed our stuff, retying her hair.

“Wanna race?” I ask her with a smirk. She quirks her eyebrows at me but nods, letting me take her hand, and I lead her over to another area that has several auto-belay routes that don’t require a partner. We clip into two that are side by side, and I clap my hands together.

“Ready?”

“Hold on, who said you get to count down?” She laughs. “You’ll cheat and start early.”

I place my hand on my chest and try to look offended. “Me? Cheat? I would never.”

Olivia puts her hands on her hips, biting back a smile. “So, that round of Crazy Eights where you somehow got every single eight in the deck? What was that?”

“Pure luck,” I reply. “But I like that you’re still thinking about our cabin adventures, Pixie girl.” I give her a wink and step to the wall. “C’mon, let’s do this.”

“What are you two doing?” Griff says, joining us.

“Racing, apparently,” Olivia answers, moving into position at the base of her route. “Count us down?”

Griff nods and folds his arms across his chest. “Ready?” We both nod. “Three, two, one, go.”

I take off, pulling my body up, hold after hold. “Gonna have to do better than that, gorgeous,” I call over to Olivia, who’s not that far behind me. Of course, looking down at her, even from the slight lead I have, gives me a great view of her tits, and I miss the next foothold, slipping down with a curse.

“Are you okay?” she asks, coming alongside me.

“Yeah,” I say, but she’s gone, nimbly climbing up the wall ahead of me, not even waiting for my response.

“Aw, come on,” I whine as I pour on the speed, trying to catch up, but it’s no use. She’s at the top, slapping her hand on the ledge several seconds before me.

She lowers herself back down with a grin, and I follow, shaking my head.

Griff is high-fiving her when I hit the ground. “Nicely done, Liv.”