I take a sip of my margarita before I answer.“Sometimes.Traveling alone can be lonely.I meet people, locals of course, friends from where I find a job, but sometimes you want to share the new stuff with someone—bond over discovering some new amazing place in this world.”
He’s quiet for a moment, twisting his margarita glass in a circle on the table.“I’ve mostly gone back to Lake Starlight in the offseason, except for the past couple years.I love it.But I’ve been thinking lately that I want Tanner to see the world as he grows up, and I have the means and the time during the offseason.There’s so much I haven’t seen because I was always either in season or going home.”He looks at the table and back at me.“I want to make memories with him.”
My chest aches, then tightens.
“He’d love it,” I say.
“We could use a tour guide.”His eyebrows lift and my heart beats faster.Is he thinking a trip would sell this marriage thing?
Don’t overthink it, Hadley.
I smile and stare at my plate, not trusting my face to not give me away.
“Can I ask you something?”he says, leaning closer.
“Yeah.”
“Why don’t you stay anywhere long enough?”
I open my mouth, not even sure how I’ll answer.
Before I have to, Roberto comes over and offers his hand as though maybe he knew I needed the escape.I don’t even wonder where he’s taking me, I just give him my hand.I glance at Easton, who looks as though he can’t decide whether to be annoyed or amused.
Roberto gently pulls me up from the table.He leads me to the dance floor, putting a hand on my waist and gripping my other hand.I’m laughing before I’ve even found the beat.He spins me out and back and says something to me in Spanish that I don’t understand.
We dance for half a song, and I’m finally keeping up with him, but he says, “I knew he wouldn’t let me steal you.”
He spins me out again, but he releases my hand, and I fall into Easton’s arms.
Easton’s hand shifts to my waist, his other hand finding mine.His thigh settles between my legs as the music continues.I don’t fight it, the rhythm and song carrying us around the small dance floor.
He spins me, and I’m laughing, my head flung back as the string lights blur above me, and when he pulls me back in, I’m slightly breathless.He grins at me as though I’m the best dance partner in the world.
“You dance,” I say, surprised.
“I can do more than just hit a baseball.”He spins me again.“I’m surprised you let me lead.”
I come back to him, and we find the rhythm together.I’m not sure why I’m surprised it’s easy.Everything with Easton is easy.Isn’t that the most terrifying part?
The song ends, and we remain there for another song.The rhythm slows, and he tucks our hands between our bodies, his mouth close to my ear and mine close to his jaw.Neither of us pull away or pretend we don’t know what this is between us.
I’m lost in Easton and the sway of our bodies to the soft melody that I’m sure is a love song played by the three guitarists in the corner.I never want it to end.I could stay here in his arms forever.
But the song does end, and he spins me out one more time.When I come back, Easton catches me with both hands at my waist, holding me close as the music fades.
His eyes fall to mine, and that question he asked right before Roberto took me away feels heavier than ever, as though there were meaning there and not general curiosity.
He brushes the hair back from my face.“Why do you never stay anywhere long enough to develop roots?”
I’m starting to think I just hadn’t found anyone worth staying for before now.
ChapterForty
Easton
We leave the Mexican restaurant, stuffed full of tacos and tortilla chips and freshly made salsa.
I would’ve danced with her the entire night if she had let me.
