“Free food?”
He swallows his mouthful and barks out a laugh. “I always pay my way.”
I smirk. “I know. But sayin’ it was totally worth the look on your face.”
“I go there for good food and good company.”
“You’ve got that on the ranch.”
“You’re right, I do,” he replies, putting the remaining half of his sandwich down on the blanket. He digs into the brown paper bag from the diner and pulls out the two bottles of soda I’d put in there, handing one over to me. “But sometimes bein’ surrounded by loved-up couples gets a bit much, you know?”
I nod. “Oh yeah. I live with Char and Austin, remember? I love seein’ my girl happy, don’t get me wrong. But it’s also a reminder.”
“That’s exactly it,” Red replies. “Knowin’ they’ve got it and I don’t have it anymore. It’s just…”
“You need a break now and then.” I can totally understand where he’s coming from.
“Exactly. The bonus of havin’ a best friend who’s good company and owns a diner is that Icanescapeandcatch up with her, all at the same time.”
Ah, now the truth comes out. “So, itisthe food,” I tease.
Red meets my eyes and stares at me. “It’s you too, darlin’. You know that.”
Nodding, I smile. "Yeah, I do. The feelin’s mutual. I figure it's a stage-of-life thing too. Like I love seeing my family and friends happy and the mountain has brought a lot of love into all of our lives. But that’s not us anymore.”
He chuckles. “That damn matchmakin’ spirit. I swear I’ve never been to more weddin’s in my whole life.”
“Truth!” I hold up my Coke to touch the bottle to his.
Comfortable silence fills the air between us as we finish our lunch, the only sound being the light breeze rustling the treesaround us. It’s surreal and peaceful, and it makes me realize how lucky I am to have the life I do and the people I love and care about in it.
Red lets out a content sigh and leans back on his hands, gazing out at the vast view of the mountains and land in front of us. “Do you ever wish you could just freeze time? Even just for a little while?” he asks, surprising me.
“If it meant we could stay up here and escape real life for a spell, definitely.”
His gaze turns curious. “Real life? What’s that?”
I chuckle and straighten. “Two days ago, I was knee-deep in invoices and orders and had a layer of grease coverin’ me.” And avoiding letters delivered by interfering ducks. “Now, I’m here with you sittin’ on a knoll watchin’ over God’s country. Thiscan’tbe real life.”
Red reaches over and jabs a finger into my arm. “Ow! What wasthatfor?”
“Did that feel real?”
I scowl and rub the spot where he poked me. “Of course it did. What did you do that for?”
“This is real, darlin’. Maybe as real as it gets.”
Tilting my head, I stare at him as he stares back at me. The longer we sit there with our eyes locked, the more I notice my body is tingly, my skin feeling tighter and tighter. Even my heart joins the party as it beats wildly against my ribs.What’s going on?
“Maybe life is always real. it’s what we make of it anddowith it that’s important.”
“You’re right, Redmond. That’s some pretty sage advice there,” I reply, trying to get my body back under control.
Red laughs and my head snaps his way. “What?”
“You said I’m right. Can’t remember the last time you admitted that. I think I might need to memorize this moment for future recall.”
“Ernest Bartholomew Grayson. Take that back!” he growls, making me snicker.
