"Hey, stranger." I tapped Derek's shoulder. 

His gaze flicked up to meet mine, and his brows furrowed. Then muscular fingers returned to adjusting his climbing shoes.

At his expression, a pang of disappointment transformed my smile upside down. Yet, I continued anyway, "Hey, best friend, haven't seen you in ages." I clasped my hands together. "Really? Life has just been busy, so how are you?" Those hands fell to my sides. "I've been great, hanging out with my girlfriend, being macho, and so on..."

Derek remained quiet, paying keen attention to his difficult task of ensuring his shoes were intact. 

Okay! So, he didn't want to talk. Great!
At least, now, I didn't have to tell him I was going out on a date. 

I pivoted on my heels with a sigh. "Whatever!" 

Before I got a chance to walk off, Derek grabbed my wrist. "I'm sorry." He combed fingers through black curls. "I'm just stressed. I have a lot going on, you know?”

A lot going on? What could be…

Oh, my gosh! 

I swiveled around to face him, feeling stupid. "Oh, shit! I totally forgot about the game next Saturday. And, here I am, thinking you're the worst best friend ever. Gosh! This makes me the worst friend in the universe."

His lips parted for a slight second, but they were clamped back shut with a shake of his head. Blue eyes remained glued to the floor. 

"Yeah, I just want to win, you know? My whole career depends on this one night. And, it's not just my future but the rest of my teammates'," Derek confessed.

Gosh, I was a horrible friend. Next Saturday was the last game of the baseball season, the last game of his college life. 

I nestled beside him on the seat. "I know what this game means to you." Our fingers entwined together. "But, I also want you to know you don't have to bear the burden alone. No matter what, I'm always going to be here for you."

Always. Even if I had a boyfriend or went out on dates with other guys. He would always be my first. Nothing could change how I felt about him. He was my best friend. But, of course, I wasn't going to come right out and tell him about the boyfriend part. Regardless, he should still know. Once he read between the lines. 

"I know, I'm so so sorry," he replied.

The defeat in his voice made those words seem like an apology for something more than being absent for a couple of days. Nevertheless, I didn't probe further in fear of reopening any wounds.

Resting my head on his shoulder, I teased, "I know, you're just being who you are: an asshole."

Derek chuckled, "Hey?" and slightly squeezed my fingers. Blue eyes glowed with compassion. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

I smiled at the comment. "I know." The smooth talker was rewarded with a kiss on his cheek. My gaze went to the wall decorated with colored handholds and I jumped to my feet. "The last one to the top of the wall has to do the chores for a month," I challenged. 

He arched an eyebrow. "Really?" 

Pfft! 

I ran off in response to the ridiculous question. A laugh slipped through my lips when footsteps came up fast behind me. 

Yes, he was faster, but I was smarter. Or so I liked to think. Derek was even better at rock climbing than I was. However, due to practicing and support from fellow climbers, I was better at it.

 When Derek and I first joined this rock gym, I was a bit nervous. It was Derek's idea to help keep his physique —which at the time, was great. Knowing him, it was another way to get me out of my bed at five in the morning—and I tagged along with him. Now, everything was a walk in the park. 

Before I got to the first handhold, he bolted past me. 

Oh, no you didn't!

I took a leap and I jumped on his back. The abrupt act almost caused both of us to fall on our asses. But, being the flexible, macho, sports player Derek was, he balanced us with ease. 

"I'm not going to hold you, Cathy. So, you're going to fall," was the warning he threw over his shoulder. 

I laughed instead of caring much about his warning. 

 When he noticed I wasn't letting go, he chuckled. "Suit yourself." 

I held on for dear life when he started climbing. 

Derek, you asshole! 

My teeth sank into my bottom lip. I squeezed my eyes closed, trying not to laugh and slip. 

Derek's aroma drowned my senses. Its woody fragrance pressured me into relaxing. A smile pulling at the corners of my mouth at how easy it was to be with him. 

I tightened my grip around his neck to inhale more of the intoxicating scent. My nipples tightened when they were pressed to his back. Every flex of his muscles provoked my nerves as we moved when he climbed higher. 

