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Cocoa looks from Sophia to me, like she doesn’t have a clue what we’re doing just standing here in the woods.
I take Sophia’s hand again. “Come on. Let’s get back to the house.”
We work our way through the woods, and I point out a few rabbits. Sophia thinks they’re adorable. As we walk back, we share a moment in the woods, and I grab her hand and lead her inside.
“Are you hungry?” I ask, and she nods.
I grab some chicken from the fridge and begin cooking dinner. We orbit around each other in the kitchen, back to being gawky, awkward, and out of sync. Whatever that moment was out in the woods, it’s definitely passed.
I wish I knew how to bring it back.
Early the next morning, I’m taking a shower, wishing I could spend the day with Sophia instead of being stuck in my office. I could take on more work than is generally healthy, but if I push a few clients off a day or two, my business won’t go under or anything.
Still, I don’t know what to say for at least two hours, let alone all day long. There are only so many walks in the woods one can take, and I don’t think she’d be interested in watching me chop wood. It’s not as if there’s anything interesting in the surrounding area other than going into town and watching a movie at the theatre.
I’m still noodling over this when I step out of my bathroom and find Cocoa waiting right outside the open door to my bedroom. It doesn’t latch properly—and I never even closed it before this last week, since there was no reason to—and Cocoa must’ve nuzzled it open. I have a towel around my waist, and I’m moving to the door to close it and the towel drops, just as Sophia steps into the doorway, fully clothed of course.
“Hunter, where do you keep the extra—” Her eyes widen, and her words cut short when she sees me standing there, fully nude, barely toweled off. I’m glad I took care of myself in the shower—something that’s been increasingly necessary what with her presence in the house—because that’s about the only thing that keeps me hanging limp as she flushes and looks me over.
“Um…” she stutters, bringing her hands to cover her eyes, and turns her back to me.
I can’t help but smile, as I’m pretty sure she likes what she saw.
“I’m sorry!” she says with her back to me. “Your door was open, so I assumed you were decent.”
I grab a pair of boxers and some pants.
“Sorry about that. Cocoa probably nosed the door open. She’s not used to them being closed, and I didn’t notice the latch was bad until this week.”
Sophia turns and meets my eyes, her face is as red as her hair. “I may never be able to look you in the eye again.” She looks at my bare chest, and I can’t help but laugh.
“It’s alright.” I contemplate making a comment about how it would’ve been fine if she decided to stay, even when I wasn’t wearing clothes. But I don’t want to push her or make her uncomfortable. And while I’d be happy to share my bed with her any time of the day, she’s shown no signs of wanting that. After our kiss the other day, I find I want her very much.
I glance over and see Cocoa lying on the floor, eyes flicking back and forth between us like she’s trying to figure out what’s going on, and I wish she could speak so she could tell me if she has an opinion. Sophia walks over and looks out the large picture window, and then shakes her head.
“Does it ever make you nervous?” she asks. “Not having curtains in your bedroom, I mean?”
I follow her gaze to the tops of the trees.
“Nah. There’s no one up here, and if there were and they want to climb to the top of a pine tree to see me in the buff, they earned it.”
Sophia smiles. “Next time I feel the need to peep at you, maybe I’ll try that approach.”
I put on a shirt and button it.
“What about at night?” she asks. “I was sitting in the living room last night reading, and I swear I saw a pair of eyes reflecting at me from the other side of the glass. With it so dark outside, and the lights on inside, anyone could be looking in.”
“I suppose they could,” I agree. My mother had this same response to my bare windows, but it’s never bothered me. “I doubt anyone would want to drive all the way up to spy on someone with a life as boring as mine.”
Sophia looks over at me as I pull on socks. “Do you find it boring?”
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I mean, not in a bad way. But I can’t imagine that my day to day routine is fun for anyone to watch.”
She’s quiet for a moment like she knows I’m talking about her.
“What about you?” I ask. “Do you think you could be happy someplace like this?”
She reaches her hand up and wraps it around the silver star she always wears at her neck. She’s quiet for a moment, and I curse myself for asking that question so directly.
