“Exactly.” I’d never realized eyes could laugh before, but I was pretty sure Noah’s were.
Technically, we were stranded in the middle of nowhere. And I probably should’ve been more worried about that. But the truth?
All my attention was caught on the way Noah was looking at me. On the way it felt to share this unexpected connection in the middle of nowhere with him.
A smile tugged at my mouth.
I was about to say something else, but then Tay reappeared at the front and tapped the mic. “Okay, folks,” she said, the cheer in her voice noticeably wobblier. “So here’s the deal. Joey thinks it’s the transmission. He’s called it in, and help is officially on the way.”
Groans and muttered curses rippled through the bus.
“How long?” someone called.
“At least an hour,” Tay said, and then sighed. “Maybe more. So, in the meantime, we’re gonna take a little break. Feel free to stretch your legs, but don’t go too far, okay?”
“What about Mesa Verde?” Babs asked.
Tay hesitated. “I hate saying this, but…that’s probably off the table. We had a fourteen-hundred-hour slot for the ranger-led tour, and unless our little Love Bus miraculously heals itself within the next few minutes, there’s no way we’ll be able to make that.”
A chorus of disappointed sighs rose around us, followed by the shuffle of daypacks and sunhats as everyone began to gather their things. I’d almost forgotten I was still wearing Noah’s jacket. For a second, I considered keeping it just a little longer, but it was already too warm outside. I slipped it off and handed it back, and he wordlessly tucked it into his backpack.
“But,” Tay added, her tone sharpening with that gritty, determined optimism I was beginning to recognize as a core personality trait, “we’re not letting a little transmission trouble ruin the day. This is a beautiful spot, and the weather’s great, so…relax, explore a little, and let’s make the most of it.”
“Some of us have our leftovers from the mine,” Patty reminded the folks around us.
“This is going to make a wonderful video.” Josie sounded as chipper as ever. “So exciting!”
“I brought my cards!” Ed called out, patting his fanny pack. “Any brave souls want to warm up for Vegas?”
There were some scattered chuckles as passengers trickled into the aisle and off the bus and began claiming picnic tables. One group seemed more than ready to take Ed up on his offer, gathering around his table while he cut a deck of cards, collecting all manner of things from their pockets and bags to use as a makeshift currency for their wagers.
A small group had gathered off to the side—mostly women, though a couple of gray-haired men were with them too. They were pulling out knitting needles, crochet hooks, and colorful skeins of yarn. Babs and Mrs. Grady drifted over. Noah’s mom looked more at ease than usual as she settled in and pulled out her growing stack of granny squares.
I wandered away from the bus and took a deep breath. The air smelled like hot pine, and dust, and summer. Warm, dry, fresh, and natural.
I could feel Noah the moment he stepped up behind me.
He leaned in, his chest brushing my back for the briefest second as he pointed past my shoulder. “I think that’s a trailhead. You up for some exploring?”
The question lingered in the air between us. It was just casual, though.
Really.
I glanced down at my new hiking sandals—navy and sturdy and, according to the woman who sold them to me, “built for almost all terrain.” Then I slipped my new backpack off one shoulder, slinging it around so that I could reach what I wanted.
“Sure,” I said, unzipping the front pocket. “But first…”
I dropped the bag onto the gravel and squirted a small blob into my palm, coating my arms, cheeks, and forehead in quick, practiced motions. Then I handed the bottle over to Noah.
He scrubbed some on his face and arms, and when I thought he was ready to hand it back, he stepped forward.
“Turn around,” he said softly.
For a second, something fluttered in my chest—an old resistance. Don’t tell me what to do—but I tamped it down.
This wasn’t about control.
Noah wasn’t trying to take over. He was just taking care.
