“Look,” she shouted, excitement lighting up her face as she pointed toward the horizon. Her voice was full of energy, and her eyes sparkled.
I hesitated for a second, staying seated. If I got up and stood on the bench too, my weight would definitely tip the entire table over. “What am I looking for?” I asked, leaning forward slightly to try and see what had captured her attention.
“The sunset.” She smiled, eyes still locked on the horizon.
I followed her gaze, and there it was—a brilliant explosion of orange and pink spreading across the sky, the sun melting down into the water’s edge. The light reflected off the surface of the lake, turning it into a shimmering canvas of colors.
The sight was breathtaking. It was the two of us, the sky painted in shades of fire, and the quiet, steady rhythm of the water lapping against the shore.
“I spent years thinking about this.”
“About what?”
“Sitting here. Watching the sunset with someone else who just... gets it.”
Her words hung in the air, and I knew exactly what she meant. There was beauty in the small, simple things that made life feel full. I could see it in the way she looked at the horizon, how the colors reflected in her eyes.
“The big lake is beautiful and all,” she murmured, turning to face me, “but nothing beats this.”
Her thick red lips parted as she took a bite of chocolate and let out the smallest, contented sigh. It was a sound so soft, so genuine, that it stirred something inside me. The way she savored that bite, the way she let herself enjoy this tiny, perfect moment made me want to reach out and pull her into my arms. I imagined holding her close, feeling her warmth against me as we watched the sun dip completely below the horizon, waiting for the moon to rise and cast its glow over the water.
The urge was so strong, but I held back, my hands resting on the table as I watched her. This moment, this quiet connection between us, felt like its own kind of intimacy.
“Thank you for helping me check this off my bucket list.” Her shoulders fell as she put the bar down.
“Anytime, Ms. Honey.”
The corners of her lips pulled into a smile, and that urge inside me stirred so intensely that eventually I cracked.
“Fuck it,” I murmured.
I reached out, sliding my hand around her waist and tugging her down beside me. She perched on the tabletop at my side, her body warm and soft against mine, and I did my best to keep myeyes fixed ahead, resisting the temptation to glance down at her breasts as they pressed lightly against me. I tightened my fingers on her waist, feeling the curve of her hips beneath the fabric.
When she sagged into me, melting into the embrace, I let my chin rest gently on the top of her head. Her hair brushed my skin, soft and carrying a faint scent of something sweet. We both settled, the tension easing as we stared out at the horizon in silence, the colors of the sunset reflecting off the water. The stillness wrapped around us like a blanket.
13
charlie
I wasn’t sure if it was the stunning sunset, the peaceful setting, the taste of chocolate lingering on my tongue, or the fact that I was wrapped up in Austin’s arms, his fingers tracing slow, comforting circles on my skin, but I couldn’t imagine ever going back to Georgia.
“My dad died when I was a teen. It was just me, my mom, and my brother after that. My brother always did everything right and followed the plan,” I murmured, feeling his fingers continue their steady rhythm on my arm. “I made this bucket list and moved out here because, for once, I needed to do something for myself. I’m so tired of living for my family. I love my job, and I’ve made some amazing friends.”
I paused, looking out as the sky shifted, soft purple and pink hues taking over as dusk settled in. “I know it’s only a matter of time before my mom wants me in Georgia on the pecan farm.”
“Pecan?” he asked, his voice low, curious.
“Yeah. My family runs a whole operation—exports to grocery stores and manufacturing plants that use pecans in their products.”
“And you don’t want to be a part of it.” It wasn’t a question. He said it like he understood, and I nodded.
“Not even a little. Working there wouldn’t be about anything important; it would be hosting parties for my mom’s rich friends and eventually marrying one of their sons. It’s like a modern-day arranged marriage.”
He made a deep, rumbling noise, almost like a growl. I couldn’t quite figure out what he meant by it, but it sent a shiver through me. His fingers never stopped their gentle circles, grounding me in the moment and making everything else fade away.
“I love my brother. He’s the only one who ever supported me.”
“He’s close to you in age?”
