“Come on.” I don’t wait for her reply, and I’m already stepping into the boat, with my hand held out, waiting to help her into the boat.
“You’re crazy.” Nothing about her tone informs me that it’s a bad thing. She likes me a little spontaneous.
When she’s sitting across from me, I hand her the lantern to hold because I’m busy grabbing the oars so I’m able to row us to the middle of the lake. It’s a clear sky with a bright moon.
“You didn’t have too many scotches, right? This isn’t like drunk rowing or anything, is it?”
I rumble amusement and continue to row with even strokes. “Not at all. Even if I had, I think you made me sober as soon as I noticed you next to the tower of icing.”
“I do have magical abilities,” she responds proudly.
We both admire the scene, even when we reach a point where I stop far away from the Dizzy Duck Inn, but the twinkly lights are still in the backdrop. Locking the oars, I move to sit next to Harlow and take a moment to find a position that will be comfortable enough for both of us to lie down and keep the lantern secure on the bottom of the boat.
The moment we settle into our spot, we cling to one another, and that amazing feeling of her head on my arm while I kiss the top of her head hits me like a drug.
Staring up at the night sky, we both seem to relax and breathe out.
“I wasn’t expecting this. Kudos for your romance A-game.” Her nose nestles into my neck.
“I’m kind of weddinged out. We just need to watch for mosquitos, but the lightning bugs are an extra nice touch to ourwarmIllinois summer.”
Harlow playfully pats my chest. “Point proven. We don’t have as many lightning bugs down in Florida. They seem magical. People also call them fireflies.” She admires the sky without giving me a glance.
I pull her tighter, if that was humanly possible. “We blew bubbles. To celebrate the bride and groom walking down the aisle. They popped in the air, just like your last chapter closes and vanishes into history.”
“They have a new chapter.”
“That and the Dizzy Duck prohibits throwing bird seed or rice,” I quip.
She chuckles against my chest. “I’m actually not a huge wedding person other than writing them in fiction. I would like to believe that a wedding equates to a clear and lasting future, but doubt seems to stick a pin into that. I was at a wedding a while back for an old high school friend, and it was blatantly clear they would be divorcing in a few years. Does that make me a horrible person?”
“Nah, I just hope your sixth sense isn’t about to put a damper on my brother’s wedding.”
“If anyone could last, it’s them. They burn toast together and still laugh about it.”
My eyes squint at her logic and look down at her, content in my arms. “Burnt toast is the key to a lasting marriage?”
Harlow shrugs. “Why not?”
“We should probably stop the talk on marriage… it’s a little much for tonight.”
She walks her fingers down my chest before swirling around my belly button. “There isn’t some weird fish that is about to jump up and kill us, is there?”
“Harlow, chillax. It’s just us and the sky. The stars are out, and my favorite star is in my arms.”
She slings a leg across my body and props herself up, with her hands against my chest. “Ooh, that was a smooth line.”
My hand forms a fist, and I bring it to my body in celebration. “Yes.”
“I think I can top you, though.” The lantern highlights her face.
“Go on then.”
“You can love someone like Pluto. The farthest planet.”
“It’s technically a dwarf planet,” I deadpan.
She fakes a pout that she’s unimpressed with my attempt to ruin her moment. “Shh. Let me continue. Pluto is the farthest planet, which means there is nothing beyond.”
