Playful Banter

Hannah

“Tell me again why this was a good idea for a double date?” I asked as my nerves kicked in a little.

“Hannah, come on. He promised to wear a harness this time,” Parker said.

“I promise, I won’t be a daredevil,” Jordan held his hand over his heart and solemnly promised.

I scoffed as I watched him pull a harness up his legs, tightening the straps before he stepped forward to tighten mine.

“I think it looks kind of fun,” Lincoln said quietly as he looked around at all the different faces.

“Thank you, baby. That’s exactly what we’re going for,” Parker leaned in and kissed Lincoln on the cheek, holding tightly onto his hand. I was surprised at how affectionate they were with each other.

“Back to try the wall again, Hannah?” Javi snuck up behind me and reached around me to give Jordan some kind of manly handshake-fist bump combo.

“This wasn’t my idea of fun. But the testosterone squad over here overruled me,” I told him as I looked back over my shoulder.

“Well, you vetoed ax-throwing too,” Parker rolled his eyes.

“I like all my limbs being ax free, thank you very much.”

“Um, Hannah. I’ve thrown darts with you. I’m pretty sure that the three of us should be the ones worried about rogue axes,” Parker laughed.

“It’s okay, baby,” Jordan slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side. “Just ignore the mean Parker, and we’ll smoke his ass climbing to the top of the wall.”

“Now this I’d like to see,” Lincoln enthused with a wide grin.

“Remember, keep your body close to the wall, use your toes and fingers to keep moving, plot your next two moves before you execute,” Jordan coached as he guided me toward the wall.

“Got it.” Obviously, I didn’t need cardio to work up a sweat. Simply looking at a rock-climbing wall did the same thing in no time.

“Sounds like we’re going to have a friendly climb-off. You didn’t beat Tate, Parker. You sure you can beat Hannah?” Javi asked seriously.

“Oh, come on, I love you, Han, but you froze three-quarters of the way up last time,” he scoffed. “Mister chalk monkey had to come get you.”

“Bring it, Parker.” I narrowed my eyes at my best friend and tried to push down my nerves. Speed may not have been my thing the last time, but I was stronger now, and I could do this.

“I can do this, right?” I whispered up to Jordan.

He bent his knees and brushed his mouth against my ear. “I can guarantee you that I’ll give you another workout when we get back to my place tonight if you beat him.”

“Well, that was going to happen anyway,” I giggled, and he placed his hands on the small of my back, pulling me into his chest.

“True. But if you win, it’s ladies’ choice. However you want me.”

Now that made things different. I’d had some fantasies about doing naughty things on the equipment in his basement.

“I’ll take Hannah. You want to belay for Parker, Jordan?” Javi said as he unhooked a few lines from the anchor hooks.

“Sounds good to me,” Jordan nodded.

“How is that fair?” Parker balked.

“Would you rather I take Hannah?” Jordan lifted an eyebrow.

“No... ugh. Fine. Let’s do this,” Parker sighed, not looking as confident as before.

“Come on, Parker! You've got this,” Lincoln cheered.

“You're up next, Spider-Man,” Jordan said, pointing at Lincoln.

“What? Why me?” he asked with wide eyes.

“Can't take a little friendly competition?” Jordan taunted. He couldn't help his competitive streak.

“You're like six inches taller than me,” Lincoln said in a high voice, taking in my much taller boyfriend.

“I'll give you a thirty-second head start,” Jordan shrugged.

“Get your ass over here, Parker. Let's get you clipped into the line,” he shouted at my grumpy best friend.

“Pick your line, Hannah,” Javi urged as he walked up to the wall. I picked the line that looked like it had the largest expanse of flat wall.

I wiped my hands and walked up to Javi, and he attached the carabiner to the metal loops on the front of my harness.

My heart pounded as I watched Jordan clip in Parker, who stepped up to the wall. I grabbed a blue hold that was just above eye level and waited for Javi to take the slack out of my line.

“Climbers ready?” Javi asked loudly.

“Ready!” Parker called out.

“Ready!” My voice shook as I put my thumb up on my free hand.

“Climb on,” Jordan called out from behind us.

I tried not to look over at Parker as I started pushing and reaching my way up the wall. Following Jordan’s advice, I stayed close to the wall and always tried to look for my next move.

