About five miles into Camano Island, Elliot turns right. We drive through a farm gate into an open pasture, along a track, and up to a barn, where he pulls into a parking lot.
“We’re here.”
“Where is here?”
“Friend’s place. It’s not open to the public yet. But it will be soon. We’re guinea pigs.”
“What?”
“Well, I figured marriage is pretty much a high-wire activity. I thought you should get some practice.”
“What are you talking about?”
“We’re going zip-lining.” He grins and clambers out of the car.
This! This is my bachelor party? It is not what I was expecting. But hey, zip-lining could be fun.
Elliot greets our hosts, and we’re directed into the barn, where a series of hooks hold the safety equipment: hard hats, harnesses, straps, and carabiners. It all looks reassuringly familiar.
“Hey, hotshot, these harnesses are damned freaky. We could get up to some kinky shit in these,” Elliot blurts as he slips his on. And for once I’m at a complete loss as to what to say.
Does he know?
Are the tips of my ears red?
Shit! Has Ana talked to Kate?
Elliot looks his usual guileless self, so I assume not, because if he knew, he’d have razzed the shit of me. “You’re an idiot. This is like a chute,” I reply. Distraction is the best policy. “Got a new sailplane last week. You should come out to Ephrata for a day and we can take her up.”
“For two?”
“Yep.”
“That would be super cool.”
We’re on the first platform surrounded by pine trees. “To infinity and beyond!” Elliot shouts and leaps off, with all the fearlessness that I associate with his devil-may-fucking-care attitude. He whoops like a gorilla in heat as he whizzes down the line, his joy contagious. He lands surprisingly gracefully on the next platform, about one hundred feet away.
Danielle, one of our guides, radios ahead to say I’m set and clips my lifeline to the zip-line trolley. “Ready, Christian?” she asks with an overeager smile.
“As I’ll ever be.”
“Off you go.”
Taking a deep breath, I grab the carabiner beneath the trolley with one hand, my lifeline with the other, and I jump. I fly through the fresh, lush forest, the pulley whistling above me and the summer breeze on my face. I’m on a roller coaster without a car, sailing between the Douglas firs beneath a brilliant blue sky, and it’s thrilling and liberating in equal measure. I land safely on the platform beside Elliot and the other guide.
“Whaddya think?” Elliot claps me on the back.
I grin. “This is pretty fucking excellent.”
Danielle is last to land on the platform. “That was our first. They get higher and faster.”
“Bring it!” I exclaim.
Two hours later, still buzzing from our high-wire activity, we’re back on the road, Elliot behind the wheel. “Bro, as experiences go, that was right up there,” I acknowledge.
“Better than sex?” Elliot cackles. “You’ve only just discovered it—so probably not.”
“I’m a little more discerning in my tastes than you are, dude.”
“I just like to spread the love around. The Big E wants what the Big E wants.”
I shake my head with a snort of derision. I do not want to think about the Big E. “Can we get some real food now?”
Elliot grins. “Nope, sorry, bro. You don’t want a full stomach for what we have planned next. Eat the sub.”
“Next? Elliot, the zip line was great. There’s more?”
“Oh, yes. Suck it up, buttercup.”
Gingerly, I pick up one of the subs.
“Those are made by my own fair hand.”
“Don’t put me off.”
“The finest bologna, tomato, and provolone cheese this side of the Rockies have gone into those sandwiches.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“You need to broaden your culinary horizons.”
“With bologna?”
“Whatever it takes. Unwrap that for me.”
I peel off the parchment paper and hand him the dubious-looking creation. He shoves it in his mouth and starts to chow down. It’s not a sight for the fainthearted, and I realize I have no choice, it’s bologna or starve.
While I eat, I text Ana.
Zip-lining.
That’s what Elliot had planned.
And bologna sandwiches.
I’m living the dream.
ANA
LOL! I’m spending a great deal of your money.
Not entirely consensually.
Caroline Acton is a force to be reckoned with.
She reminds me of you.
Stay safe with whatever Elliot throws at you!
Love you.
And miss you. xxx
I love it when you spend my money.
It will very soon be your money, too.
Will report on Elliot’s next “surprise.”
xxx
Elliot drives smoothly off I-5 onto the 2. Where the fuck are we going? I thought we were headed back to Seattle.
“Surprise,” he responds to my questioning look.
Seems to be his word of the day.
Fifteen minutes later he pulls into the parking lot at Harvey Airfield.
“Hey, there’s a steakhouse here—we could have had some real food,” I grumble.
“Maybe later—we’ve got a class to catch.”
“Class?”
“Come on, hotshot, you’ve not guessed it yet?” He drives past the steakhouse.
“No.”
“We’re taking the plunge, because you’re taking the plunge.”
What the hell?
Elliot puts me out of my misery. “Skydiving.”
“Oh. Okay.” Fuck!
“It’ll be great. I’ve done a tandem jump before. It’s wild.”
Of course he has.
“You’ll be fine.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
“Listen, you get married and women don’t let you do this shit. Come on.” Together we walk through the parking lot toward the sky-diving school, and my heart races. I like to be in control; tandem jumping means someone else is in control…and I’m strapped to them.