Chapter 79
She was right. When Melanie heard that they needed to get the shore, she had thought that things would not be so simple and now she was proven correct. Because they were now slowing down at the shore but it was simply not the one they had departed from…
Melanie squinted at the setup in front of her, her unease growing as large as the things in front of her. “Please tell me we’re just passing by.”
She grimaced. The structure was a chaotic mix of inflatable slides, climbing walls, and balance beams, with a handful of people laughing and stumbling their way across the obstacles. There was even a tall simple slide for people to fall straight into the lake…
Adam’s grin stretched wider as he shot her a look and said, “Nope. Why would we pass by this place? We are here for this.”
Before she could protest about getting on a giant air inflated platform, he hopped off the boat, landing on the platform with ease. He turned back, hand outstretched. “Come on, Melon.”
She shook her head. “Not happening. Sorry. I’ll stay right here. Mr Driver, you can take me back.”
Adam rolled his eyes and tried to coax her some more,”Oh, come on. Don’t be a scaredy cat! Tell you what- let’s make this interesting. We’ll race, okay? First one to finish the course to the end wins.”
Melanie wanted to refuse—no way was she playing his games—but then she paused. A favor could be useful. If she won, she could make him leave her alone for the rest of the afternoon. Maybe even convince him to stay off her back for an entire day. Her eyes sparkled at the thought. So much so, Adam almost forgot what he was about to say when she looked at him and asked, “You’re serious?” she asked.
He could only nod and say the words like a vow-“Dead serious.”
Melon exhaled and reluctantly placed her hand in his, letting him pull her off the boat onto the platform. The inflatable surface wobbled beneath her feet, and she flailed slightly before regaining her balance. Adam’s grin widened at her clumsiness.
“Oh, this is going to be fun,” he said smugly.
She narrowed her eyes, “We’ll see,” she shot back. Just because she had initially slipped he was so sure that he could win…
The driver, who had been silently watching with an amused smile, called out, “Alright! I could be the referee for you… On my count… Three… Two… One… Go!” As he watched the two shoot out, he could only shake his head fondly and sigh,” Ahh. To be young and in love again…”
Meanwhile, the competition betweeh the two ‘lovers’ was fierce. Adam had already shot forward like a bullet and leapt onto the first section—a series of slippery, rolling cylinders. Melanie stumbled after him, trying to copy his movements, but the cylinders wobbled and spun under her feel, like they had a mind of their own.
“Careful!” Adam called back as he watched her flail but of course he did not come to help her or wait for her. As she growled under her breath and lunged forward, trying to keep her feet light and stable, she finally was across the platform.
But, this time, Adam was already halfway up the plastic wall…
Melanie grabbed the rope and began pulling herself up, gritting her teeth. Her muscles strained and protested, but she was determined to win.
“Hurry up, Melon! You’re going to give me a striptease otherwise.”
Melanie shot him a glare and forced herself to move faster. She would give him a strip tease when hell froze over!
By the time they reached the balance beam, she was only a few steps behind him.
“You’re not bad,” Adam called out before adding shamelessly. “Do you want me to give you a striptease?”
Melanie ignored him. He was only trying to distract her and like hell she would let the images his words provoked, distract her.
Just then, he stumbled briefly and slipped.. Seizing her chance, Melon darted forward and passed him, nearing the finish line…
“Yes!” she cheered, still panting hard.
“Don’t celebrate yet,” Adam called out and she felt a pang as she realized the man was not even breathing hard. But she ignored that. Ahead of her was the final stretch—a slick, sloping surface that led straight to the finish once you’d climbed up. Melanie dropped to her knees and started crawling forward. There was no way her balance was good enough to climb that on two feet.
“That’s cheating!” Adam called.
“It’s strategy!” she snapped back, dragging herself forward.
She was almost at the finish line when with a sudden burst of speed, he dove forward and jumped sliding down the slippery slope like it was a waterslide and across the finish line…
“Hey!” Melanie shrieked as he shot past her, landing with a victorious splash at the finish line, a few centimetres before her!
“Winner!”Adam whooped as he straightened while Melanie fell back shaking her head in despondence as she complained,” I was this close to winning.”
Adam fell beside her as he gloated,” You know what that means, Melon.”
Melanie shot him a glare,” If you think I am going to give you a… a striptease then you will find yourself buried at the bottom of this lake.”
Adam chuckled,” Okay okay! Just because you gave me such a great competition, I will not ask for that. But I will hold you to a favour that I can cash on later.”
Melanie agreed and let out a breath, as she stared at the sky, enjoying the moment, until he nidged her with his elbow,” What do you think? This is better than that sun lounger, is it not? Come on, you have to agree! I was right.”
Melanie rolled her eyes,” Yeah Yeah! You’re right, Oh mighty one.”
Adam stood up then and nodded,” Now you know it! Come on!”
Melanie looked at his extended hand raised an eyebrow in reply to which Adam waggled his own brows ludicrously as he asked,” You didn’t think this is the only plan I had for you, right? Time for our next adventure.”
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