“What’s your favorite?” I ask.
“Do you really have to ask?” He looks over his shoulder at me.
“Let’s not say that one out loud,” I whisper, looking atthe pilot of the balloon behind us. He doesn’t need to know what we’re both thinking. “Give me your second favorite.”
“I’d have to say zip-lining.”
“Does this mean you’re starting to like heights?”
He shakes his head. “No. But I liked getting to do it with you.”
“It was quite nice to feel you wrapped around me.”
“Kind of like right now.”
His body shakes with laughter. “We really shouldn’t keep going down this train of thought.”
“You’re right. Can I tell you my favorite memory of us then?”
“Do I know this?”
“No. It was after your grandpa broke his leg and you were out of school helping him.”
“You bringing me my homework is your favorite memory?”
I swat his chest. “It was after he moved back home when he was better. We went canoeing that day in the mountains.”
“It was hot as hell and we forgot the cooler in the car.”
I nod. “We had nothing and were dying of heat and finally jumped in the river and ended up losing one of the paddles.”
“I’m glad you didn’t put canoeing on your list,” Dax says. “I’d do it with you, but I wouldn’t be happy.”
“Oar or not, that was one of my favorite days. We didn’t have a care in the world back then.”
“I think my only worry was if you liked me.”
“I happen to like you now,” I say, resting my chin in the center of his chest. “A lot.”
“Ditto.”
I snuggle into his chest as he drops a kiss to my head.
With the two of us up here, it feels like we’re in our own bubble. That the rest of the world won’t touch us.
As soon as we land, all of our problems will still be there.
Dax’s suspension.
Duncan and his vitriol.
No one said love is easy, but I wish it wouldn’t be this hard.
But if this is what it means to be with Dax, I’ll take it. I’ve never felt so loved or so wanted as I do when I’m with Dax.
How can one person make you realize everything you’ve been missing in your life?
Whatever comes next, I’ll do anything to protect what Dax and I have.
