She widens her eyes."Since before Mallory was born."She sighs through puffed cheeks."I've sorta forgotten what it's like, to be honest."
I duck my head."Not sure what the right response is, here."
She smirks."And here I was ready for the jokes.'I can help with that,' or something along those lines."
"Occurred to me, I admit."I grin and shrug, shaking my head."Not sure we're there yet, though, so it felt best to keep it to myself."
"I'd have laughed."Her look, then, is less humorous and more intense."Well, part of me would have laughed."
"And the other part?"
“The other part is split into halves.One-half would ask where and when.The other half would be too busy running away and hiding to say anything."
"Running and hiding, huh?"
"Eighteen years, Noah.I freaked out about us kissing.The rest?"She shrugs, shakes her head."I don't know how I'd…what I would…"
"You don't need to think about that right now, Morgan.It's been more than three years for me, which I know isn't the same as eighteen—"
"Good thing it's not a competition," she says.
"Exactly.But it's still a long time.So I do get it—to a degree, at least.So just…don't worry about that.We don't need to think about it."
"But I…" she drops her voice to a whisper."I want to.I want to think about it.I…Ihavethought about it."She meets my eyes, searching me."I'm sorry if I'm too forward, but I'm too fucking old to play mind games, Noah."
"I'm way too fucking old for games, too, Morgan.I like you.I would love to keep spending time with you.No matter what that looks like."
"I like that answer.I like you too."
Maggie drops the bill, and I toss my card down before Morgan can."I'm old-fashioned, and thisisa date, right?"She nods."Then I'm paying."
She sits back with her mug, smiling softly."I'll allow it.But I may try to get you back at some point."
I hover my hand at my side in a caricature of a quick-draw western hero."We'll just see who's faster on the draw, won't we now, little lady?"It's a truly terrible John Wayne impression, but it gets me another snorting laugh.
"Oh god, please don't tell anyone I snort when I laugh," she says, covering her face with a hand.
"It's cute.For sure gonna be trying to make you snort-laugh.”
We finish our coffee and exit Lorna's.For a while, we just stroll downtown Tomlin Falls together, side by side, close but not touching, the talk surface-level once more.
We finish a circuit up one side of Main Street and down the other, ending up back at my truck, pausing at the tailgate.I glance at my watch—8:15."You have anywhere to be?"
She shakes her head."I don't.I had three lessons scheduled for this morning, but they had to reschedule.They're sisters and there's some sort of family issue.Whatever.Point is, I'm free all day."
I gesture at her sturdy, sensible boots."Up for a hike?Since you're wearing the right footwear and all."
She grins."Sure.Sounds like fun.Been a minute since I've gotten out into nature."
"Let me grab some water from the general store.Be right back."
A few minutes later, we're in my truck, country music playing low from the FM station it's been tuned to since forever, heading north out of town for my favorite hiking trail.
Below the friendly, easy conversation, however, is a sizzling strain of sexual tension.I feel it and I know she feels it.It's evident in the way she looks at me when I'm not looking at her—hello, peripheral vision.It's in the way her eyes go to my forearms, my sleeves, my thighs…my zipper.
I'm no less obvious, though.My eyes flick to her chest more frequently than I'd like, especially when she, with a sideways glance at me, adjusts her seatbelt to rest between her breasts, which only serves to accentuate them…and draw my eye.
The image of her naked breasts flashes through my mind for the billionth time since the whole situation happened, and I shake my head to clear it.
