Page 92 of This Blood That Binds Us

That was my first chance to get Aaron alone. I went up behind him to try to tap on his shoulder, but he was already leading the charge up the cliffs. I sighed. I’d just have to wait till we got up there. I looked around, making sure my vampire stalker wasn’t following.

Water sloshed around in my shoes, and they squeaked with each step. The sun was out, high above the trees. It peeked through the branches and dried the beads of water on my skin. I followed behind the shirtless group of men and Chelsea, who still looked as perfect as the moment she stepped foot in the park.

My attention drifted to Aaron and Chelsea again. It might have been good for Aaron to stay focused on someone completely normal. A normal girl. Completely removed from our world. I didn’t feel like a normal girl anymore. I couldn’t be. Once I was bitten, my life had changed forever.

Chelsea stumbled forward every few seconds and cursed her shoe choices. Aaron patiently helped guide her up the path. I didn’t like the feeling settling in my stomach as I watched his hand graze her back.

Presley trailed behind me, and I slowed down to meet his pace.

“How did Aaron meet Chelsea?” I tried to keep my voice low.

I couldn’t help my curiosity. Chelsea was the polar opposite of Aaron. My brain couldn’t handle them being so close.

Presley watched them with amusement. “They met when we first moved here. We have a lot of the sorority girls over for parties. I guess some guy tried to push her down the stairs after the party was over, and he stood up for her. She’s been obsessed with him ever since.”

My heart fluttered uncomfortably. “Wow, I could definitely see Aaron doing that.”

“Welp, the story is—or at least I’ve heard—Aaron was the first guy to ever be nice to her.” Presley shrugged.

Chelsea stumbled again, and her shoe flew off beside her.

“Hey, hold on!” I called, and the boys came to a halt.

“What the...” Chelsea stood unevenly with one foot bare. Her flip-flop was broken and wedged between some rocks. “That’s just great.”

“What’s the hold up?!” Zach’s voice carried through the trees.

“We’ve had a blowout!” Presley said.

I pulled my bag from my shoulders and rummaged for my water shoes, figuring we would be the same size.

“What kind of blow out!?” Luke chimed.

Presley chuckled. “Like flip-flops!”

“Oh, okay! . . . Hey, Presley . . . tell those ladies to hurry it up!”

Zach’s voice echoed in the canyon.

“Ugh, we can hear you! Just shut up!” Chelsea’s voice was so shrill, even Presley covered his ears.

I skipped up the trail. “Here. You can have these.”

It was my pair of old, tattered water shoes I used for my camping excursion when I needed to get close to the water. It wasn’t much but better than nothing.

She held the shoes with her mouth agape for a moment before the corners of her mouth curled up into a smile. “Thanks.”

“It’s okay. Better than walking through the dirt and rocks,” I said, thankful she’d taken my olive branch.

“All right! The princess has been tended to! We may resume the procession!” Presley yelled.

It didn’t take us long to reach the cliff. The trees gradually became sparse, and people gathered all in one place. One by one, boys and girls danced their way to the edge and took a big leap. My stomach dropped as their bodies disappeared out of sight. Islowly made my way to the edge, my feet inches away from the drop. The water rippled in a perfect circle as one person plunged their body straight into the water. I let out a slow breath as they swam over to the edge of the water.

“Kim, over here!” Presley called to be before disappearing into an opening in the trees.

I reluctantly followed him through the small opening. Pine branches pricked and scratched my skin.

We walked out into a more secluded spot, where no one was jumping. The grass was lush, and there was plenty of room to get a running start.