“Wrapping her in your arms doesn’t help get that point across either…” There’s an edge to Kayla’s voice, one that has me nervous about glancing over at her.
“I… Yeah. I know. And I shouldn’t have hugged her.” I stand, turning to face her.
“Then why did you?”
“I guess I was just trying to be nice. She doesn’t get along with a lot of people, as you saw.” I finally get the courage to slide my eyes up to her face. She’s looking at me with that same guarded expression I worked so hard to break through at camp.
“And you’ve never…been with her? Wanted to be with her?” The look in her eyes is killing me, thinking that I could possibly want anyone but her in this moment, let alone Maggie.
“Nope. Never. She’s the furthest from anyone I could see myself with.” I place one hand on each of her shoulders, turning her toward me. “Kayla, I?—”
“Train leaves in ten!” The bartender calls from a loudspeaker, cutting off my words and any other chances I had at resolving this conversation.
“We should probably go find the other two.” Kayla pulls away, kicking at the ground. I nod, and while we walk back toward the train together in silence, the gulf between us feels wider than it did when we first met. We find Hunter and Ashlie waiting at a firepit, talking animatedly about something I can’t hear because I’m stuck replaying my fizzled moment in the gazebo.
The last train car is mostly empty, except for a cozy couple in the corner. Ashlie and Hunter are still debating over fruit filled donuts vs. custard filled when we sit. Their volume, assisted by the drinks at the bar, gets louder and louder as they volley back and forth. Kayla has her hand covering her mouth, and she shakes her head as she watches their passion-filled pastry argument.
“I’m going to get some air.” I point to the train car balcony. “Do you wanna?—”
“Please!” She widens her eyes, looking at the two across from us.
As I stand to leave, she reaches for my hand and we make our way outside. The crisp night air whips around us as the train breezes past trees, the leaves leaving whispers in their wake. The moonlight glows through the branches overhead, raining silvery beams on Kayla’s face.
“You were amazing up there, singing…” I say again, remembering the chills I got from listening to her honey-sweet voice. This feels like a safer conversation to have than the one we left in the gazebo, and I just want to focus on her right now.
“Thanks,” she whispers, flashing a grin before biting her lip.
She leans against the end of the balcony, closing her eyes andtipping her head back, smiling the same way she did in the sunshine at camp. At this moment, I realize it doesn’t matter if it’s in the sunlight or moonlight. That smile will always steal my breath away.
“I never thanked you for staying with me after the accident. Carrying me inside. Keeping me awake in the car. Making sure I was okay… Thank you, Chase.” She looks right at me, eyes betraying the calm in her voice. A vulnerability I’ve never seen or heard from her sets me in motion. I move closer, unable to stop my feet, even if I wanted to. Slowly, I reach one hand to the scar on her brow, the other landing on her hip.
“How’s your head?” I whisper, my voice turning husky as the scent of spicy apple-vanilla overtakes my senses. My thumb traces down to her cheekbone, across the ridge of her upper lip, and lower, until I find myself lifting her chin. Her hands pull me in at the waist, and we dip close enough that I feel her breath swirl with mine.
“Yo, Chase!” Hunter yells, busting through the train door. If there were ever a worse moment for my best friend to come around, this was it.
“I’m gonna kill him…” I whisper, tipping my forehead to hers. She giggles, breathing out the lingering passion between us, and takes a step back. My hand clings to her waist, refusing to let go.
“Ooh, my bad!” he says, realizing what he just interrupted.
“Way to go, Hunter. You ruined the moment.” Ashlie pulls on his arm. “I told you to give them a minute!”
Another giggle slips out of Kayla.
“I said I was sorry! Besides, who makes out on the balcony of a train?”
“Not us, apparently,” I say, shooing him with my hand. “Do you mind?”
The train door opens again and out walks Maggie. She sees my arms wrapped around Kayla and her eyes narrow, mouth set in a scowl. Kayla’s giggles have turned into outright laughter at the scene unfolding. The more people who spill through the door, theharder she laughs, and I can’t even blame her. The comedic timing of everything happening right now isn’t lost on me, but it would be funnier if I wasn’t the one being stunted.
As Casey and Lacey—or whatever their names are—squeeze through the door, Kayla taps her palm over my heart. “Maybe next time, Chase,” she says with a sigh, still half laughing while pulling away. She steps around the five interruptions and back into the rail car.
I hang my head in defeat and inhale the night air, wondering what the hell just happened. This entire night should have been different—easy. Not full of disruptions and ballerinas. Blowing out my exasperation, I march across the balcony of the train and move through the gaggle of chaos still staring at me. With each determined step I take, I know what I need to do. If I don’t do anything else tonight, I’m getting Kayla’s number.
Marching inside, I head straight to the row of seats where Kayla’s staring out of the window. I clear my throat to get her attention, and her eyes meet mine, a small smile on her face. She bites the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing, and I lose it, tipping my head back with a shoulder-shaking chortle at everything that just happened. Her shoulders shake in time with mine as she giggles, and I cover my laugh with my hand and give her my phone. The addition of the phone only adds fuel to the fire as her snickering turns into a boisterous cackle, making her double over. I sit down across from her, taking a couple of breaths to try and quell my laughter.
When we’ve calmed enough to look at each other, I lean forward, putting my hands on her knees. “Hey, so…there’s something wrong with my phone…” I nod toward her hands. She raises an eyebrow as she looks at me, waiting for me to continue. “Your number’s not in it…” I finish my tried-and-true number two pickup line.
She nods, biting the smile sliding across her lips. “See. I told you that one would work,” she says, before typing her number into my phone.Finally.
