“Pretty words.”
“Well, in this case, they’re actually true.”
“So you say.”
“So I say.” I smile, unwrapping my own sandwich as she tears off another bite of hers.
She doesn’t say anything else and neither do I, falling into a comfortable silence as we eat. By the time we finish, it’s completely dark, the stars starting to peek through the clouds. I pull two more beers out of the cooler, offering one to her before opening the other for myself.
I can’t tear my eyes off her as she lifts the bottle to her lips, her throat bobbing as she swallows.
“It really is beautiful up here,” she says, lowering the bottle to rest on her leg.
“It really is.” When she finally looks at me, I’m looking at her. Hell, who am I kidding? I haven’t stopped looking at her since we got up here. She’s far more beautiful than the view, hands down. And when her brilliant blue eyes meet mine, it only intensifies this thought.
“The stars are coming out.” She looks up at the sky.
“Which reminds me.” I reach around the cooler, grabbing the pillows and blankets I brought up. “Here.” I offer her a pillow. “It’s much better if you lie down.”
Moving the lantern to the side, I wait until she has her pillow situated before lowering the flame to where it only emits the smallest amount of light and then move it to the side. Dropping my pillow next to hers, I shift, dropping down beside her moments later.
“Sometimes, when I’m feeling upset or conflicted about something, I come up here and lie just like this, staring up at the stars. It reminds me of how vast the universe is and how I’m but a small part of it.”
“Doesn’t that thought frighten you?” she asks, her head lulling in my direction.
“No. In a weird way, it gives me comfort. Puts things into perspective.”
“I guess. Though when I think about the world thatway, it frightens me, knowing I’m living on a tiny speck like in that Dr. Seuss book.”
“Horton Hears a Who.” I smile. “That was one of my favorites when I was a kid.”
“Mine too.” She smiles, and the sight damn near steals the breath from my lungs.
Fuck me, she is gorgeous.
I mean, obviously I’ve always known it, but looking at her like this, under the light of the stars, so close to me that all it would take is shifting a few inches and my lips could be pressed to hers, it’s enough to have every one of my senses firing on all cylinders.
“My mom used to read to me every night.” I turn my attention back to the sky, knowing if I don’t, I’m most certainly going to kiss her, and I promised myself I would let her make the first move. “Most nights I would pick that particular book. She knew it so well by the time I was in preschool that she could recite it from memory.”
“My brother, Jackson, used to read it to me. After Lily, my mom...”
I turn back toward her, watching emotions she tries to hide slide across her face.
“What happened to her?”
“I don’t....” She shakes her head, prepared to tell me she doesn’t want to talk about it, and yet, to my surprise, that’s not what she does. “She was two when she died. I don’t remember the specifics, only that my mom needed to step away and she told me to stay with my sister. I was only five at the time and was not known for my listening skills. I was also easily distracted. I don’t know why I left the room. Honestly, I completely forgot about the fact that I was supposed to be watching Lily until I heard my mom scream.” She loses herself to the memory. “She drowned.”
“I’m so sorry.”
She closes her eyes for a brief moment and when she opens them again, her entire expression shifts.
“I have no idea why I just told you that.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“No, I mean, I never tell anyone about Lily.” She shakes her head like she’s trying to shake off her confusion.
“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m honored that you felt like you could tell me.” I take her hand, entangling our fingers together, once again thanking the heavens when she doesn’t pull away. “I can’t imagine how that must feel, having lost a sibling.”
