Barely Breathing (The Breathing #2)(124)

We didn't have to go very far to find my fear. Within twenty minutes, Jonathan pulled off the road into a gravel inlet that could easily be missed.

"Where are we?" I asked, taking off my helmet and sweatshirt, starting to register the eighty degree heat that was promised.

"You'll see," Jonathan grinned slyly. I followed him as he led us along a path into the woods. Soon the rush of water reverberated through the trees, and I caught a glimpse of rapids twisting over rocks before dipping out of sight.

The air was a little cooler within the shadows of the trees as we followed the turbulent water that continued to evade full view. It sounded like it was running beneath our feet. And pretty soon, it was.

Jonathan stopped on a flat ledge that opened up in front of us. About twenty feet below was a pool of water, capturing a small cascade pouring into it from a little further up. The path continued down to the water's edge where a cluster of boulders rested in the water.

"This is a favorite swimming spot in the summer," Jonathan explained, and I could easily picture it―sitting on the smooth surface of the boulders to soak in the sun and cooling off in the clear water. I peered over the edge without getting too close―my pulse thrummed through my body. Angled slabs of rock lined the bottom of the crystal pool.

"Ready?" Jonathan asked from behind me. 

I whipped around. "What? Ready for what?" Fear captured my breath, knowing what he was expecting.

"Do you want to keep your jeans on? They may weigh you down. But I would keep your sneakers on because the water can hurt from this height if you hit wrong.

"You're not serious," I challenged, my words spewing in a rush. "You can't be serious."

"I have a knife if you want to cut your jeans into shorts," he continued casually, ignoring my panic attack.

"No, no, no, no, no," I uttered, moving to get off the ledge, but Jonathan stepped in front of me, blocking the way. "What are you doing?" I gawked at him with wide eyes, my heart beating so hard it actually hurt.

"Jump, Emma," he commanded, his voice stern but nonthreatening.

"No way," I practically yelled. "This is so high, and the water's not that deep. You can't make me do this. I won't do it."

"It's actually very deep, I promise you," he continued in his even, assertive tone. "Emma, you're either going to jump, or I'm going to push you." He stepped closer, making me back up toward the edge.

I searched for another way off the ledge, but it wasn't wide enough to get past him. "Please don't make me do this."

"Emma, jump or I'm going to push you," he repeated a little more firmly. He remained emotionless and calm, but from the intensity in his eyes, I knew he was serious. I wasn't leaving this ledge without going in the water.

I turned away from him and focused on breathing, since I wasn't breathing at all.

Breathing in, then out―in, then out. My chest moved up and down. In, then out. I swallowed hard and let my eyes fall over the edge to the water below.

Jonathan remained silent behind me. I didn't look for him.

I inched closer until I was about a foot from the rim. I became dizzy and quickly looked up. I focused on the trees along the cliff on the other side of the water and grounded myself again. I closed my eyes and my heartbeat pulsed through my head. My breathing quickened and my stomach rolled with nerves, and then a shot of adrenaline streaked through me.

Before the adrenaline could slip away, I took the step and leapt―just as I felt his hand press against my back. My stomach opened up, becoming hollow as the air rushed by me and my head buzzed with fear and excitement. A second later my feet slammed into the water, and I was consumed by the frigidity.

I kicked to the surface and expelled the small amount of air in my lungs, my chest frozen from the shock of the water. My muscles tightened as I gasped for air. I focused on swimming to the boulders. My jeans were heavy and slowed my progress. A spray of water hit me from behind with a loud splash.

I knew it was Jonathan, but I was too focused on getting out of the icy water to look back. I clambered up on a small rock and then over to a bigger one, my jeans sliding down a bit as I crawled into the sun, shivering uncontrollably.

I pulled my knees into me and wrapped my arms around my chest, trying to control the convulsive tremors―waiting for the sun to warm me up.

Jonathan emerged from the water and pulled himself onto the rock next to me. I didn't acknowledge him, tucking my head into my arms. My muscles began to ache from shaking so hard.

"Whoa, that's frickin' cold." I glanced over at him and realized he'd stripped down to a pair of black boxer briefs. I darted my eyes toward the water, my cheeks warming quickly. He didn't look as miserable as I did with his legs out in front of him, propped up with his arms behind him. "The sun feels good though."