I frown. “You don’t like wine?”
He clears his throat. “Oh, I do. I just, um, tend to take my clothes off after a glass or two.”
I laugh. “Is that so?”
“I’m a big softy. It’s embarrassing.”
“Tonight then?” I say without hesitation.
“Definitely. But if you’re not up for anything more, that’s okay too. You can just enjoy the show.”
“Oh, I will. But I’d definitely like to try too.”
Desire blooms in his deep blue eyes as the humor fades. “Yeah?”
I lean in, kissing his shoulder. “I can’t promise a repeat of last night, but… yeah, Miles. I still most definitely want you.”
He grins slowly, then quickly clears his throat before reaching for his phone. “Do you mind if I take some pictures?”
Miles takes a couple of me, then he shifts closer so he can take some of us together. We turn around to include the ocean just as a couple walks by. The woman notices and offers to help. “Would you like me to take one of you two?”
“You don’t mind?”
“Of course not.”
Miles blushes but hands the woman his phone. I curl my arm around his back and lean in for the photo. A steady, strong feeling blooms in the pit of my chest. I’m in over my head with this man. Crazy about him, and it kind of scares me.
She hands it back with a big smile. “You’re a lovely couple. Enjoy your evening.”
I bump his shoulder. “We are a lovely couple, aren’t we?” I tease quietly.
Miles kisses me.
Eventually, the sun starts to dip lower, bleeding gold across the ocean. I stretch out on the blanket, one arm behind my head. Miles lies beside me, close but not quite touching.
The quiet settles between us like a second blanket.
“Miles?”
Miles turns his head, watching me.
“You said you’ve struggled with depression before.”
“A few times, yeah.”
“Would you tell me about it?”
Miles clears his throat. “The first time was after my Grandpa died. I was really close to him. He was actually the first person I came out to, and his acceptance gave me the courage to tell my parents. Which they already knew, of course. But still.”
“How old were you?”
“I came out when I was fourteen.”
“I meant when he died.”
“Oh. He died on my seventeenth birthday.”
“Damn.”
