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“Tonight, was fun,” I said instead.
Crowds of people were streaming out of the park along with us, most of them as weary as we were, though, I assumed mostly from a day playing on rides and games rather than driving. A few young children cried because they didn’t want the fun to end, and even more crashed out in strollers or were sleeping on their parent’s shoulders as they were carried.
“It was,” Dylan agreed.
We didn’t speak much as we walked to the car. Dylan unlocked my door first and opened it for me. I couldn’t help a small smile and my lips curved upward. He gestured to me to get inside.
“Thank you.” I slid into the comfortable leather interior, still wearing his shirt and pulled the seat belt around me, clicking the buckle just as he joined me inside the car. “Are you tired?” I asked.
“Totally, but I kinda want to stay up for a while.” He put his foot on the brake and pushed the start button on the dash and the engine came to life.
I felt the same way. I had the urge to lean over and put my head on his shoulder and the past twenty-four hours had felt so great that I let myself.
“Me, too, but I’m so sleepy.” A combination of the sunburn and the cold night air made me shiver and Dylan reached up and turned on the heat for the short drive back. It was probably in the fifties outside, but for May, that was chilly. It was unspoken, but I was on the same page as he was. I didn’t want the evening to end.
As we drove, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to just feel. To allow myself to wish that this could be real, that Dylan could be mine, that it could be just us against the world. Forever.
“Remi, we’re here,” Dylan’s soft voice was like velvet inside the confines of the car. I inhaled sharply and sat up, moving away from him. I blinked the sleepiness away.
“Sorry. Was I asleep?” I wasn’t, but for some reason I was afraid Dylan would find out what I was thinking as I leaned against him. I placed my hand over my mouth as I yawned.
“Maybe dozing,” he offered.
We both got out of the vehicle and made our way up the stairs to the porch of the cabin and then inside after Dylan unlocked the door. It had an old-fashioned lock and key rather than the cards that hotels typically used, and I thought it only made the cabin that much more charming.
Our bags were laying on the floor just inside the door, unceremoniously dumped on the hardwoods. I bent and picked up my duffle. “Which bedroom do you want?”
“You can have the big one,” Dylan offered with a wink. “The bathroom is better.”
“Thank you.” I slung the strap of the duffle over my shoulder and started to walk toward the stairs. As I passed him, I reached out and wrapped a hand around his forearm, giving it a little squeeze and letting my fingers linger. “This was a good idea. I’m glad you thought of it.” I released him and started up the stairs. I could hear Dylan picking up his bag and starting to follow as both bedrooms were upon the second floor. There was a pool table on the main level as well as a nice sitting area, a bar, the kitchen, and one of the bathrooms. “This place is super nice.”
“Only the best for you.”
My heart swelled inside my chest, and I was reminded of the many times he’d taken care of me growing up, in both large and small ways.
Dylan indicated that I should take the room on the right while he took the one on the left. There was a fireplace inside the room, a big screen tv, and an ensuite bathroom.
“Wow!” I said, glancing inside; glad I was able to turn my back on him so he wouldn’t see the flush on my cheeks. “This bathroom is bigger than the Blue Banana,” I said, quoting one of the lines from one of my favorite damsel-themed movies.
“Really?” Dylan popped his head inside the door after leaving his bag in his room.
I shook my head. “No, but it was fun to say it. It’s really nice, though. There is a big, jetted bathtub.”
“Should I start a fire for you? A small one?” Dylan asked.
“Stop it or you’ll revise my modern impression of chivalry,” I teased, unzipping my bag and searching around inside for the shorts and old T-shirt I’d brought to sleep in. The bag sort of bunched the contents into one big pile when it was transported.
“Awww, don’t make me blush. Do you want a fire?” Dylan asked, tongue in cheek.
“Yes, I brought summer pjs.”
“Probably, because it’s summer,” he said simply, going to the fireplace and picking out a few pieces of wood from those stacked next to the hearth in a shiny brass basket. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I watched as he finished the task, admiring how efficient he was and what a magnificent picture he made. “Even I forgot how chilly it could get in the mountains.”
I bit my lip, knowing what I wanted to say but not sure if I should. I decided to go for it. “Why don’t we get ready for bed and then you can meet me in here? If you want to stay up watching movies, you can and if I fall asleep, it won’t matter because I’ll already be in bed. That way, we can share the fire.”
Dylan’s eyes lit up and a brilliant smile flashed briefly. “Sure, if you think it’s okay.”
I offered him a wry expression despite the vulnerability I was feeling. “Yeah. Like old times sharing a cabin at the ranch.”
