Right in this moment, with him, I’m more at peace, and more at home than I’ve ever been.
“Omigod, look!” I point to the glittery path of a blazing trail above us. “I’ve never seen a shooting star before.”
“Make a wish.” His voice is relaxed with a gruffness of satisfaction. I close my eyes, thinking of the best wish. All I can think of is him. I wish we could be together forever. “Well?” He quizzes. “What’s your wish.”
I’m nervous. Telling him how I feel could make things really uncomfortable if he doesn’t feel the same way. “I wish I could take Star home with me,” I say quickly.
He doesn’t reply, but I feel him reposition a little, like he’s rebalancing his weight, or thinking. We just lie side by side, staring into the dark universe lit up by millions of tiny wishes. Every single one of them begs me to wish he’ll ask me to stay.
It feels like the day we met was months ago, even though it’s barely been a week. I sigh, resigned to the fact that I don’t want to let him go. I don’t want to go home if it means I’ll leave these moments behind, forever. Rolling closer, I nudge into him. “Hayden…”
Shadowed eyes find me. “Are you cold?” He reaches for my dress.
Our fingers brush together when I take it back. Sitting upright, I slip the material over my head. “This was the best night I’ve had since I’ve been here.” Scraping my hair back, I prepare an elastic to fix it in place.
“Keep it down.” He’s buttoning up his shirt with a vacant expression. I drag the blanket over my shoulders like a shawl. “Summer…” He angles around to face me, placing both hands on either side of my face. Our lips meet with an unhurried pace and a lightness of teasing tongues. It’s like a slow dance between two lovers. The perfect recipe of romance.
“It’s the best date I’ve ever been on too.”
“And things won’t get all awkward back at the ranch when I’m cleaning your house?”
“If you’re naked, then things will get a helluva lot awkward.” He laughs with a lazy grin.
“Oh, I can see it now. That look on your dad's face when he finds me polishing in my panties.”
Strong arms wrap around me, and he drags me onto his lap. “I’ve got my eye on you, honey.” His teeth nip my earlobe gently.
It’s like a dream where I have everything I could ever want, but we both know how it ends. This guy is so bad for my health because I’m addicted to the feel of him, the power of his smile and the alluring sound of his voice. “Just so you know, Hayden, I wouldn’t change a thing about tonight.” I melt into him.
“Well, we ain’t in a rush to get home, so let’s crack open another few beers,” he suggests, stretching across to the crate.
“Here, let me.” I take the bottle from him.
“Tell me about your life in Northern Ireland.” He settles back while I flip the cap.
“What can I say? There really isn’t much to tell.” I take a swig of beer and then offer it to him. “I party most of the time with my bestie, Ellie. I miss her.”
Hayden looks into my eyes. “What else do you miss?”
“My bed.” I laugh. “It’s super king-size with enough room for both you and Star.” He hums into the bottleneck. “Although yours is pretty comfy too.”
“I’d sleep anywhere you are.” Hayden winks at me, but it’s not a sexy gesture, it seems contrived.
“Will you come to see me… when I’m back home?” Half of his face is shadowed by faded moonlight.
“Come here.” He reaches for my jaw, gripping it between his fingers and thumbs. I fall into him, my chin resting on his palm and my mouth a whisper from his. Staring into my soul, he fills my ears with his American drawl that flips my stomach upside down. “I’d sleep anywhere, go anywhere, be anywhere, drive anywhere, or even fly anywhere, if it means I’m next to you.” When he finishes, he seals the moment with a searing kiss that confirms my place is with him.
“Do you want me to stay?” I dare to ask.
“You belong at home, where your heart is.”
His fingers release me, and my head falls to his chest, where I listen to his slamming heartbeat and push back the confusion.
Heavy is the reality of my heart. If only he knew my heart is right here, begging to be with him.
20
It’s late Thursday afternoon,and I’m going on another date with Hayden. He hasn’t declared his love or gotten down on one knee to beg me to stay, but Ellie offered up some advice when I video called her with my big fat boyfriend bother. She told me to just chill out and enjoy myself, and said that if he was falling for me, he’d never let me go home.
