We slid back into the truck. Me in a full food coma, him apparently ready to summit a mountain, and he pointed the truck out toward the overlook without saying anything.
The road curled up and around, frost glittering on the leaves at the shoulder. In front, the world unrolled, hills, trees, a single string of lights from somebody's party deep in the valley.
At the top, he killed the lights and let the engine tick into silence.
He didn't reach for me, didn't crowd me. Instead, he unzipped a blanket from behind the seat. It was soft, plaid, clearly not new, but clean and draped it over my lap.
"You get cold easy," he said.
I settled in, the heat from the truck still more than warm enough.
For a minute, neither of us talked.
Then I jumped first. "I plan to get a real home for the twins. Not just a rental, something with roots. I want them to be able to say ‘this is ours.' withoutworrying, I want them to be safe, and I want them to learn their magic so they don't feel less."
He let me talk, and didn't try to interrupt.
"And I want to make sure the river's safe," I added, voice firm. "I want to know that when I leave this gig, the hellbenders and the other wildlife will have a shot. They deserve better than being destroyed by another strip mall."
He watched me, just watched, for the longest time. I thought maybe he'd come back with a joke, but he didn't.
Instead, he said it straight, "I'll help you build your home. With or without me in it, that's for you to choose. But I'm not going anywhere."
My heart stopped. Sliding off the cliff, just a little, but in the best way.
I pulled the blanket tighter, hiding my hands.
"You mean that?" I whispered.
He grinned. "I don't bluff, Tash. Not with important stuff."
The silence went soft, not scary. His eyes flashed in the truck light, silver, sharp, and hungry, but not in a way that made me worry. In a way that made me want to be brave.
I slid a fraction closer. "So, not to be weird, but isthis where we do the first kiss? Because I'm kind of out of practice."
He laughed, low and sure.
"Tell me how," he said.
So I leaned in, awkward at first, but then he matched me, one hand gentle at my cheek, the other bracing on the seat so he didn't crush me. It started sweet, then spun wild. Taste of salt, hint of the cinnamon rolls from earlier, and underneath it, heat that nearly gasped me out.
He never pushed, never rushed. Just followed my lead, let the kiss ride the nerves until all I wanted was more.
When we broke away he pressed his forehead against mine. "I want the long version of this."
"Me too, but not in the truck." The words tumbled out, honest and stupid and exactly what I wanted to say.
He laughed, loud, not bothering to hide it. It cracked the air, sent a jolt of happiness straight to my spine.
"Fair enough."
He started the truck, then squeezed my hand, just once before putting the gear in reverse.
On the way home, we didn't talk much. There wasn't anything else that needed saying.
We'd almost reached the front door when Huey sounded the alarm. He barked until he saw us then flung all twenty pounds of him forward when Chance opened the door. Dancing on his hind legs, he made his demands for pats.
Chance didn't just greet him. He crouched in the dead center of the door, jacket flaring, and gave Huey exactly the scratches he demanded. Under the chin, behind both ears, the works.
