We reach the base simultaneously, laughter bubbling up between us. My breath comes in ragged gasps while Ade shows no signs of exertion—bastard. Reading my thoughts like usual, he grins widely at me.
"I need to take up running again," I mumble in between puffs. "Though I really hate running."
Ade nuzzles closer. "I can think of more fun cardio activities."
Without another word, he takes my hand and pulls me closer against his body. The coolness of his skin is a stark contrast to the heat in his eyes. Any competitive edge left from earlier fades away. The falling water creates a curtain of mist around us that shrouds us in a veil of intimacy.
Ade reaches out, his hand gently cupping my cheek. His touch sends shivers down my spine. I meet his gaze, the intensity of his eyes mirroring my own feelings.
I lean in, closing the distance between us. Our lips meet in a tender kiss. Everything else disappears; all I feel is his mouth on mine and our hearts beating in perfect harmony.
Then something wet and heavy hits my back, tearing me from this timeless moment. My head whips around, searching for the culprit. My eyes land on a grinning Rhia.
"You two are sickeningly sweet. Kissing under the waterfall…"
"As if you and Lex didn't do the same," I counter.
I might not have seen them, too engrossed in my own happily-ever-after moment, but I know my best friend. Those two had their hands and lips all over each other. And they only stopped because Ade and I were close by.
Rhia winks at me and throws us each a towel as Ade and I wade out of the water.
"When did you get those?" I ask, spotting the backpacks by the rocks.
"When you two were smooching. It doesn't take very long to walk around this pool. Now come on, Lex found the entrance to a cave. Did you know about it, El?"
"A cave? No. Where?"
"It's a little hidden behind rocks and foliage on the far side of the waterfall. Let's go explore it."
Ade picks up the backpacks, and we follow Rhia as she leads us along the foot of the rock wall. Lex is waiting for us, a gleeful expression lighting up his face. He pushes the branches of a large bush aside and points to the opening in the rock.
"I threw a stone inside, and from what I can tell, it's quite deep," he tells us.
Ade drops the backpacks and crouches to unzip his, taking out the flashlights. Throwing one to Lex, he steps closer and shines the light inside the opening.
"You're right. Shall we have a look?"
"Yes," Rhia says enthusiastically, clapping her hands together.
"No," I say at the same time. "I'm not going in there. God knows what lurks in the dark."
"Sunshine, I'll protect you," Ade coos.
As if he hadn't spoken, I go on. "There could be bats in there. And bat bites can be dangerous. We could end up with rabies."
"And have you seen any bats at any time you've been here?" he asks, raising an eyebrow in challenge.
"No," I retort. "Because they've probably all been hanging upside down in this cave!"
"Come on, El. Let's go." Rhia nudges me.
"I don't want to. It's a dark, dry place… it will be home to something."
"That's why we brought flashlights," Lex says, waving his like a wand you see aircraft marshals use at airports to guide planes.
Rhia takes my hand and pulls me closer to the cave.
"It's three against one, El. Push your comfort zone. We're going in."
