The marshmallows started to bubble on the outside as they heated. I always liked mine a little burnt and crispy.
“I think most of us only have good things to say,” I said. “And of course, sometimes we end up keeping people. Plenty of room to have people live here full-time . . .”
What on earth am I doing?I was basically telling Sky they could stay.
And they could, of course. But normally, that wasn’t something I ever brought up.
But maybe . . .
MaybeI liked the idea of them staying.
“That’s good to know,” they said.
I swallowed hard as Sky pulled their marshmallow back. They stood up, and we carried our now charred fluff to where Boone waited. Wylie chuckled at his boyfriend as he clasped my marshmallow between two graham crackers, and a wedge of chocolate. It started to melt, smashing together in a delicious little sandwich.
“Look at that,” Boone said. “Perfection.”
I pulled it off the skewer, watching as Sky did the same thing.
More than anything else, I wanted to see their face as they took the first bite.
I waited, smiling as they bit into it.
And of course, their expression was the biggest reward. Maybe even better than the marshmallow concoction itself. I bit into mine, letting out a hum of satisfaction.
“Oh my god,” Sky groaned. “These are amazing. What's your secret, Boone?”
Boone grinned from ear to ear. “Oh, you know. Fresh graham crackers are always easy to make. I make the best ones. Mama's recipe, of course. And then the chocolate is a secret.”
“I know what they are,” Wylie said. “He tells me all of his secrets. They’re?—”
Boone clasped his hand over Wylie’s mouth. “Not so fast there, cowboy,” he said. “Can't just go handing out my secret secrets like that.”
Wylie smirked, and we all knew that he wasn't actually going to tell us the secret. But it was still funny, and I shook my head at the two of them, amused by their cuteness.
Sky and I retreated back to the camp chairs and sat down next to each other. I looked over at them, unable to keep myself from drinking in the way they glowed in the firelight. A bit of chocolate sat on the corner of their mouth and I leaned over.
“You’ve got a little . . .”
They looked at me, blushing as I swiped the chocolate away with my thumb.
“Thanks,” they whispered.
I licked it away, my heart pounding. I felt eyes on the two of us and glanced up.
Beau was watching us, his expression unreadable.
Sky cleared their throat, Beau looked away, and I felt like I was going to faint from the tension in the air. I wasn’t sure anyone else felt it like we did, though.What is happening here?
I decided to try to be normal. “How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Oh, good,” they said. “A little sore. Certainly doing what we did today is different than me being hunched over in a car. Or having the posture of a shrimp over my laptop.”
I snorted. “Definitely a lot different.”
“I was just thinking, though . . . I kind of want to take pictures of the farm. Pictures of people in action, in your daily lives. It's different than storm chasing, that's for sure. But I have the camera here, and they could always be used for the website.”
“That's not a bad idea,” I said. “I’m sure it would be appreciated. You just have to make sure you get my good side.”
