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We continue talking in the partially-standing treehouse, connecting on a level I’ve never connected with anyone. It should scare the bejeezus out of me, but right now, sitting in the woods—a place I love so much—I only feel a sense of calm.
When it starts getting too dark and the moon begins to show it’s face through the branches, I squeeze Mason’s hand. “We should get going.”
“You’re right.” He grazes his lips over my palm. Then his eyes flick to mine. “But first, can I kiss you?”
The way he looks at me does this weird, twirly thing to my stomach. “Yeah…”
His kiss starts off sweet and slow. When we pull apart, he grins at me. “I’ve been thinking about doing that all day.”
“Me, too.” Grinning, I lace my arms around his neck and pull him back for more. Before I know it, we’re making out, all hot and heavy.
I’m starting to crawl into Mason’s lap, when a loud squeal suddenly sounds from behind me.
I jump back off Mason, nearly falling out of the damn tree. He catches me before I go tumbling down. “What th—?”
“Oh, sorry, dear!” a familiar voice rings out from nearby.
The sound of crunching leaves draws closer and a figure appears from between the trees. I gasp.“Rainbow?!”
At the sight of the mystical woman, Mason starts choking beside me. He quickly averts his eyes, looking downright frightened.
Meanwhile, I’m trying hard not to laugh. “I should have warned you,” I say out the side of my mouth. “Some of the locals are known to carry out spiritual rituals in the middle of these magical woods, especially under the full moon. And sometimes, they carry out these rituals naked.”
Like Rainbow here.
“Don’t mind me,” the woman says, whirling around like a fairy on her tiptoes, face upturned toward the sky. “I’m so sorry for startling you two. I’m just passing through.”
As she’s whisking away down the path, she pauses. She gives us a knowing look and then she grins. Before she hops away, I hear her muttering something about our very pale pink auras.
Uh-oh.
I put that thought right out of my mind when Mason quickly hops down to his feet. “Okay. I think we’d better get out of here before any other naked forest fairies come waltzing out of the trees.”
I laugh. “You’re right.”
Mason helps me down to the ground. Then we take our time walking back to the house.
I glance back in the direction of the mystical waterfall. I gnaw on my bottom lip that’s trapped between my teeth. Mason still hasn’t let go of my hand. I don’t want him to.
And I have no idea what that means.
37
MASON
Another workweek, done.
I’m in my bedroom early on Saturday morning, pulling together my weekend bag. It pains me to admit to myself that I’m not all that thrilled to be heading to Honey Hill for the next two days. But after missing last weekend with my family, I can’t be a no-show again. There’s no telling what my cousins would do this time.
Plus, I miss Grammy and my sisters. And Mom asked me to help out with some heavy furniture she wants carried down to the basement. Yeah, skipping this trip back home is not an option.
I’ve nearly got my stuff together when Karli knocks on my open door. She comes in, looking like a sad puppy herself.
“Hey.” She sits on the bed next to my open duffle bag, watching me shuffle around the room as I pack.
“Hey.” When her bottom lip pokes out in the most adorable way, I can’t stop myself. I pinch her chin between my fingers and lift her face to mine for a kiss.
I’m glad to discover that she’s totally into it, throwing her arms around me and pulling me down to deepen the kiss.
