Chace's voice carries from across the clearing, followed by laughter.
Hazel pulls back, breathless, and laughs. "Jesus."
I grin, forehead resting against hers. "Subtle."
"Very." She's still smiling, cheeks flushed, and she doesn't move away. Just stays close, her hand on my chest, my hands still on her thighs.
"Should we go back?" she asks.
"Probably."
But neither of us moves right away.
Eventually, we head back toward the fire, her hand in mine. A few people glance over and grin, but nobody makes a big deal out of it.
We settle back into the group. Hazel leans against my side, and I keep my arm around her waist, not hiding, not careful.
Just us.
The conversation shifts to Shae's vet work. She mentions finishing her certification last week—three years of night classes finally done.
"That's amazing," Hazel says. "You must be relieved."
"You have no idea." Shae grins. "Dr. Morris wants me to take on more responsibility now. Better pay, better hours. And I've been thinking about mobile work eventually. Going ranch to ranch instead of waiting for emergencies."
"You'd be good at that," Hazel says.
"You think?"
"Yeah. You're bossy enough."
Shae laughs and flips her off.
The fire crackles. People talk and laugh.
But the tightness in my chest doesn't ease.
Hazel shifts, looking up at me. "You okay?"
"Yeah."
"You got quiet."
"Just tired."
She studies me for a second, then nods. "Yeah. Me too. Should we head out?"
"Yeah."
We say our goodbyes. Walk back to the truck together. She climbs in, and I follow, starting the engine and pulling out onto the dark road.
She's quiet for the first few minutes. Then she shifts in her seat, hand landing on my thigh again.
"Tonight was nice," she says.
"Yeah."
"I'm glad we went."
