“It looks cold,” I mutter.
“I’ll warm you up later,” he promises, but I still stand there despite our bet. I have to keep him on his toes. I can’t let him think he can get his way all the time.
“Seriously, can’t we just spend all day fucking and call that exercise?” I pout, and everything goes silent. I glance over to see the shocked faces of a group behind us. “What? You don’t agree?”
“Totally,” the middle-aged mom of the group responds, and we nod in solidarity before Nikko tugs me down the ramp with a chuckle.
It is fucking cold, but it’s also a whole lot of fun, especially watching Nikko wipe out several times. He’s big and fast, but a lot of the obstacles are not made for that, so he slips and hits the water over and over again. I can’t help but cheer each and every one, rating his landings as he drags himself up.
I’m starting to think he does it just to see my reaction and show me it’s okay to fail at this, but he doesn’t know me very well.
I fail at nothing.
When it’s my turn, I run down the ramp, leap onto the spinning merry-go-round, and cling on. I ride it around once before sliding off onto the ramp on the far side. Once there, I stumble to my feet and hop across the posts, and then I climb up the slippery bridge and slide down. The ramp Nikko wiped out on is before me, and he waits there. I take a running start at it, but halfway up, I slip, and there’s nothing to stop me.
I slam into the freezing water and resurface with a gasp.
Apparently, I stand corrected. I fail at water obstacles.
I drag myself up and out and slick my hair back as I glare at Nikko, who’s sprawled back on the inflatable ramp, laughing his ass off.
“Shut up,” I grouse. “I’m still going to win.”
“Sure, baby.” He grins and holds up his hand, and I help him to his feet. This time, we run at it together. We both hit the water again, and it takes us five more attempts to get up it then slide down. Climbing up onto the next section, I offer Nikko my hand, and he grabs it, giving me a wicked grin.
“Don’t you dare!” I yell as he yanks me into the lake with him.
I kick to the surface as he wraps himself around me and kisses me. “You look good all wet.” He grins. “I couldn’t resist.”
“Cheater,” I mutter as he pushes me back onto the platform. The next part is a large swing, and I look at Nikko. “Team?”
“Team.” He nods, and we step onto the base. One of his arms is anchored around my waist like he’s worried I’ll fall, while the other holds the edge, and he starts to swing us faster and higher. When he lets go, I leap onto the other side. He quickly follows, landing next to me, but he starts to slip off the slanted edge. I catch him and hold him in place.
“My savior,” he teases.
I grin. “Nah, I told you that I play dirty.” I let go with a push, and he plummets into the water.
Laughing, I get to my feet and climb up the wall, and when I reach the top, I hit the button that alerts for our time. Leaning over the edge, I grin as Nikko climbs up and gawks at me.
“I won!” I yell.
Shaking his head, he cups his hand around his mouth and yells up, “Cheater!”
I shrug, and his eyes narrow. He climbs up the wall, and I turn to race away, but he catches me and throws us off the edge. We plummet into the lake below.
I shout his name when we resurface, but I’ll admit, I’m smiling.
There are no other thoughts than him and the fun I’m having in my head.
“Really?” He eyes the shop. “Baby, I have big hands. I won’t be good at this.”
“Tough.” I grin as I tug him after me, but he stands still, looking out of place. “I’ve always wanted to do this,” I admit. “Faiz never wanted to. He said it was stupid.” I hesitate, wondering if I’m sharing too much. “Let’s go somewhere else?—”
“Not a chance, just don’t laugh at my attempts. I didn’t want to embarrass you.” He holds my hand tighter and guides me toward the boho jewelry shop. The bell tinkles above the door, and the older woman behind the counter grins at us. She has feathers and paint in her hair, a total hippie, and I instantly love her.
“We are here to make bracelets,” I annouce.
“Amazing.” She claps and hurries over to a paint-stained table and pulls out two chairs. “Sit here and let me get your supplies.”
