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“Maybe. But you haven’t seen the master tackle it.” Josh set up and began the climb. Charlie watched with begrudging admiration. He didn’t even pause before the last section.
As his hand touched the top, Spencer called out, “Five minutes, forty-five seconds. Sorry, Charlie.”
But at his return to the floor, she noted with satisfaction Josh’s muscles were also shaking from the exertion, despite his efforts to appear unfazed by the tough climb.
“Spencer, why don’t you climb now so Charlie has a little more time to recover?”
“Pretty cheap to use Charlie as an excuse to give yourself a break. We can all see you’ve got the shakes.” Spencer shook his head.
Josh laughed. “It was worth a try. I admit it—I need a break, too.”
Spencer set up to do his climb, while Josh and Charlie sat down on the bench to rest. Charlie wedged herself between Emily and Grace, so Josh was forced to sit on the end next to Brad.
“So who’s climbing first and who chooses the climb?” Brad asked.
“We’re doing that ledge,” said Charlie. “Josh can go second.”
“That’s like committing suicide,” s
aid Josh. “You should pick something easy and go for speed.”
“No way,” scoffed Charlie. “I’m here for the challenge.”
“Okay, but I’ll beat you.” Josh’s expression lost its casual grin.
“The straight walls are easy and boring. I don’t do boring.”
“I understand. You want me to win, right? Are we in agreement about the prize?”
Charlie leaned forward and bored holes in him with her eyes. “No we’re not in agreement.” Brad stifled a laugh behind his hand.
“What are the options?” Grace asked. “I’ll be the fair and impartial judge.”
“Well,” Josh smirked. “I want—”
“Josh wants a kick where it hurts,” Charlie interjected. “And I’m going to give it to him.”
Brad snorted. “Good job, Josh. You’ve got her eating out of your hand, just like you said you would.”
Josh elbowed Brad, which only resulted in louder laughter. Charlie crimped her eyebrows down. “Is that what he said? He’d have me eating out of his hand?”
“I didn’t say that.” Josh planted another vicious elbow in Brad’s side when he laughed again.
“Whoever loses should have to pay for the other’s climbing tonight,” Grace suggested.
“I think that’s fair,” said Josh.
“But exception to the family rule. If he loses and pays my way, it’s not a date,” said Charlie.
Emily winked at Charlie. “Hmmm, technically it’d be a date if either one of you pays for the other.”
“Nope. Not doing it. Think of something else.”
“Family rule?” Josh asked.
“Yes,” Emily explained. “Our rule is if he pays for something or—Ow, Charlie! Why’d you kick me!”
“What’s the rule?” Josh urged.
