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They’d agreed not to let anyone in on things between them yet, the secrecy making it even more special. It was all so new and the last thing they needed was outside input. That was easier said than done, however. She wasn’t sure how long they could do that in Silver Bay. Not long, based on how much she wanted to be with him.
“What’s going through that gorgeous head of yours?” Chet asked.
Thank goodness she was sitting down. Her legs might have melted with the smile he sent her way. “I was thinking about how happy I am. I like being with you and miss you when you’re not there.”
He laughed. “You really don’t beat around the bush, do you?”
She shrugged. “Why should I? Life’s too short.” It wasn’t meant as serious as it sounded, but Chet’s smile faded a bit.
“That makes sense with all you’ve lost.” He squeezed her hand. His eyes wandered down to her leg. Her heart raced as his hand slowly reached down, his fingers a light touch against her running tights.
In a moment of silent understanding, she reached down and pulled her pant leg up just a bit. Not enough to show her entire scar, but enough for him to see her injury.
He turned his head to look in her eyes. Tears lingered on her lashes. She’d never let anyone see her scars, least of all anyone she’d dated.
He gently pulled her leg into his lap. His fingers moved across her skin like a whisper.
“To say I’m sorry feels so hollow.” He shook his head and looked into her eyes. As tears formed in his eyes, she allowed hers to fall.
He leaned down and placed a tender kiss right where her skin looked so angry and puckered. Although her mind told her to pull away, her heart kept her rooted in place. Never before had she experienced such an unconditional, caring response.
He carefully put her pant leg back in place over her skin and set her foot back on the ground. Turning to place her face in his hands, he wiped away her tears with his thumbs. His lips brushed against her left cheek and then her right.
She leaned her head against his chest as his arms wrapped around her. They sat that way for a moment or two before Meg pulled back and looked at him.
“You know, if you had really wanted to know about me, you could have just looked online. Sadly, if you Google my name, articles from the fires pop up.”
He met her eyes before speaking. “That’s not how I wanted to get to know you. I don’t want to know anyone that way.”
“You mean that even after I told you my story, you didn’t go online to look?”
“Didn’t even think about it. I barely keep track of my phone, and I only crack open my laptop for email or video calls with my family.”
Meg sat back against the park bench again and Chet did the same. She wiped her face and reached for her water bottle.
“Huh. You really are rare, Chester.”
His laugh shook the bench they sat on. “I have always hated that nickname.”
“How do you feel about it now?”
“You can call me whatever you want. As long as you’re close enough to say my name—whatever that name may be—I’m a happy man.” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it.
Warmth ran through her and not from the sun on her back as it rose in the sky. “You’re an old soul, you know that, right?”
He took a sip of water, then screwed the top back on the bottle.
“Are you dressing up for the festival?” she asked, savoring the moment they’d just shared while also wanting to return to their daily banter she had come to find calming. “You’re encouraged to come in costume, ya know.”
Chet raised an eyebrow. “Are you?”
“Get that look off your face.”
“What look?” He held both hands face up, the water bottle sloshing around in one of them.
Meg laughed. “The look where you’re picturing me in some sexy cat costume or something. So stop it.”
He smiled wide and his eyes got big. “Well, I wasn’t before, but I am now. Thank you.”
