"We're not that high, Liss. And I've jumped from here before. The water's plenty deep enough. It's a total rush. I think you'd really enjoy it."
I look over to the beach where we've left all our stuff. What I wouldn't give to be lying there reading a terrible zombie book and talking to the local wildlife. The spider monkeys are there again today, looking like Disney characters come to life.
Liam moves behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. "Listen, if you really don't want to do it, that's fine. No pressure. We can walk back down. I just thought you might like a challenge."
The thing is, I usually do. I don't know why I'm so hesitant about trying this. Guess I've never really given the idea of cliff diving much thought beyond, Wow, that's a thing that looks like fun, as long as I'm not the one doing it.
"Okay," I say and take a deep breath. "I'll give it a try. But you have to go first."
He kisses my shoulder. "No problem." With his usual grace, he moves forward and points to a rocky outcrop. "When you're ready, stand right here on the edge and jump out, not up. There are no rocks down below, so you'll be fine." He comes back over and takes my hands. "Ready to see how it's done?"
"Sure. Show me your stuff, Quinn."
He gives me a mischievous smile, drops my hands, turns on his heel, and runs full speed toward the edge. When he gets there, he launches off like a superhero. I'm in awe when he completes a perfect swan dive and lands head first into the water.
I run over to the edge and look down just as he breaks the surface to wave to me.
"See?" he yells over the sound of the waterfall. "Nothing to it."
I scowl at him. "Show off!"
Curse his superhuman physical prowess. Now I'm going to look like an uncoordinated fool in comparison. Ugh.
I walk over to the outcrop and take a deep breath.
Okay, Elissa, you can do this. Stay calm, jump out, and try not to flail like a skydiving octopus on the way down. Easy.
When I take a last look at Liam, he smiles at me in encouragement.
Okay, here I go. I'm doing it.
I bend my knees and prepare to push off, but then I straighten up and shake out my hands.
Okay. Yep. Here I go. I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar. I bend my legs again, but when it comes time to jump, I shake my head and step back from the edge.
"Liss?" His voice echoes off the cliffs, and even from here, I can tell Liam is wearing a concerned expression.
"I can't, Liam,” I call down to him. “I'm sorry. Why don't you swim back to the beach? I'll walk down."
He looks disappointed, but he smiles anyway. "No problem. I'll be waiting when you get there."
I mentally berate myself as I start the long climb down the rocky trail. Way to wuss out, Elissa. Good job. You're supposed to be a badass who's not afraid of anything or anyone. Harden up, lady.
One good thing about the trek back is that it's all downhill, so it only takes half as long to get down as it did going up. In just under twenty minutes, I've made it to the clearing with the altar and can see Liam a few dozen yards away, soaking up the sun.
I glance over to where I saw the shadowy figure. Of course, now there's no one there. Maybe it was a shadow after all. Or a man-shaped palm frond.
Gathering my courage, I cautiously walk over to get a closer look. "Hey, Mr. Spirit. If you're here, please don't murder me. That would bum me out."
When I reach the tree, I peek behind it. Nothing. Thank God.
I'm about to turn and leave when I see something bright under a fern a few feet away. I walk over and brush back the leaves to reveal the awful zombie book I was reading the other day. Next to it is an empty bottle of cola.
A chill runs up my spine.
"It could have been the monkeys," I tell myself.
Yeah, sure, it was.
Fighting the urge to run, I hurry through the clearing, hoping like hell I don't bump into anything on the way.
When I get to Liam, he smiles up at me as he squints against the sun.
"Hey, thrill seeker. Welcome back."
"Hey."
"You okay? You look flushed."
"Yeah, just creeped out by the murder altar back there. I keep imagining things."
He frowns. "Like what?"
I wave my hand. "Vengeful spirits."
"You've been speaking to Alba, haven't you?"
"A little, but it's fine. Just tell me there's no such thing."
He looks at me like he thinks I'm both crazy and adorable. "There's no such thing."
"Cool. Thanks." I flop down on the towel beside him. "So, on a less creepy note, sorry for not jumping. I'm a wuss."
"No, you're not. That was a tough thing to ask you to do. Most people would have balked."
"You didn't."
"Yeah, but I have more guts than brains. You're the smart one in our relationship." He leans over and kisses me. "Maybe we should develop your adventurous side with something a little less extreme."
"Like ...?"
He shrugs and feigns innocence. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe ... topless sunbathing?" When I give him a skeptical look, he gestures to his chest. "Look, I'm already doing it. You should join me."