He heaved out a breath and stared up at the sky, which was partially obscured by all the trees and their branches slicing into the blue expanse. “Serena and Blair have always been easy successes. Excelled in school and socially, then went on to become a lawyer and a doctor. We’re close, but fuck, it’s hard not to get lost in the comparison game.”
I wrinkled my nose. “What about hottie firefighter doesn’t say success?”
He flashed me a heated look. “I’m not used to anyone viewing me that way.”
The realization settled in me slowly as we walked along the dirt path, the stone rising on either side of us as we neared the overlook. “That’s why the fundraiser’s so important to you, isn’t it?”
He let out a soul-weary sigh that sounded like it had been trapped inside him. “Dumb, right? Close to thirty and I’m still trying to shout “look at me” to my folks.”
I shook my head. “Not dumb at all. But if it makes any difference, when it comes to you, I can’t look away.” Admitting that truth aloud sent a frisson of vulnerability through me. This was when I threw myself in too deep and scared them away. But the slight bunch of Drake’s shoulders, the fragile air of his admission that surrounded him spurred me on regardless.
“You’re one of a kind, August Jones,” he murmured, a reverence in his voice that made me glow.
Up ahead, rocks clustered around the trail, which ended at the overlook. People stood at the guardrails along the edge, staring out into the distance. Both of us lapsed into quiet as we made our way along the rockier terrain, climbing up larger stone slabs to reach the higher ground. The closer we got, the more glittering glimpses of the Susquehanna River appeared into view.
“Have you been here before?” I asked as we neared, bypassing a few folks lounging comfortably on the rocks, enjoying the waning sunlight and warmth.
“Not for a long while,” Drake said. “Figured it was about time to head out this way again.”
We scaled one of the larger slabs that led to the edge, and Drake stepped up first and offered a boost over the slight jump to the higher spot. Once I settled onto the surface and stared out past the overlook, my breath snagged in my throat. The deep golds and oranges of theevening sun licked over the ripples of water below, and from this high up, I could see miles down the river.
“Damn,” I swore as I watched the beginnings of the sunset coast over the skyline. The pristine clouds grew gilt edges, and magenta and burnished orange streaks tumbled lazily across the horizon. Drake stood still beside me, our hands intertwined, even though they’d become sweaty. His presence was solid, unwavering, and with him by my side, I found myself straightening up, facing what lay before me head on.
As if his bravery bolstered my own.
The sweetened, crisp air traveled my way, and I sucked down a lungful, letting it circulate through me, lifting me higher with every passing second.
I’d witnessed many sunsets in my lifetime, but a profoundness settled inside me with this one. Like this would be emblazoned in my memories for the rest of my days. Drake’s hand rested in mine, and I’d never felt so connected to another person before. We stood side by side, witnessing this majesty together, but the skin-to-skin connection elevated the grandeur even more. As if we weren’t two sentinels but twined together with the promise of something unbreakable.
Something I’d always longed for.
I wasn’t sure if minutes or hours passed as the sky blazed in its natural parade, the sun gliding beneath the horizon in one last glorious burst of light. The colors reflected over the Susquehanna below, amplifying all that beauty, and I soaked in every last detail. Even the other people watching were hushed, speaking in murmurs, if they did at all. The sunset had stolen everyone’s attention with the breathtaking show only nature could deliver.
The air cooled as the light faded, and I leaned closer to Drake, so our arms brushed together, the contact sending electricity through me. Ididn’t want to budge as the sun careened beneath the horizon and left the beginning salvo of night. The shadows deepened, darkening our features, and even that left me with a quiet sense of beauty I hadn’t been able to access before.
Even though my mind had been a tangled mess before, right here and now, it grew silent, and I accepted the gift.
I was also well aware who was the cause.
I took the chance and leaned in closer until I rested against him. He extricated our hands, and a minute later, his arm wrapped around my shoulders as he brought me in, close to him. The scent of cedar and smoke caressed me, his furnace heat intoxicating. I could live in this moment for a lifetime.
If that was any indication, I’d already started to fall for Drake Castillo.
Chapter sixteen
Drake
When I stepped inside my house, I kicked my shoes off and flicked the lights on. My heart thudded hard with anticipation. I wasn’t going to be alone tonight.
After the date at Chickies Rock Overlook, I’d taken August to grab takeout, and we’d scarfed down cheesesteaks while sitting at the picnic tables outside of Jerry’s Deli. The tension between us grew with every passing second, closer to implosion. And when I invited him over, the heat ratcheted up a thousand degrees.
A knock sounded at the door, and I spun around to backtrack.
When I drew the door open, August stood waiting in the frame, and my breath caught. His blond strands were wind-tousled, his lips lush and reddened, and the way his tank top flirted with his nipplesdrew my eyes. Combined with the shorts that showcased his supple ass, and August was a smokeshow.
“C’mere,” I said, grabbing him by the flimsy tank and dragging him forward. Our lips crashed together, and all the tension that had been brewing between us, an intoxicating combination of lust and sweetness, descended.
Every word that passed between us tonight had tightened those threads that ensnared me until I never wanted to let go.
