His breath brushes through my hair as he leans in closer, holding me there for just a second longer than necessary, like he doesn’t want to let the moment slip.
“Lander Spring Fair is today,” he murmurs, his voice softer now, closer, settling against my skin. “Wanna be my date?”
“I’d love to.” I pull him into a quick hug, warmth still lingering between us, and I’m just about to kiss him again when I hear scratching at the door and remember, laughing as I pull back, “I think Marvel wants breakfast.”
???
The fair lights glow before we even step out of the truck, strings of gold and white stretching across the open field, flickering against the deep blue of the evening sky. Music drifts through the air, something country and upbeat, mixed with laughter, voices, the distant hum of generators.
The smell hits next.
Fried dough. Caramel. Smoke from grills.
Life.
Dex kills the engine, but neither of us moves right away.
My fingers are still tangled with his.
Tangled in a way that feels deliberate, like neither of us has quite figured out how to let go yet.
I feel his thumb brush over my knuckles once, slow, absentminded, and my stomach flips like it did the first time he touched me.
“You good?” he asks, his voice lower than usual.
I nod, even though my chest feels tight for a different reason now.
Too much feeling.
Too many people.
Too much him.
And underneath it all… something else I can’t quite name.
“Yeah,” I say softly.
He watches me for a second longer than necessary, like he’s reading something deeper, then his jaw tightens slightly before he pushes the door open and steps out.
The second he comes around to my side, the noise hits louder.
Voices calling. Boots on gravel. Laughter.
“Uncle Dex!”
Mia runs over to us, Summer a few paces behind her.
Dex scoops her up instantly, spinning her around until she squeals, and I melt at the sight of him with her.
Lexy. This is way too fast for that thought.
I scold myself, but I still see it. Dex as a father. And he’d be a good one.
“I swear she runs on solar energy,” Summer laughs as she reaches us, Ethan right behind her.
We all laugh, and Summer and Ethan pull me into quick hugs like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Dex takes my hand again without even thinking about it, and we all walk toward the chocolate fountain stand.
