Read Out of Reach for Free Online Page A

no.
    “Cliff jumping?” I gasped. “You’ve got to be freaking kidding me, dude.”
    Andy laughed. “You said you wanted to help. It’s on my list.” He shrugged, as if the whole thing was out of his hands. Emily stood behind Andy, giggling. “I don’t know why you’re giggling away, Emsky. You’re doing it, too.”
    “The hell I am,” she exclaimed, her eyes widening. I laughed at her reaction. She made a face and flipped me her middle finger.
    “If you don’t then I will,” he threatened.
    God, he’s serious, too.
    “Stop being such an ass, Andy.” She threw him an annoyed look.
    “Guys,” he chastised, shaking his head. “These are things I wished I could’ve done. The whole idea is to live life, right? How much living have you two been doing the last few months?”
    Em shifted on her seat next to me as my gaze fell downward. Fuck, he had this way of making you feel guilty for breathing.
    “Fine. We’ll do it.” I sighed.
    Em’s head shot up. “We will?” she squeaked.
    I took hold of her hand and gently squeezed it.
    She sighed, her breathing ragged. “Okay,” she said in a small voice.
    “Great. This is going to be awesome. Trust me,” he said as I opened my door.
    “Says the guy who gets to sit in his chair and watch,” I muttered.
    “Ah, stop whining, Walkerson. You’re being a pussy.”
    I laughed as I unloaded his chair. I was about to jump off a cliff, yet I was being a pussy?
    Em grabbed his bag and a blanket, wrapping it around him. She looked hesitant to leave him. “Maybe I should stay with you,” she said.
    “No need,” he replied cheerfully. He pointed to the entrance of the parking lot. I put my hand over my eyes to shield them from the sun and watched as a dark-blue Ford pulled into the spot next to us.
    “Who is that?” Em asked, echoing my thoughts.
    “I told you that you weren’t going to spend the next few weeks stressing about me, and I meant it. That’s Marta—the nurse I told you about.”
    Marta looked to be in her fifties. Her graying hair was pulled back into a bun. She was dressed neatly in a pair of gray slacks and a green sweater. Her mouth moved into a tight smile as she acknowledged Em and me. “I’m guessing you’re Andrew?”
    “What gave it away? Was it my handsome smile? Or maybe my ruggedly-built physique?” Andy grinned.
    I groaned internally. Had he purposely chosen a nurse that completely reflected the opposite of his personality? Because that was something he would do.
    “I must admit, when the agency told me to meet you out here I was confused.” She glanced around, her eyebrows rising as she spotted the van. “And now that I’m here, I’m still confused.”
    “It’s simple, really: I’m making these two live out my bucket list while I’m still alive enough to enjoy it.”
    Marta nodded slowly. “And watching them . . .” She squinted at the van. “. . . cliff-jump is going to give you joy?” she asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.
    “If you knew these two, you wouldn’t even have to ask. She’s scared of heights,” he said, pointing at Em, “and he’s just a pussy.”
    I rolled my eyes. Marta shrugged and took control of the chair. We walked over to the van where a guy in a bright pink and orange T-shirt and ripped jeans was waiting for us. I eyed the ropes and harnesses that were piled in the back of the van.
    “Hey, you must be Emily, Seth, and Andy. I’m Pete.”
    I shook his outstretched hand, noting his strong Australian accent. His long scruffy blonde hair was in dire need of a wash. He looked like he hadn’t seen a shower in months, and his glazed over expression made me wonder if he was high.
    I was supposed to trust this guy with my life?
    “Nice to meet you,” I said as he threw an old black wetsuit at me.
    “Chuck that on. And one for you.” He threw an identical one at Emily. “What about you, old girl?” he asked Marta.
    She narrowed her eyes at him, crossing her arms over her chest