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I braced myself at the bottom as he started to climb. Sweat formed on my palms.
“Nathan, I need some slack,” Oliver called from a few feet in the air.
“I’ve got it,” I responded, planting my feet even firmer onto the mat.
Harrison chuckled next to me. “He means he needs more rope.”
“Shit,” I muttered as I fed a little through the device.
I tried to pay closer attention as Oliver ascended the wall. He did it with such ease I found it hard to believe we were even related. He looked like he was born to do this. After he scaled the artificial mountain like he was climbing a ladder, he leaned back and whooped.
“Nice one, Ol,” Harrison called.
Perhaps I should have echoed the sentiment, but I was far too focused on keeping my feet planted on the ground and my hands secured around the rope.
Harrison whistled. “You look like a real natural.”
I shot him a look.
“Belay,” Oliver called.
I released the rope as Harrison eyed me.
“That’s too fast,” he said, but it was too late.
Oliver moved backward and dropped a few feet too quickly. The rope snapped taught, smacking me in the face in the process.
“Shit,” I muttered, tears rushing out of my afflicted eye.
“You good?” Oliver called.
“I’m fine,” I said.
“Genius over here somehow managed to get a black eye while belaying,” Harrison responded. “I told you he’d get us killed.”
“Oliveris fine,” I snapped.
“He still has to come down the rest of the way.” Harrison’s smirk implied a harmless joke, but I took offense, nonetheless.
Oliver made it the rest of the way to the mat without incident. I blew out the breath I had been holding when his feet finally touched the ground and clutched my eye.
“Well, that was a first,” he said. “Can’t say a black eye is a common climbing injury.”
“You alright there, Nate.” Harrison narrowed his dark eyes at me. He knew I hated that nickname, and the politeness in his voice was clearly contrived.
“I’m fine,” I muttered. “It barely touched me.”
“Let’s see it,” Oliver insisted.
Reluctantly, I removed my hand and Oliver sucked in a breath.
“It’s fine,” he said, his voice an octave too high. “A little rope burn never hurt anyone. The redness will die down by tomorrow.”
Great. Exactly what I needed. An excuse for everyone in the office to ask me what happened. I would have to come up with a better excuse so I could avoid telling this embarrassing tale.
“Perfect,” I mumbled.
“Alright, let’s get you clipped in.”
