“Hey,” she said, looking up at me as I took my place across from her.
“Hey. Had a good time? I mean, not the manual labor part.”
She laughed loudly, her head thrown back in joy. “Oh shoot, sorry,” she said, covering her mouth as if she’d done something wrong.
My brows bunched up as I watched her. “You didn’t do anything wrong. If you’re worried about MJ, she won’t hear us out here.” The fire crackled again, the scene drawing out a thought I shouldn’t have voiced. “I like your laugh.”
Her long eyelashes rose as her eyes met mine, my pulse beginning to race again.
“Usually I’m quiet, but I’ve always felt like my laugh was too loud.”
I grimaced, my anger rising at anyone who’d ever told her such a lie. The soft hum of the music we had turned down hours before played in the background.
“Not sure why you’d think or believe that. It’s a great laugh,” I answered, hoping to encourage her. “I mean, now, if you were a snorter, that’d be a whole ‘nother conversation.”
She burst out laughing again so hard, she snorted, the sound surprising her as much as it did me and soon, we were both laughing in fits like old friends with an inside joke.
“That was the loudest snort I’ve ever heard in my life, woman,” I teased. We were both wiping tears from our eyes, and I marveled at how much fun we had together.
“I don’t think I’ve ever done that,” she said, holding her hands over her cheeks as if they would cover her blush.
“Not possible. That sound was from a world-class snorter. No way you’ve never done that before.”
She threw the cushion she had in her lap at me, then suddenly shifted in her seat, putting her hands in its place. I cataloged the familiar movement and wondered why she did that so often, but, once again, dared not ask.
“You’re the worst.” We were quiet, enjoying the cooling breeze. “Hey, can I ask you something?”
“Sure. Hit me.”
“What exactly do you do?”
Her question made me laugh. I got that a lot and thought for a moment how to explain it.
“My company builds tech that helps people take charge of their health,” I explained. “The app uses real-time data to track things like sleep, stress, and nutrition, then gives personalized recommendations to help users feel their best. To me that’s the best part of the app, but it was designed to help them make their doctor appointments and have the ability to message them as well.”
“Wow, that’s amazing. I’d love something like that for my mother and her friends.”
“Maybe I’ll branch out to Italy next,” I teased.
She was smiling, but something had gotten her attention. As I followed her gaze, I saw a few fireflies hovering over some fragrant flowering bushes nearby.
“Wow. I don’t see those very often where I live near the city. Aren’t they magical?” Her question was filled with childlike awe.
“They are. MJ would go bonkers if she were awake. I’ve never seen them out here before.”
“Then it was a God’s gift just for me,” she answered wistfully, and I believed her words.
We both watched them flit around as if in a dance for what seemed like hours, our attention stolen from the glow of the last embers of the fire.
“You should capture one and bring it to your apartment for tonight, then let it go.”
She shook her head and said, “No, I’d rather watch them here in their natural habitat. Then it’s more like a gift, don’t you think?”
Once again, her words and her reaction to the world around her astounded me. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Some things in our lives are just that. A gift.”
Suddenly straightening in her seat, she arched her back and stretched. “I’d better head back. Getting late.”
“I really hate that I can’t drive you back home. You keep ending up over here late and having to make that long drive,” I said tensely.
