Staring down into the ravine was one thing but as he looked down off the cliff into the deep water he had to take a breath and step back. He looked back as his friend nudged him with his elbow, smirking in that taunting way as to say 'We've come all this way, might as well do it'. He looked back and peered off to the side to see his woman standing there, she looked much warmer. He was only in swim trunks in the middle of February about to take the plunge.
She was in her sweatpants and his jacket, holding onto his clothes and a towel, awaiting him for once he finished the dive. She smiled wide to boost his confidence as he looked at her, she could tell he was having second thoughts. She jolted her thumbs up encouragingly.
He gave a small half smile back, he was still very uncertain but knowing she had his back did give him a boost. Especially once she began to cheer amid the silent crowd of their friends. His smile deepened and he walked back toward the edge. Daring to take one more peak back at her.
She felt her heart pound as she shivered with the chill, it was even one of the warmer days for the end of winter. If he could do this he could do anything. She was so terrified herself but she wanted to encourage him. He wanted to do this. When he looked back the second time she gave a more intimate, loving smile, her hands coming up to make a heart to him.
That was all he needed as he blew her a kiss before diving down, plunging into the depths of the lake. It was invigorating, the initial shock didn't even hit with how cold it was until he surfaced, gasping. When he did he heard his friend shrieking at him to get out of the way as he quickly swam to the shore.
She broke through the trees rushing down to meet him, getting there just in time to see him coming to shore, she unraveled the towel and held it out, awaiting him first. To lovingly embrace him and whisper to him all the sweet and loving things. Being grateful he made it. When he initially jumped off her heart skipped a few beats with so much terror.
He embraced her through the towel, her wrapping around him, engulfing him in that safety blanket he could ask for nothing more as he held on tight and lifted her up, twirling around and laughing right before the adrenaline finally wore off. He set her down and let her embrace him, kissing his freezing face and rubbing him vigorously with the towel.
She begged him to never be this reckless again as she tried to warm him back to normal temperature. She covered him while he stripped from the swim shorts and into boxers and sweatpants of his own. She helped him put on the shirt and coat to help speed along the process.
He could only look at her with love in his eyes afterward, he leaned into her and promised to not do it again. He knew it gave her quite a freight when he could hear her heart thumping against her own coat.