The Friendship List(56)

“I have good staff. So yes or no on the rock climbing?”

“I’d love to.”

“Great. I’ll see you in about three hours.”

He walked to the parking garage across the street and collected his car, then headed across Lake Washington, back to Bellevue. He would stop at his condo and get changed, then drive out to Willowbrook. Anticipation made it difficult not to speed. He had no idea what it was about Unity that got to him, but he’d already made the decision to simply see this thing through. When she was out of his system, he would be able to move on. Until then, he had a date with a beautiful woman.

It was only when he was driving across Snoqualmie Pass that he realized he’d never gone back to the luncheon. Oh, well, he thought. Apparently he and Perri were not meant to be.

He made good time and pulled up in front of Unity’s house about fifteen minutes earlier than he’d expected. She must have been watching for him because she came out before he’d turned off the car engine.

She had on leggings and a T-shirt, with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She looked long, lean and sexy as hell, which meant he was in all kinds of trouble.

“Hi,” she said as she got in next to him. “I’ve never been rock climbing before. This is going to be fun.”

He pulled away from the curb. “How coordinated are you, anyway?”

She slapped his arm. “Hey, you. I’ll have you know I’m very athletic. I was a swimmer back in high school. I almost made it to the state championships.”

“What were your events?”

“Backstroke, freestyle and the individual and team medley.”

He glanced at her. “Swimming isn’t rock climbing.”

“Oh, like you rock climb all the time.”

“I’ve done it a time or two.”

“Don’t get all smug,” she told him. “For all you know, I’m a natural.”

They arrived at the athletic center and were directed to the rock climbing wall. Once Unity had put her bag in a locker, they walked into the tall, open room that held four different heights of rock climbing walls.

She stared up, then glanced around. “They really are walls.”

“What did you expect?”

“I don’t know. I thought maybe it was a metaphor.”

He grinned. “It’s a wall.”

“I can see that.”

He led her around the area. “There are different types of climbs. Easy to challenging. We’ll start with easy. You’re going to wear a harness and you’ll have a spotter. Don’t worry if you fall. He’ll catch you and lower you to the ground.”

She scoffed. “I’m not going to fall.”

“You’re very confident.”

“There is butt kicking in your future.” She turned and walked back to the beginner’s wall, her ponytail swaying with each step.

He waited while she stepped into her harness, then helped her adjust the leg and waist loops. He ignored the feel of her body as his fingers brushed against her.

When she was secure, he handed her a helmet then stepped back to watch.

“You’re not climbing with me?” she asked.

“I want to see how you do first.”

“Prepare to be amazed.”

Her belayer—the spotter—gave her a few basic safety instructions, then took hold of her rope. Unity reached for the first holds and started to climb.

She went slowly, carefully choosing her handholds, then moving her feet. She got about eight feet off the ground before stopping.

“The green one on your left,” Thaddeus called out helpfully.

“I don’t like that one.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to let go to grab it.”

“You’ll still be holding on with your other hand and your feet are secure.”

She eyed the green hold but didn’t reach for it.

“Is it the height or letting go?” he asked.

“Do not make this into a metaphor about my life,” she told him, her voice sounding determined.

He saw her tense, then she stretched out toward the green hold. And promptly slipped. She reached again, lost her footing and fell toward the mat-covered floor. Her belayer held the rope, then slowly lowered her down until she was standing.

Thaddeus moved next to her. “You okay?”

She was pale, but she straightened and squared her shoulders. “I can do this.”

“I know you can.”

Thirty minutes later, Thaddeus had to admit that while Unity had grit and a strong will, she had zero rock climbing skills. She didn’t want to let go of the holds she had and she couldn’t seem to keep her feet from slipping.

“But I’m athletic,” she said on her fifth tumble. “I’m strong. Some old lady told me I was a big, strapping girl.”

“Maybe you’d do better at golf,” he teased.

“I need to be better at something.”

“Do you still swim?”

“No.”

“Then how about that?”

She looked at the wall and sighed before taking off her helmet. “I can wait while you scamper up to the top.”

“I don’t scamper.”

“But you can get to the top.”