“Where do you think you’ll go?” I ask him, instead of responding to what he said.
“I guess I thought I’d be going back to Australia, but I’m a dual citizen, so I could technically go anywhere I want.”
I look at him. “And where do you want to be?”
He runs a hand over the back of his neck. “I just want a place not tied to my parents. Unfortunately, the lake house I’m in right now is theirs, and staying there would feel like another avenue for them to control me. Just something for them to hold over my head whenever they want.”
“That’s too bad.” I nudge his shoulder with mine. “Because it’s a beautiful place. Too bad you can’t buy it from them or something.”
He arches a brow. “Ah…so youdowant me to stay in Meadow Hills.”
I hide a smile. “Either way.”
Bash hesitates before gently brushing a piece of my hair away from my eyes. My heart gallops in response. “You know, it’s okay to want things, even when they’re scary.”
“I know that.”
“Do you?” He smiles faintly. “What do you want that scares you, Romilly?”
You,I want to say.I want you so bad it hurts.But instead, I say, “You first.”
He finally drops the hand lingering at my face. “I want someone who feels like home. I’ve never had that.”
My throat burns at his words because of the way he’s looking at me. Because he saidsomeone who feels like home, and notsomething.
Is he talking about me? I don’t dare let myself think it, not with everything so up in the air between us. Still, I unintentionally lean closer to him. My head feels dizzy from his proximity.
My next words escape in a whisper. “Bash…I really don’t count on people easily anymore. But if it means anything to you, you’re someone I’m starting to trust.”
“It does mean something to me. It means a lot.”
I glance up at him, and for a split second, I consider closing the distance between us. Abandoning all my fears and simply exploring his mouth with mine, exploring the emotions bubbling up inside me.
Exploring what it would be like to let myself fall, really fall, for once.
But I nod and pull away.
Because if today has taught me anything, it’s that falling almost always hurts.
Chapter Nineteen
BASH
After chapel time and dinner,everyone gathers around the bonfire to make s’mores for dessert. As Romilly plops down next to Logan, across the fire from me, her words from earlier echo in my head.
She’s starting to trust me.
I’m a little convinced I imagined the whole thing. Hearing her say that felt better than winning my debut match.
Logan claps his hands together to get our attention. “It’s time for bonfire wins. In case you’re new here, I’ll explain what that is so you know it’s not as scary as it sounds.” A few chuckles come from the teens around the fire. “Bonfire wins are just a time where we can share a prayer God has answered recently, or a way He has been working in your life, lately.”
At first, no one says anything, but Angelina pipes up. “My mom was sick recently with Pneumonia and my whole family has been praying for her. She’s finally doing a lot better.”
Applause rings around the fire.
A boy in my group named Greg smiles. “I got my driver’s license last month. And believe me…I prayed for it. A lot.”
We don’t stop until all the kids have gone. A few of them bring up prayers that haven’t been answered yet, and we all bow our heads to pray for their requests. I can’t deny the sense of community and kinship present around the bonfire. I’ve always thought of church as a building full of judgment. But Harvest Valley has proven me wrong in the past, and it’s doing it again right now. This is warm and comforting, and it’s not even taking place inside a building.
