"Family members and arm wrestling don't count, in case you were wondering." It was hard to picture Raven giving someone the time of day in a softer, romantic way. She was like Glain. Independent, unattached, her hands made for fists, not for hand-holding.

Jess focused on keeping traction on the wet surface. The water was a seething cauldron underneath them, and he had to raise his voice somewhat to be heard over the roar of the spray. He wondered how many more floods like this the bridge could take before it finally gave way, and then decided he didn't want to think about that. Not while walking across the middle of it.

He curled his fingers around Raven's wrist. If she went down, he damn sure wasn't getting pulled off guard because they'd taken a game of chicken too far.

"You'd make my first bridge buddy, too. Lucky us." First time for everything.