“Do you have a problem,” she asked slowly, challenging me, “with me and my fruit?” Her voice serious, but extremely arousing. I got lost in the mix of her scent and the intoxicating look she was giving me. I smiled, slightly pleased with myself for getting that side out of her.
“No, not at all.”
“Good,” Hazel said, clearly satisfied. She turned just enough for her braided hair to brush against my face, adding to her schoolgirl charm, and I couldn’t help but laugh quietly to myself.
Five minutes later, we were back on the road. I was behind the wheel, and Hazel sat beside me, soaking up the sun in her jean shorts and oversized white button-up shirt. The navy blue of her bathing suit peeked out, hinting at cleavage that had no permission to exist in this car. We were in the front seats, in full view of everyone, but I found myself wishing I could keep my eyes on her instead of the road ahead.
“What’s that?” Hazel suddenly leaned forward. I followed her gaze and saw a group of people gathered at the edge of a cliff. We pulled over to the side of the road as loud music blared from somewhere. They all rushed to the edge while I lingered behind.
“There’s a party,” Ava exclaimed.
“Cool, let’s go,” I said, dismissing it.
“That’s the same beach we’re going to. Another five miles ahead,” Logan added. I didn’t really care. Hazel, however, was talking to the locals, and I was fighting the urge to go over there.
“What are those guys doing?” Norah asked, watching the locals checking something over the edge.
“Cliff-jumping,” Hazel yelled, running back toward us. “I’m gonna do it.”
“No, you’re not,” I laughed. Because, clearly, she was joking.
“Yeah, I talked to the guys. They do it all the time. It’s safe,” she said, explaining casually like it was a new route to work. Adrenaline started to surge through my body.
The hell she is.
“Are you crazy? Besides, how are you gonna get back up?” I asked, trying to reason with her.
“It’s gonna be fine. They jump and then swim to the beach next to it, where we’re going anyway. I’ll just leave my stuff in the car.”
Hazel started undressing, revealing her swimsuit and gorgeous legs. The other jumpers cheered, seeing her ready to join them.Ugh.
“Anybody else want to jump with me?” she asked.
Nobody accepted her offer, and she just shrugged her shoulders.
“Hazel, you can’t be serious,” I tried to discourage her, still keeping my distance from the ledge. “You’ve never done it; it’s dangerous; you’ve never been here; you’re putting faith into strangers. Plus, it’s—,” I glanced over the edge, “—really high.”
She shot me a teasing smile. “You’re just mad that your inner salesman ego can’t convince me not to.”
I glared back with an irritated look, but then averted my gaze, rolling my jaw. She knew she’d struck a nerve.
“So jump with me,” she said with a slow smile.
Apparently, my sweet, clueless Hazel didn’t know me that well. There was no way I was going to jump. But she wasn’t jumping alone either. I just didn’t know yet which statement would overthrow the other.
She glanced at me with big, round puppy eyes.Silly girl.
“Nice touch. Not gonna work,” I mocked. Then suddenly her expression changed. She swiftly put her braid in a bun, tightening it with her blue ribbon, put her hands on her hips, and closed the distance between us. Slowly. The air grew heavy, and I was waiting for her master plan. What could she possibly think would convince me to jump?
Her eyes held mine as she leaned in and whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Pussy.”
I saw my face darken in the reflection of her eyes. It was themillion reasons not to do something.
“What was it? We only live once, right?” She smiled wickedly at me.
How dare she throw my own words at me?
Hazel was so close I could count the beats of her heart in the vein at her neck. And the fact that there were a bunch of people around us was the only thing that saved her from me right now. She raised her chin, challenging me, and I dropped my gaze to her lips. My breathing grew heavier. Hazel was standing her ground, testing me. I felt my palms mold into fists.
