It was an old dilapidated sign and Nico stopped so they could get out and take a look. Valerie was the first to reach it. Two pieces of wood had been joined with a few rusty nails, and the words inexpertly carved. If they had been painted, time and weather had eroded the color away.
“‘Welcome to Badgertonville,’” read Nico. “‘Population: Six.’”
“It had a name after all,” said Valerie. After the emotional turmoil of the last few hours, she didn’t want to point out the name sucked. How basic.
“I prefer Badger-paulco.”
“I prefer you.” She sat on a rock near the sign. “What a day.”
He raised his hand in a fake cheers. “To many more.”
That made her laugh. “With you, yes,” she said. “Badgertons, I can pass on.”
Nico bent down to pick a daisy, which he tucked behind her ear. “The summer wasn’t all bad,” he said.
“I didn’t get bitten by a water snake,” she said, pulling him next to her. Nico was perfect to lean on.
“You learned to canoe.”
“I learned how to fall out of a canoe,” she corrected. “I did learn to kayak.” She glanced over. “How about you?”
“I met you,” he said simply.
She squeezed him tighter. “You flirt.”
“Do you know why I never doubted we’d find Yvette?”
“Because you had faith in my deductive and acting abilities?”
He kissed her temple. His touch had become increasingly casual as he’d become more comfortable but no less exciting. “I had that, but also, I knew how Roger felt. It’s how I feel about you. There are some things that are meant to be.”
“There are?” Valerie could feel the smile start to spread as Nico took her hand. Those eyes that never failed to astound her were looking as if she was the only thing he wanted to see the rest of his life.
He drew his finger along her palm, making her shiver. “Yes, like you. Everything about you. All of you. Your theories and your ideas and your hobbies. I want to explore all of them and I want to discover new things together.”
“Like paragliding?”
He paused. “Why paragliding?”
She beamed at him. “It always seemed cool. You know, flying with the birds.”
“I want to discover new things with you and then sometimes watch while you discover things on your own,” he amended, kissing her hand.
“That’s an acceptable compromise.” She brought his hand into her lap and hoped she wasn’t gripping him too tight. But what he was saying was heaven. “I want to do the same with you.”
He nodded. “I’ve always wanted to go to Tokyo to see where Masaaki Imai was born. He was a pioneer of kaizen.”
She knew only the bare minimum about continuous improvement methods, but that didn’t matter. She could learn. “I’m in!”
More palm kisses before Nico continued. “Here’s all I need to know. You said you would see where this went. Do you want this when we get back to the city?”
“Yes!” She nearly shouted the word as she grabbed him, and Nico’s smile grew brighter than the sunlight around them. Of course she wanted this when they got back. There were few things she wanted more. She wanted to tell him this, and everything, and all the thoughts that were spilling over each other as he looked at her. Then she realized there was no need to do it all at once. She could take her time because Nico would be there today, and tomorrow, and hopefully all the tomorrows after.
He hugged her close and it felt like home. “Good. That’s all I need for now.”
Then he kissed her, and Valerie knew, deep down, that Nico was something she would never be quitting.
Epilogue
