Page 47 of Once Upon a Star

Had our first kiss been out on the hike? It certainly sounded more romantic and it made for a better story. Before I could protest more, Bash kissed my neck and said, “We’ll just have to go back to the arts and crafts building and make out there, too.”

“You do have the best ideas,” I said.

At his comment of making out, I remembered he was right. Our first kiss had been on the night hike but it had been so quick, it felt like it hadn’t happened. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction so I didn’t tell him. His solution was better.

“But not yet,” he said and kissed me again.

It was much later that we walked back to the cabin. As promised, we made a quick stop to the arts and crafts building where he pushed me up against the wall and we made out like teenagers. It felt exhilarating. It was like we were reliving our youth but it was so much better.

Being older, being more sure of myself helped. But it was also how Bash was with me. He was different, he was more confident, he felt more secure in who he was and what we were. We had been so young when we had gotten together but I had always thought there was the promise of forever. When it hadn’t happened, it crushed me. I had that promise now and I believed him. I knew we were going to be okay, no matter what happened.

A feeling of sadness and melancholy filled me as we got back to the cabin. The last two days had been magical and I didn’t want them to end. Bash must have sensed my sadness because he pulled me to him as soon as we walked into the cabin and held me.

“Remember our last night here as kids? We promised to sneak out and stay awake with each other all night and watch the sunrise,” he said.

I laughed into his chest. “Yes. I remember that Amy was right there when I tried to sneak out the window and prevented me from going anywhere.”

“Zach did the same to me. I guess we weren’t as smart as the counselors.”

“They had been campers, too. They knew all the tricks.”

“I was bummed but I was glad we had snuck away a few nights before. That was one memorable night,” Bash said.

My cheeks grew hot at the memory of sneaking out and meeting him. I remember how worried Ella and Layla had been, but also how determined I was. It was where Bash told me he loved me, and it still had been a wonderful few hours. I didn’t want to dwell on how everything went south between us after that. That was then, this was now.

“That it was. I had hoped to do it again on our last night,” I said.

“Well, there aren’t any counselors now. There’s no one to tell us we can’t stay up all night and watch the sunrise together. Will you do that with me now? The last few days have been great. I don’t want them to end. I want to enjoy every last moment we have here together,” Bash said.

I leaned back and looked at him. His eyes were the same, his smile too, but I could see the love he felt for me looking back, too. I wondered how I ever missed seeing that because it was so evident.

“That would be wonderful,” I said.

“Why don’t you see if we have any more wine left and I will go and get a fire started,” Bash said.

“A fire. How romantic.”

“That is the plan.” He quickly kissed me softly on my lips and then went to make the fire.

I walked into the kitchen and got out two glasses and poured the last of the wine into them. I wasn’t sure if we had any more and I had drunk more than enough the last few days. When I got back to the living room, Bash had the fire going and had turned off all the lights. He had placed a blanket on the floor by the fire and a few pillows. It looked intimate, cozy, and the most romantic setting I had ever seen.

“This looks amazing,” I said as I handed him his glass and sat down next to him.

“You look amazing,” he countered.

I blushed and took a sip of the wine. “This is the last of the bottle we opened for dinner. I fear if we have any more, I’m going to turn into a lush.”

“Coming from someone who has been one, you have a long way to go. You like your wine, you enjoy it, but never to the point of excess. I don’t think you’ve gotten drunk while we’ve been here, have you?”

“Drunk off of you, but not the wine.”

“Aw, and here I thought I was the one with the cheesy lines,” Bash said.

“I have a few up my sleeve. This really has been the most amazing couple of days. I didn't know what was going to happen. I never thought it would be this.”

“And I hoped it would be exactly like this,” Bash said.

“Did you have this all planned out, some deep seduction to get me to sleep with you?” I looked at him over my wine glass as I took a sip.