Page 38 of Bastard Bartender

“We’re not focusing on that. Look at the crest of the canyon and the way the light reflects off the clay.”

“It’s beautiful,” I say, turning my gaze away from the canyon and toward Nic.

His deep green eyes are luminous in this daylight. They’re wide and bright, loving what they see. Perhaps that’s because they’re looking at me.

“All you have to do is let go of your fear. Kick out all the bad and make room for something spectacular to happen.”

“You sound like you speak from experience.”

His eyes look down briefly as he grins. “That’s what life is about. Experiences. I’m living my life, so I can have a million of these moments before I die.”

“A million adventures in a lifetime.”

“And I’m already halfway through, and I only have about two hundred.”

“You’re only, what, thirty? You have more time than that,” I say.

“Maybe. You never know. I like to live like it’s going to end sooner than later,” he states easily.

“Jeez. Looks like you have some catching up to do.”

“Seems so.”

My lips widen into a big smile. He returns it, and that dimple reappears.

I turn back to the canyon and breath easily and deeply.

We sit in silence for a few minutes, not moving a muscle and living in the moment.

“You guys ready to get back on the road?” Dro asks.

“What do you say, Evette? Are you ready to head out of here?” he asks me, holding on to my biceps.

“Is there any chance you can teleport me back?”

“You can walk, just like all the other grown-ups,” Nic says, turning us as one away from the railing and walking me off the Skywalk without ever leaving my side.

Once we’re back on solid ground, he loosens his grip around my waist and slides his hand into mine.

“Which one do you want now? The McLaren or the Lamborghini?”

I laugh out loud. “A question I never thought someone would ever ask me.”

He smirks. “Let’s go.”

We head toward the McLaren, ready for the ride home, and I feel freer than I have in months, knowing I faced a fear and he helped me through it.

Something tells me good things are about to happen for me.

I can feel it.