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“Well, let’s get to it, shall we,” Xavier comments cheekily. Within seconds, he chucks his shirt off as his blue swim trunks hug his ass beautifully.
Stop thinking about his ass, Violetta, he’s your friend.
Snapping out of thought, all I see is Cleo ripping off her clothes, revealing a neon pink bikini underneath. It’s as if everything is happening in slow motion. The realization of what this means hits me as Xavier walks toward the cliff’s edge and peeks down.
“Holy fuck, that’s high,” he says with a chuckle.
Who chuckles after looking over a steep cliff that could lead to the possibility of death?
Apparently, Xavier Valente.
I can’t help but shiver at the comment, panic rising in the back of my throat. Hearing the waves crashing underneath us as they hit the rock below, it’s as if such a big open space gets smaller in size. I take a step back as far away from the cliff as possible.
“I know! Someone had to assure me it was safe when I first came here,” Cleo responds with hands on her hips, looking down toward the descent.
I can’t even imagine how far down the platform is to the water’s surface, and I don’t even want to know.
“Chanel,” I whisper yell, and her head turns toward me with a bored expression as her hands apply sunscreen for the fifteenth time today.
I haven’t met anyone who hates the sun more than her. “What?”
“I need you to go check how far down it is because, based on their comments, I don’t know if I can jump.” I feel the urge to cry, but I don’t let it take over.
Chanel nods as she strides over to the edge, looks down, and then proceeds to back up. She turns toward me and says, “I don’t think you can handle it.” Yelling for all the world to hear.
Xavier and Cleo snap their heads in my direction. At this point, I’m sitting on the floor with my arms wrapped around my knees. I smile nervously and then give Chanel a death glare. She shrugs and walks toward the shade a few feet beside me.
“What’s wrong? You’re shaking, Blondie.” Xavier jogs over to me in a few strides and huddles down right next to me. His brown eyes hit mine, and a hint of worry flashes over them.
“I’m scared of heights.” I feel my lip quiver slightly as I refuse to let a tear run down my cheek. “I know it’s stupid, and I’m being dramatic.”
“Fear isn’t ever stupid or dramatic.” He gives me a smile; he’s being understanding in a situation I feel idiotic in. “The only way you can get over that feeling is by facing it headfirst. Nothing in that pretty little head of yours is dumb.” He grabs my hand, squeezing it in reassurance.
“I don’t think I can jump.” I don’t feel as anxious anymore just by looking at him. His hands are warm, sending a sense of comfort through my body.
“Why didn’t you tell me when I brought the idea up?” he asks, clearly worried about my well-being.
“Because I was waiting for my sisters to bring it up, but it seems like they forgot about it.”
Cleo gives me a sorry look, and Chanel returns her sister’s reaction with a blank face. Next thing I know, Xavier’s hand is on my thigh, his thumb moving back and forth on my skin, trying to console me.
“Do you want me to go first, so you can see how harmless it is?” he asks.
“I don’t think that will make me feel any better considering the reason why I don’t want to jump off is because the cliff is like a hundred feet off the ground.”
Xavier’s mouth forms into a soft frown. His dark brown eyes bore into mine, and all I can think about is how vulnerable I feel with him.
He stands up and runs his fingers through his hair, letting out a small breath while looking up into the sky. His gaze moves back to me, and he holds out his hand. “Do you trust me?”
“To what extent? I don’t really know you, and we are feet away from the cliff’s edge.” I point out in Cleo and Chanel’s direction; my gaze returns to his soft one.
“I’m asking if you trust me, Vio,” he says again, his face completely changing in demeanor. He seems truly worried, and, at that moment, I know that I do.
“Yes.” My tone barely forms into a whisper.
“Then take my hand, Blondie, and trust me.” His cheeky grin is back.
I reach out and grasp his hand, slowly pushing myself off of the ground and standing up.
