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She shifted on the sofa, curling one leg under her. “Let’s talk about why this is an issue for you, the age thing. Do you even know how old I am?”
“Twenty-three or-four? Please say twenty-four. And twenty-five would absolutely make my day.”
“Twenty-two.” Her free hand shot forward. “Don’t freak out. I’ve lived a lot—you know that. My childhood was unique, to say the least. I grew up fast in some ways. A little sheltered in others, but mostly in good ways, I think. I’ve already served in the Army and been to college and traveled the world.”
“But—”
“Tag, it’s just time, days and hours that have passed. And when you think about it, it’s a drop in the bucket.”
He scoffed. “In a geological context, maybe.”
She brought a hand up to cover her mouth, but laughter sputtered through her fingers. “Did you just call yourself a fossil?”
“This isn’t funny.” He fought a smile and lost. “Okay, that was a little funny, but the rest of this is not.”
“It is, too.” She choked out the words, trying to hold in another laugh. “Especially the way you set me up there.”
He shook his head. “You make it hard for me to think clearly. This situation has me panicky in a way I’ve never experienced before.”
Reaching over, she picked up his hand. And he let her. Because he was a weak, weak man. And he wanted to believe her. He wanted these years and days and hours between them not to matter. It was that simple. Turning his hand, she placed it on her knee. With her index finger, she traced the lines on his palm.
Serious now, she said, “This line right here, your lifeline, is strong and deep. It tells me you are healthy with excellent stamina and vitality. That’s all I need to know.” Shrugging like it was a done deal, she brought her gaze up to meet his. Gorgeous brown eyes, wide and sincere, and when she turned their full force on him like this, he feared he might not be able to deny her anything.
“Did I mention that in addition to having an interest in alternative medicine I’m also psychic?”
What? His stomach dipped nervously as her words sank in. Perfect. Maybe now she’d tell him he was going to die soon in a fiery plane crash.
“No, uh…you didn’t. I don’t know…”
She busted out laughing. “I’m kidding! I have no idea what any of these lines mean. I just like holding your hand.” She began to massage the intricate muscles of his palm.
He chuckled. “You are a brat. But that feels heavenly, whatever you’re doing.”
“Pressure points I do know. You’re very tense, by the way. I wonder why?”
“Yeah, I wonder, too,” he said drily.
Grinning, she linked her fingers through his and squeezed. “But, seriously, why does a few extra years matter to you so much?”
Despite his anxiety, he felt a kind of soul-deep rightness seeping into him. Why did it matter? She was watching him, waiting for an answer. It seemed years ago that he’d been twenty-two. And yet, maybe not that long ago, after all. He couldn’t remember when his feelings had ever confused him like this.
He sighed and said the first thing that came to his mind. “What would people think? You’re younger than my little sisters.”
“And you’re older than my car.”
“That doesn’t even make sense.”
“Exactly. Who cares what people think? Are you committed to someone else?”
“No.”
“Good.” She heaved out a breath. “I was worried because the way you bolted after I kissed you at the picnic, I figured maybe you were feeling guilty because there was already someone in your life. Same goes for me. And other than going to the prom with your cousin, I’m free to date whenever and whoever I want.”
“Also not funny.”
“I know. But you deserve it for even thinking that I would look at him in that way.”
Tag laid his head back against the sofa and realized that since they’d been to Anchorage together, in fact the last time they’d been alone together, he felt relaxed and…? Himself. Happy. Right now, there wasn’t anywhere else on the entire planet he’d rather be.
