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“Thanks,” I say, brushing my hair back. I can feel Elena’s knowing grin even if I can’t see it. It’s kind of embarrassing to have her watching us. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, of course.”
He offers me his arm, and I slip it inside after only a moment’s consideration. Now it seals it that this is a date.
He walks me to his car…or tries to. The fact is, he’s over seven feet tall and I’ve got to stand on a nickel to see over a dime. We try to make it work, but our vastly different strides make it awkward.
“Why don’t we just hold hands?” I suggest, taking his hand again. It’s a little easier to match our paces this way, with more slack to work with rather than moving hip to hip.
“Okay,” he says. “This is nice, too.”
He opens the side door panel for me, then offers me a hand even though I hardly need it. I take it anyway, appreciating the gesture.
“Thank you.”
He closes the door for me and comes around to his side of the vehicle. Once he gets inside, he pushes the button on the console but the engine doesn’t go on.
“I’m sorry for this,” he says.
“For what?”
“For this.”
He slams his fist down on the hood of the hover sled, and the engine hums to life. I can’t help but notice he left a sizable dent.
“Here we go.”
The hovercraft rises into the crisp blue sky. New Verdan spread out in all directions, its bright and shiny newness apparent. The hovercraft turns about and makes for the road, and I share a smile with Yarvok.
Not a bad way to start the day. I could get used to this…or could I? Things are moving forward with Yarvok but what happens when the wanderlust kicks in?
I have no easy answers, so I just decide to forget about it and enjoy the day as best I can.
· Elena takes forever getting ready for her date.
· She finally decides on practical clothes since she is going to a ranch and boots sound like a really smart idea.
· Bron stops by and they casually chat while making their way out to the ranch.
· The world is shiny and new and she slips her arm in his—Or tries to. He is 7” tall and readers think the giant man size awkwardness is funny/endearing.
· They start their date searching New Verdan for a great spot for a brewery.
Fourteen
Yarvok
Ifeel lighter than the air we cruise through. I take the hovercraft over a few prospective sights, starting with a little gulch not far from Touchdown.
The gulch spreads out below us. A small stream is like a thin blue ribbon turning white as it reflects the overhead sun. Hardy native trees dot the stream and add to the pastoral qualities of the gulch.
“This is beautiful,” she says as I lower the hovercraft to a few feet from the ground.
“Yes, I was thinking of incorporating the stream into the design of the brewery. Like an indoor green space or something.”
“That would be lovely,” she says, her eyes shining. “When I think of a brewery, I think of bare steel and stone.”
“Not this one,” I say. “I saw enough of bare, spartan things in the army. I want the brewery to capture the spirit of New Verdan. To be a part of this world as much as anything else.”
