The hike out to the swimming hole was warm, despite being this late, but not unbearably so like it’d been the first time here. Derek’s brilliant brain had remembered to bring us flashlights so we could follow the trail back to the deep pool.
Once there, we laid out the blanket along one of the walkways toward the water. There were a few straggler fireflies that flitted over the dark pool with intermittent bursts of dim light. Coupled with the moonlight shining down, it made for an absolutely gorgeous sight. It wasn’t quite the time for the meteors to begin, so we chatted as we ate the sandwiches, bathed in the light of the flashlight
“What do you mean you’ve never two stepped before?” I balked, staring at Derek dumbfounded.
He shook his head and shrugged a little.
“I didn’t realize it was a requirement for Texas citizenship.” He deadpanned.
Wiping my hands off and standing, I reached down to him.
“You’re damn right it’s required. Come on, I’ll teach you.” We had music playing just loud enough to drown out the incessant bullfrog mating calls.
Derek chuckled, but took my hand. I pulled him up into a standing position, wrapping my arm around his waist.
“It’s really not all that hard. It’s called two-stepping for a reason. The formal way is two fast steps followed by two slow steps that’s kind of like walking, but I personally haven’t ever seen that in dance halls.” I positioned us so that my right foot was between his feet.
“As a follower, you’re going to step with your right foot first. As a leader, you’ll step left foot first. We’re going to take two fast but small steps diagonally, then one small, slow step in the opposite direction. It’s more of a shuffle than actual walking.”Derek let me guide him through the steps slowly, our heads nestled together as we watched our feet.
“That’s it, baby.” I encouraged softly, leading him in a small circle around the blanket. Derek had his eyes trained downward, probably uncertain that he’d be able to follow my lead otherwise. He was ridiculously cute with his features scrunched in concentration and his lips pulled between his teeth.
Right when I thought he was getting the hang of it, he stepped on my foot, causing us to stumble a bit.
“Oh shit, I am so sorry.” He looked up with anguish written all over his features and I couldn’t help bursting out laughing.
“Derek, you stepped on my foot, not kicked a puppy! It’s okay!” I snickered, pulling his face close to kiss his cheek. “You’re fine.”
I pulled him back into a few more steps before attempting to get him to spin. He awkwardly rotated in a circle under my hand before sending me a sheepish smile.
After a few more steps and another disjointed spin, he pulled me in and wrapped his arms around my neck. “Well, I’ve officially two-stepped. How about we call it and lay down to watch the stars?”
I grinned, knowing that he was embarrassed by his lack of coordination, but I wasn’t about to turn down a cuddle session.
We turned off the flashlights, allowing our eyes to adjust to the darkness of the forest around us. Laying on our backs, we pressed close together, arms just barely grazing against each other. Overhead, a dusty haze of pale purple and grey spread across the sky, becoming clearer the longer we laid there. Stars twinkled in and out of focus as far as the eye could see.
“Wow.” Derek breathed. “I can’t believe you can see the Milky Way out here.”
I nodded, then, when I remembered he probably couldn’t see me in his periphery, added “Yeah. Insane, right?”
I felt Derek nod more than saw it.
It didn’t take long after that for short bursts of light to streak across the sky. Derek’s hand shot to mine, gripping tightly as he let out a small gasp that made this moment feel reverent and holy. Past me was such a fucking genius, I needed to thank him.
“Did you see it?” He asked, the awe and excitement in his voice making me wish I could see his face clearly. My eyes had adjusted just enough that I could see the general outline of his features, but I wanted to imprint every detail of this moment into my memory forever.
“Yeah, I did.” I whispered, studying his profile. I could tell he was grinning ear to ear and everything in me screamed to kiss him. But with the joy that radiated from him, there was no way I’d do anything to make him miss a second of the meteor shower.
“Thank you for taking me out here.” Derek turned his face toward me, and even in the darkness, I could make out the softness in his features.
“Of course.” My throat constricted. Something about this moment felt… different. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was, but I knew that the weight between us was like nothing I’d ever felt before.
Derek turned his head back to watch the sky again, the grin still evident from his profile.
Fuck, I was so happy to be alive. To be here, sitting in Derek’s presence, knowing that I’d helped put that smile on his face, watching the stars fly across the sky.
Turning my gaze back toward the cosmos above, I silently wished that the summer would never come to an end.
CHAPTER 17
