Chapter Forty-Four
Mia
I knew he could feel my stare, that burning gaze of a thousand suns hitting his body. He’d gotten this look from many before me. He smiled, enjoying that stare of mine.
“It’s really not that bad. I’ve done it with Tate and Callum a bunch of times,” he reassured me.
I continued to glare at him, hoping he would falter under the pressure of my gaze.
He did not. It only spurred him on more to inspire me.
“You are going to love it, and it’s gonna set you free.” He tried to comfort me again.
“Yeah, it’s gonna set the piss inside my bladder free.” My heart was beating so hard, and I was sweating like I was standing at the gates of hell. I didn’t even want to acknowledge the boob sweat or the slick palms I was sporting right now.
“I’ll be doing it right after you. And Jay will be at the bottom when you’re done.”
“I’ve changed my mind about you. You are the devil, not a miracle worker.” I gritted my teeth and looked to the sky for heavenly assistance.
“Okay, miss, now, turn to the left. I’m going to tighten this harness, and then you’ll be good to go.”
I did as the woman had instructed, holding on to the railing for dear life.
When Logan had said we were going to have fun in Vegas, I’d thought we’d go see a show. Maybe hike or do yoga naked in Red Rock. Maybe even go down to the cheap area of town and live on edge. Never, ever, ever had I thought I’d be jumping off the Stratosphere with a bungee-harness thing attached to my body. A fucking tall building. Oh God, my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest and run away to Bora Bora. Safe from any tall skyscrapers to fall from.
My legs were shaking, and I felt like I could barely breathe.
“All right, miss, you are all set. Just turn around, and on the count of three, jump or hug yourself, and you’ll go.”
Oh my God, no. I couldn’t do this. I was gonna faint and look like a floppy dead person the whole way down on display for everyone to see.
“You can do this, Mia. Don’t let fear control you from living life to the fullest,” Logan encouraged.
I wanted to grab him by his collar and toss him over the side. This was utterly terrifying. Of course fear was taking the wheel on this.
“Oh God, oh God, oh God,” I prayed.
The woman began counting, “One … two—”
“Wait. Oh, I need another few seconds. I don’t think I can do this!” Panic was setting in hard as I stared down at the buildings and the long way down from where I stood.
“The longer you wait, the worse you’ll feel. You just need to do it,” Logan said, and the instructor person agreed.
“Okay, let’s just get this over with.”
Deep breaths were coming in and out of me like a steam train. Maybe I would be lucky and pass out. Then, I wouldn’t remember any of it.
“One. Two. Three. Jump!”
I wrapped my hands around my chest, gripping the harness with every bit of strength I possessed, and fell.
You’d think, by how loud I screamed, that windows would be shattering as I descended, but none did. The wind was pushing so hard against my face and my wind-suit-clad body, giving me as close to the sensation I’d think flying would be like.
“Ahh!” It was exhilarating and beautiful and scary.
Soon, my screams turned to laughs as I neared the ground. The fall must have made me go crazy.
“Okay, bend your knees!” the person waiting for me on the ground called out.
