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Once we’re about to get going, I ask the dreadful question, “What if the rope snaps while we’re up there?”
“It won’t. And if it does, we’ll land in water.”
Without a second thought, I grab Zayn’s hand. A spark shoots right through me that very minute and I wonder if he feels it too.
“You got this. I promise you, I’m right here with you the whole time. It’s going to be okay,” he says, placing a small kiss on the back of my hand. My heart does a somersault. “This’ll be way less scary than cliff diving, that’s for sure.”
I nod. “Yeah, you’re right. This is fine.”
“And you’re less likely to lose your top with this one,” he says with a wink.
“If it happens this time, I’m crossing skinny-dipping off the list. Even if it’s accidental.”
“Absolutely not,” Zayn says playfully. He sucks his teeth and gives me a little, “Tsk tsk.”
The guy starts the boat, and we start to take off. Slowly, we make our way into the air. My grip on Zayn’s hand tightens. I’m worried my anxiety is going to rise just like we are in the air right now. Everything beneath us shrinks as it gets farther away.
Once we’re completely suspended in the air, everything feels, well, peaceful. The view of the Atlantic beneath us is surreal. Being up in the air like this reminds me of my first time on a nature hike. The wind blows through the strands of my hair escaping from my ponytail.
“How you doing over there?” Zayn asks.
“Honestly, I’m so calm right now. This is fantastic,” I announce. To him. To myself. To the world.
“Yeah, it’s awesome,” he says.
“Remind me to do this at least once a year, especially when I’m stressed at work. I haven’t felt this relaxed in a while,” I admit.
He looks at me and smiles. “You should make a list of adventures you want to experience every year. Although, you could simply call yours a YOLO list instead.”
I nod, loving the idea. I bite my lower lip from excitement. “I think that might be exactly what Summer intended for me.”
“I could see that,” he says. “Autumn, I—uh . . .”
“What’s up?” I ask, jolted by his use of my first name once again.
“I guess I want to tell you that having you back here at Lake View has been the best thing that’s happened to me since Riley. Even with how scared you’ve been for some of the things we’ve done, you don’t let it stop you. You’re courageous. And you make me want to be braver, too.”
I tug tighter on his hand before closing my eyes. A tear trickles down my cheek, but I’m not sad; I’m . . . happy.
“Thank you,” I say. “Hearing someone call me things like ‘courageous’ and ‘brave’ is nice.”
He squeezes my hand, and we finish the rest of the ride in comfortable silence, smiling.
When we arrive back on the shore, we spot our friends out on the beach, camped out near our stuff. I can’t wait to fill Mason and Natalie in about parasailing. Totally worth it.
“Hey, glad to see you all made it,” Zayn says to Mason, Natalie, Ryker, and Taylor. I glance around. No sight of Tori. I breathe out a small sight of relief.
“Hey guys,” I say.
“So, how was parasailing?” Taylor asks.
“It was…really nice. Super peaceful, actually. I want to do it every year,” I answer honestly.
“It was really great,” Zayn says, looking at me.
“I’ve done it before, but it’s been forever. Can’t wait to get Taylor out there soon,” Ryker says.
“Yes. Speaking of adventures, you guys ready for some jet skis? Our time for rental begins in about fifteen minutes.”
