Smug Bastard - Stacey Marie Brown Page 0,32

gas and keep driving. But for some reason, I swerved the van to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge rest stop parking lot, pulling roughly into a spot.

“There! Are you happy?”

He glared over at me as he got out, the door slamming.

“Should we take off, Goat?” I rubbed my dog’s head. “Leave him here?”

Goat climbed into Smith’s vacated seat, staring out the window and whimpering.

“Traitor,” I muttered. With a heavy sigh, I climbed out of the RV, leashing Goat. I slowly tracked toward the bridge everyone was walking, letting him sniff and take care of business, getting in some exercise.

At first the area looked flat, dry, and kind of ugly, until the gorge came into view, making me gasp. Vast, dramatic, rugged, and beautiful, like a mini Grand Canyon, the Rio Grande River rushed far below, sparkling under the heat of the day.

Groups of people huddled on the bridge, taking selfies and watching something I couldn’t yet see, piquing my interest.

Smith’s broad shoulders, trim waist, and an ass no one could help but notice were the only things I noticed, making me look away as a mix of heat and anger collided in my chest. Goat lurched forward, padding happily toward Smith.

A cheer went into the air as I heard someone scream, their cry echoing off the gorge. I got a glimpse of a figure through the railing, plunging into the valley below. What the hell? Moving next to Smith, I watched gravity pull the figure toward the ground with rapid speed. His body reaching almost the water before he recoiled back, flying through the air. Hoots and bellows rang out from him while what I figured was his girlfriend cheered from above, already harnessed and ready to go next.

Two guys and one girl seemed to be in charge, their traveling bungee jump business all set up and ready to go, trying to entice the next idiot to tie themselves to rubber bands and jump off a bridge. Bungee jumping had never been on my list.

“What say you?” Smith peered down at me, an eyebrow cocking.

“What?” I laughed. “You’re not serious.”

“Completely.”

I laughed again.

“Hell no.”

“Why not?” He folded his arms. “Afraid?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I don’t see the point.”

“Of course, you don’t,” he said slowly.

“What does that mean?”

“You think you are so different from your siblings.”

I frowned, my arms going over my chest.

“You all are very logical. By the book… don’t color out of the lines.” He tipped his head, his blue eyes bright underneath his ball cap, penetrating mine. “Little uptight.”

“Excuse me? I am not uptight.”

He smiled, like, Sure, sweetie.

“This can be my pick today. Try it at least once, then you can decide if you like it or not.”

“No.” My head automatically shook as I looked at the girl preparing to jump. “Absolutely not.”

He looked away, a told you so expression on his face, only sparking ire up the back of my neck.

“It’s not because I’m uptight or scared.” Lie. I was both. “I just don’t want to.” But in my head, I couldn’t think of a reason why. Actually, even standing there, the lure of it sent adrenaline thrilling me with the idea, pounding my heart.

“O-kay.” He shrugged, reaching down to stroke Goat’s soft ears. “But I’m doing it.”

“Fine,” I replied, rolling my shoulders back, my stubbornness kicking in, digging in its heels. Because I couldn’t deny my interest, half wishing he’d push me.

“You’re really missing out. The high you get. The freedom and rush.” His eyes slid to me, watching me. “Almost as good as sex.”

The single word darted my attention to him, our eyes connecting. Air leaked from my lungs at the intensity of his gaze.

“I’m not going to make you. You have to decide for yourself, but I thought this whole trip was about exploring and figuring things out. Grow. If you don’t do anything different or take a chance, you don’t change anything. Sometimes the best way to do it is let go of the reins, climb out of your safety bubble, and live.” He leaned closer, forcing me to suck in. “Do something that scares you.”

“Smith Blackburn? You’re up next,” one of the bungee leaders called out.

Smith’s eyes stayed on me for another beat before his head turned and threaded through the crowd to the railing, the crew starting to get him in the harnesses.

I could feel his insightful words filling my chest and itching my legs. He was right. If you didn’t push yourself out of your box, nothing would change. Stagnate.