Page 36 of Call It Serendipity

We’re so close now, I can feel the heat of his breath as the words drift from his lips. But it’s hard to tell which of us has covered more distance to get to this point. The air crackles, and I can almost feel electricity radiating off him.

“Well.” I tap a finger to my jaw in thought. “Claire’s never been willing to get lost in a corn maze with me.”

“Lucy, I’d get lost anywhere with you.”

21

Two drinks and a shared beer cheese pretzel later, Lucy and I finally make our getaway from the group.

“What’s with the towers?” I ask, squinting into the setting sun behind one of the wooden structures. “Do people really get lost in this thing that they need lookout posts?”

“It’s a fifteen-acre field and they say it takes about an hour to complete. So… yes.”

We pass through the pennant flag lined queue—the little orange and gold and brown triangles bouncing lightly in the breeze—and approach the first cornstalks. Just steps inside the entrance, the path splits in two directions.

“What do you think?” I turn to Lucy.

She tips her head, considering. Then crosses in front of me, shooting a sly smile over her shoulder, and moves towards the left. “I think we go this way.”

I think I’d follow her even if I knew each choice resulted in a dead-end.

The maze curves as we make our way deeper into the field, stretching onward. It seems she’s chosen correctly to start, which only spurs her on. I have to make a point to quicken my steps to keep up, trailing one or two behind as she moves with determination and focus. I don’t want to disturb that.

When she realizes it, she stops walking and turns to face me.

Her fingers find the cable knit pattern of her sweater, fidgeting with the hem that hangs so low that it’s nearly as long as her short, pleated skirt beneath. She looks adorable.

“Sorry.” She’s blushing. “I got a little excited.”

“Here I was worried that you just wanted to keep some distance between us.” I smirk.

“I don’t need distance.” Her voice is small, as if she’s testing the words. As if she can’t quite believe they’re true.

Taking a step closer, I reach out and brush her bangs from her eyes, making that slight part in the middle like she does, and letting my finger trail over her temple before slowly pulling away once more. Her long lashes flutter as she blinks up at me, her eyes shining beneath them.

“That’s the best news I’ve heard in some time,” I assure her. “I want to know you, Lucy. More than I want to see this town.”

“Oh.”

“Is that okay?”

Her mouth curves into a delicate smile. “Yes, it’s okay.”

This feels like a huge victory. Something earned.

But it’s hopefully just the beginning.

I look at her and try desperately to think of something, anything, witty or suave to say. But nothing comes to mind at all as she bites her lip—other than the distinct urge to know how she tastes.

“Maybe we should keep going, we’ve got quite a few acres left to cover,” Lucy suggests, her attention flitting down the dirt path before us.

“Together this time?” I hold out my arm to her.

Dainty fingers curl around my bicep. “Together.”

“Another dead-end?” Lucy sighs with her whole body as we turn the corner and run into a wall of corn. “I thought we’d be better at this.”

A laugh tumbles from me. “Do you think we’re past an hour? Are they going to go up in the watchtower for us?”