This was easier than the last time, and I felt much more secure as Javi anticipated my moves and kept my line snug.

When I was within ten feet of the top, I paused and glanced back. Jordan alternated between watching Parker and me, but he winked when he saw me look back at him.

Parker was close, but still a few feet beneath where I was, and I knew I couldn’t stop for long.

“You got this, Hannah. Take a deep breath!” Javi encouraged when I paused.

“You’re gonna get beat by a girl again, Parker. Better pick up the pace,” Lincoln called out from his location behind the belay lines.

I looked over and made eye contact with Parker. He smirked at me and then quickly executed two moves, bringing him closer.

“Better move that cute ass, Hannah!” Jordan laughed, and I pushed myself up on my toes to reach my next hold.

The next two moves came quickly, and then I was within arm’s reach of the ceiling. My calves shook as I reached for a distant hold, but as I swung my momentum over, I was able to grab it.

I slapped the ceiling with my palm and looked over to where Parker was just one reach away.

“Suck it, Parker!” I laughed as his head shot up, and he saw me holding the rope at the top of the wall.

“Fuck. Are you kidding me?” Laughing, he started climbing sideways toward me.

I stayed where I was as he moved in beside me and held his hand out. “Nice job, Han. Even if you did make me look like a pussy in front of my boyfriend.”

“Sorry, not sorry.” I laughed as I bumped his fist and looked back at Jordan. He blew me a kiss and winked again, and I found myself looking forward to later tonight.

“He’s gonna do dirty things to you, isn’t he?” Parker laughed as he followed my line of sight.

“It might be me doing naughty things to him.” I laughed, and Parker shook his head.

“Just try to keep it down. Sometimes people can hear you two in the hallway.” He gave me a pointed look.

“Oh, shut up. We did it against the front door ~once~.” And it was hot.

“It was enough to make Mrs. Prescott think that you had someone break into your apartment.” Parker laughed.

“I hate you,” I growled as he continued laughing.

“You’re welcome for telling her not to call the cops.”

I stuck my tongue out at him and blew a raspberry.

“Are you ready to let Spider-Man take on the spider monkey?” he asked with an amused smile, looking back at our significant others.

“This should be funny,” I nodded and placed my feet flat against the wall, taking a firm grasp of the rope.

“Ready to rappel!” I called out and felt my line slacken a bit.

“Rappel on!” Javi yelled back.

Jordan was finishing guiding Parker down the wall as Javi unclipped me. “If you ever want to climb without the giant, let me know.”

“I heard that, Javi. Quit hitting on my girlfriend!” Jordan hollered from beside us.

“Just putting it out there,” Javi winked.

“Thanks, Javi,” I smiled.

“Okay. I’m just gonna say it,” Lincoln stated, eyeing Jordan. “I feel like I’m at a little bit of a disadvantage with the Jolly Green Giant over there.”

“Wanna make things more interesting, Jordan?” Javi called out.

“How so?” Jordan asked skeptically.

“Thirty-second head start and you climb the angled face while he does the flat one Parker was on,” Javi pointed out the climbs he was proposing.

“Fine with me,” Jordan nodded, cocky smirk fully in place.

“Let me grab another one of the instructors to belay for Jordan,” Javi told us.

“Oh, come on. You’re not gonna let me free climb that one?” Jordan pouted, and my eyes widened.

“No…”

“No…”

Javi and I answered at the same time, and Jordan laughed at me.

“I’ve done it before, baby,” he whispered as he stepped in behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, tugging on the loops on the front of my harness.

“Yeah... no. I like you without spinal cord injuries.” I shook my head as I grasped his arms.

“I guess I’ll wear the rope.” He sighed dramatically into my neck. “If I have to.”

“You have to.” I nodded and then dropped my voice. “Especially if you want to hear my proposal for later.”

“Ooh... that sounds promising.” His voice dropped an octave as he kissed along the side of my neck.

“Not sure if it’s possible, but I think you’ll like my idea,” I whispered.

“The pool is heated,” he whispered into my neck.

“I was thinking that the rower would make things interesting.”

“Fuck.” The quick intake of air and growl as he tucked his face into my neck indicated that he liked that idea. “Stop talking, or I’m not going to be able to climb.”

“Do you have to think about old men again?” I teased.

“Just a bit.” He laughed, and I laid my head against his.

I liked being in a relationship with him.