Sara felt terrible. "That was my fault. I'm so sorry!"
Adrian was magnanimous. "I forgive you!"
Sara looked him up and down hesitantly. "Are you sure? Can you stand?"
His hand and tailbone throbbed. He reached out to her. "Pull me up!"
His palm was clean, with long fingers and neatly trimmed nails, giving off a crisp, well-groomed vibe. Sara gripped his hand and yanked him upward.
Using her momentum, Adrian got to his feet, let go, and rolled his shoulders. He let out a laugh. "I'm fine. Nothing broken!"
His easygoing humor made Sara chuckle. Her impression of him skyrocketed. After being knocked down so hard because of a clumsy mistake, he hadn't lost his temper. He had even shielded her during the tumble. It was genuinely touching.
She flashed a grin. "From now on, you're my best buddy!"
Adrian brushed the grass off his clothes with a laugh. "Please don't. I'm afraid you'll hit harder next time!"
Sara laughed along. "I'm always good to my people."
"If you really consider me a friend, put in some good words for me with Norah," Adrian said. "When I win her over, I'll definitely owe you one!"
"Leave it to me!" Sara agreed readily.
"Deal!"
The two high-fived. In an instant, the gap between them had closed.
After that brief delay, Lorelei and Whitney finally caught up, and the four of them continued their ascent together.

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