Everything feels sharper out here, the flames spit sparks every time the wind shifts, and the cold finds the damp spots in my hair with eerie precision. But it’s peaceful and quiet.
At home, silence was something I had to deliberately seek out. Here, it surrounds me, effortlessly.
I don’t realize I’m smiling until Dean notices.
“You’re thinking pretty hard over there.”
I look up to find him watching me with an amused expression, one arm resting against his knee.
“Am I?”
“Yeah.”
I glance toward the fire.
“Maybe I’m just trying to figure out how this became my vacation.”
His mouth curves.
“Pretty sure the website didn’t mention sleeping outside,” I tease.
“All part of the VIP package.”
I laugh and the sound feels strange at first. Not because I don’t laugh. I do. But lately, most of my laughter has come with a glance at the clock afterward. A reminder of something I need to do. Somewhere I need to be.
Here, there’s nowhere else to go.
For the first time in what feels like forever, I’m not rushing toward the next thing.
Dean hands me a piece of fish on a stick.
“Careful. It’s hot.”
I accept it, studying the food suspiciously.
“You’re sure this is safe?”
He looks offended.
“I caught it fresh.”
“That’s not exactly a guarantee.”
His dark eyebrows lift and a quiet laugh rumbles from his chest.
“You’re lucky I like you.”
The words are casual, almost teasing but my stomach still flips. I look away before he can see my reaction.
“You barely know me.”
“True.”
The fire pops between us.
“But I know enough.”
Something about the way he says it makes me look back up. Dean isn’t looking at me like I’m a tourist who wandered onto his river. He’s looking at me like I’m someone worth knowing.
