My hand hit the top ledge and I jolted out of it, and looked over to see Rafe beside me, sweat dripping down his face, eyes glowing, face glowing, his gaze locked on mine again, lips parting to say something--
A jerk on my harness made me look up sharply as Daniel adjusted the rope, preparing to let me belay down. The look on his face told me who'd won. "Damn," I said. "Seriously?"
"By a fingertip," Rafe said. "You need to grow longer arms."
Before we'd even hit the ground, the others crowded around, asking who'd won. I waited for Rafe to claim the victory. He didn't. So I told them.
"Because she let you catch up," Sam said. "I wouldn't count that as a win."
"Which is why I didn't say I won," Rafe said, and he undid his harness.
"Still counts," Corey said. "Give the guy some room so he can collect his prize."
Daniel rounded the bend in the path, picking up speed, like he was coming to rescue me from my obligation. When he caught my eye, he slowed.
Rafe shucked his harness and took mine. He set them aside and I braced myself, but he only called over to Daniel, "That's an amazing wall. Sometime I'd love to know how you did it."
Daniel nodded, still watching Rafe warily.
"Um, your prize…" Corey said. "If you aren't going to take it, I'd be happy to play stand-in."
"I'll collect it later," Rafe said. "Without an audience."
"Uh-uh," Corey said. "No rain checks."
Rafe only shrugged. "I can ask for one. If Maya doesn't want to honor it, that's her choice."
Daniel grunted and collected the gear. He didn't say anything, but I knew Rafe had scored a point.
A jerk on my harness made me look up sharply as Daniel adjusted the rope, preparing to let me belay down. The look on his face told me who'd won. "Damn," I said. "Seriously?"
"By a fingertip," Rafe said. "You need to grow longer arms."
Before we'd even hit the ground, the others crowded around, asking who'd won. I waited for Rafe to claim the victory. He didn't. So I told them.
"Because she let you catch up," Sam said. "I wouldn't count that as a win."
"Which is why I didn't say I won," Rafe said, and he undid his harness.
"Still counts," Corey said. "Give the guy some room so he can collect his prize."
Daniel rounded the bend in the path, picking up speed, like he was coming to rescue me from my obligation. When he caught my eye, he slowed.
Rafe shucked his harness and took mine. He set them aside and I braced myself, but he only called over to Daniel, "That's an amazing wall. Sometime I'd love to know how you did it."
Daniel nodded, still watching Rafe warily.
"Um, your prize…" Corey said. "If you aren't going to take it, I'd be happy to play stand-in."
"I'll collect it later," Rafe said. "Without an audience."
"Uh-uh," Corey said. "No rain checks."
Rafe only shrugged. "I can ask for one. If Maya doesn't want to honor it, that's her choice."
Daniel grunted and collected the gear. He didn't say anything, but I knew Rafe had scored a point.
( Kelley Armstrong )
[ The Gathering ]
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