And this is all me just assuming she’d be even remotely interested.
Fuck.
I need to stop and focus on appreciating the now. The time we still get together. That’s what matters.
I reach out to shake Dan’s hand, feeling immensely grateful for his hospitality and kindness. “That’s a life lesson I’ll take with me. I promise you that. Thanks for making Yellowstone feel like home.”
He pats my shoulder and stands, offering me his grapes in the process. I shake my head, telling him I’ll pass. “Now, you get the girl, bubba. Or should I say, get your wife?”
His chuckle back to his RV is all I hear, my mind racing, and my chest fucking burning with both dread and excitement I can’t contain.
It seems I’ve got a bug. A sickness embedded in every channel of my immune system.
And it’s my fake wife.
“Promise not to open them?”
“Promise.”
I’m grinning like a little schoolgirl with her first crush. Colliebarely put her bags down before I all but tackled her to the ground with my hands over her eyes.
I want this to be special for her. For us.
“Easton, you’re creeping me the fuck out,” she giggles, her actions betraying her words. Collie leans into me as we walk steadily toward my setup. She’s relaxed, excited, and not at all creeped out.
But that’s the beauty of our dynamic.
“Don’t freak out, okay?”
She halts in place. “Well, now I’m really gonna freak out since you told me not to freak out. God, Easton. Have I taught you nothing?” she teases, and fuck, I’m gonna miss her.
The comfort we’ve found in each other.
I’ve never had an ease with anyone the way I do Collie. The ability to be completely myself.
“You’ve taught me more than I bargained for, lost girl. I can tell you that. But just trust me this once, okay?” I bring her to stand directly to the side of our orange camper that’s been our home these past two weeks.
“Is this where you fuck me, Ranger?” Her voice rises an octave.
She’s going to be severely disappointed if rough sex is what she’s expecting. I chuckle. “Not quite.”
“Fulfill that mask fantasy I dreamed about in my twenties?”
“Jesus, woman,” I exhale. “Seriously?”
“It was one time. Clearly not the time to bring it up again. Shit,” she giggles. “Carry on. Surprise me with the goodies.”
I shake my head, my chuckle resounding through the forest. There’s a heaviness about today, despite what I hope to be a light and fun night for us.
Making sure she’s center to everything, I lower my hands and direct her to open. “Take a look.”
Collie attempts to take a step forward, but jolts the moment her eyes take in what’s around her. “East…”
I love when she calls me that. It’s always when something surprises her. She prefers to call me Easton, which makes this moment all the more special.
Her small hand covers her mouth in what appears to be shock. A good shock. Maybe. Hopefully. She spins to face me, tears filled to the brim in those sea glass eyes I’ve fixated on at the rockiest of bottoms.
“You…how…” Her words are jumbled, and I know I’ve done my job in making her feel worthy. “You did all of this? For me?”