Oh, I wished he was shirtless. Then, I could have been able to feel his skin on mine. It would be so...so…

God, he had turned me into a pervert. 

"Catherina?" Derek called out hoarsely. 

"Hmmm?"

"Are you okay?" he choked out. 

My eyes flew open.

Shit! Did he realize? Did he feel anything? 

"I mean, you're cutting off my oxygen. I can't breathe." Two coughs followed. 

"Oh, I’m sorry," I replied in relief. 

Damn you, hormones! It was a week since I had sex. Yet, here I was acting like a horny teen. 

"I guess we should," my grip loosened and I glanced down. "Oh my gosh!" The grip tightened at the realization of our height. "We're up so high!" 

"Yeah, we're almost at the top," Derek declared like he was telling the time. 

I could bet he was wearing a smirk. 

"Why didn't you tell me? I already looked down." The words came out more like a whine than anything else. 

"Hey? Hey, I won't let you fall," he assured me. 

Closing my eyes, I squeezed a little tighter when he started moving again. 

"I don't think I'll make it safely down if you choke me to death." A cough filled the air.

"Sorry." I tried to loosen my grip a little.

After what felt like an eternity, he rubbed my thighs, confirming, "You're safe. We're on land." 

I opened my eyes just in time to witness his spectators applauding his performance. 

"Jesus Christ, Derek! I know life hasn't been rainbows and sunshine but suicide is not the answer," Brandon whisper-yelled. "And, to think you'd carry poor Cathy with you when other men are out there, is just wrong, man."

My cheeks warmth.

Derek glared at his friend. "What other men?"

Brandon's shoulders bounced. "Just saying."

Greg, the center fielder on their baseball team, clapped Derek on his shoulder. "Climbing without a harness: the new kind of high. Dude, you are my new hero."

I rolled my eyes and turned right into the notorious couple. Ryan was wearing a frown while his girlfriend stared at me with raised brows. 

At least, some people didn't find our stunt amusing. 

Gosh, we would get a tongue lashing from the instructor when he found out. 

"We need to talk," Ryan stated sternly. 

"Yeah, well, later. I have marketing in the next thirty minutes," Derek informed him, glancing at his wristwatch. 

Ryan grumbled under his breath and grabbed Derek's arm, pulling him away. "We have time now." 

Brandon chuckled. "Awe! Don't they look so cute together?" Then, followed the duo out of sight. 

“You want to tell me what that was about?” Sarah asked as soon as the boys were out of sight. 

I shrugged. “We were just having fun. Derek was just being a dick as usual.”
She folded her arms across her chest. "Besides, we were bouldering. If I fell, it would be on one of the pads."

Sarah arched an eyebrow, unfazed by my answer. “If you say so.”

I wondered what else she thought we were doing?

“We were.”

“Uh-huh. I heard you the first time." She clapped. "So, are you ready for tonight?”

I didn’t have to think twice to know what she was referring to. My date with Adrian was tonight. 

 “As ready as I'll ever be."

Sarah tilted her head to the side and stared at me. "You don't seem too optimistic."

"No, I am. It's just that..."

"He's not Derek," she finished. 

My gaze stared in the direction the three men disappeared. I nodded.

I was somewhat excited. Yet, scared at the same time. There was so much that could go wrong, like me liking Adrian. I could already tell he was a great guy. 

Gosh, I was not good at this. Dating was something I hated. All those awkward moments. Don't even get me started on the part where we had to make small talk or get to know the other person. What if we didn't like each other? All that hard work to look great would be washed down the drain. I didn't have a lot of experience with dating—because of Derek—but, from what I've heard, it was a pain. And, because of this fact, I stayed far away from it. 

Sarah sighed. "Let's just get through tonight, okay? Then, we'll make a final decision afterward." 

Forcing a smile, I agreed, "Okay."

She nudged me playfully with her hip and smiled. "Let's go."

I blew out a deep breath and followed her out. Today was going to be a long day.