Page 41 of Spring Rains

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Chris’s voice was soft, filled with the same wonder I felt.

I nodded, unable to find words that could do justice to the view. It held a magic Columbus could never match. “It’s incredible. You don’t get to see this in the city. The lights there drown out the stars. I think I missed this… openness. Is that even a word?”

“I’m sure it is. Wide. Open. Vast.”

After a moment, in unspoken agreement, we carried on walking to the diner, which was way too close. When we reached the door, Chris leaned against the wall, in the shadows, and I was all concerned until he reached out and tugged me close. I went willingly, ending up pressed to him, and I sighed as he shifted a crutch and cradled my face. We stood there in silence, for a long time as he stared at me, and me at him. Then, he rubbed a thumb over my cheekbone.

“I want you,” he whispered.

I nodded, he leaned down, I went on my tiptoes, and we met in the middle.

At first, it was just the touch of warm lips, then the tip of his tongue pressed for me to open, and with the cold nipping at our skin, we kissed under the wide diamond-speckled Wyoming sky.

I moaned into the kiss, grabbing his coat to steady myself, then realizing I could throw him off balance, I adjusted my stance so he could use me to lean on, losing myself in the moment. When we pulled apart, I found myself entranced by his steady gaze, wishing for better lighting to decipher the emotions in his eyes.

“One day, I want to do that again somewhere warmer,” he said, and I almost blurted that he should come in.

But I couldn’t.

Something inside me—dark, nasty, and self-pitying—stopped me from inviting him in.

“Not tonight,” I said. I was silently pleading with him not to be angry with me, and I waited for him to explain what a fucked-up cocktease I was, but he thumbed my cheekbone again.

“I promise, I wasn’t asking to come in. I’d like to see you again, do this again, kiss you again.”

I was so damn grateful he wasn’t pushing I could have cried. “I’m sorry?—”

He stopped me apologizing with another deep kiss, but this time, when we separated, he dropped his hand and rearranged his crutch, and I stepped back and away.

“I’ll watch you go in,” he said, and inclined his head to the diner.

I smiled, let myself in, and locked the door, and through all of it, he watched me, and a small brave part of me wanted to drag him inside.

Fox, first, I reminded myself.

He sketched a wave, then headed on to wherever he lived—I hoped it wasn’t far. I should have asked him if he needed help. I’d never asked where he lived.

As soon as I was upstairs, in my PJs, curled on the sofa, I took out my cell and sent him a message.

Noah: I had fun. Thank you. Hope you don’t live far. I should have called you a cab or something.

The reply from Chris was super delayed—one part of me assumed he hadn’t made it home; the other, more vulnerable part, told me I’d fucked up.

And then, my cell vibrated, and it was him.

Chris: You’re welcome. I’d like to go out with you again. Maybe just the two of us? Dinner? Lunch? Hell, I’ll take a quick snack in the car.

Chris:Also, I’m five minutes down the road, so it was all good. See you tomorrow. XX

I stared at theXXsand realized I was grinning like an idiot. He wanted to do what sounded like a proper date. For real. It wouldn’t be easy to fit in, with the diner opening, plus Fox, plus… yeah, it would be hard.

Still, before I could second-guess anything at all, I replied.

Noah: I’d like that. But with Fox, how about I do something here?

Noah: If that’s not too weird (frowning face emoji)

Chris: If it includes dessert, I’m in.