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Either way, it was the universal sign that she was cold, and I wasn’t dumb enough to miss it. I took off my jacket and dropped it onto her shoulders with less care than I could’ve, and we both laughed as she nearly crumpled under the weight of it. But before I could ask if it was too big for her, she slid her hands through the too-long sleeves and wrapped it around her like a robe, inhaling deeply.
“Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
"But seriously," she said, her voice quieter now. "I wanna know why you lied to them."
"I didn’t lie to them," I corrected, bumping her shoulder lightly as we walked. The corners of my mouth twitched as I looked down the correct path in the maze, jerking my chin to guide her before she went down the wrong one. My height had many advantages. "We shook on it, remember? There was even some spit, though it belonged to a goat and not us."
She laughed, the sound soft and warm, like music cutting through the stillness of the maze. But when she shook her head, I could tell she was still unsure. That uncertainty lingered between us, weaving through the maze just like the paths we navigated.
I stopped, reaching out and turning her slightly, meeting her gaze. "I told your parents the truth."
She blinked, clearly caught off guard. "You… Um, sorry, I think I have corn maze dust in my ears. Come again?"
"Wildcard," I said, my voice soft but firm, "I told your father I’m interested in you. But you already knew that, didn’t you?"
She faltered for a moment, her gaze dropping to the ground before meeting mine again. "Maybe."
I stepped a little closer, watching her carefully. "Maybe because you’re a little interested in me, too?"
Her lips curved slightly, the barest hint of a smile teasing her mouth. "Maybe."
I swallowed, feeling the weight of the moment between us. "I also told your dad that you’re safe with me. And that’s true."
"But… Oh, I see," she said, her eyes narrowing as if she were piecing something together. "You didn’t lie… You just didn’t tell them the whole truth. You’re interested in me, and I’m safe with you. But just because those things are true doesn’t mean we’re actually dating, right?"
"If you want it to mean we are, it means we are," I said, keeping my tone steady, careful.
Her brow furrowed as she tilted her head. "Why if I want it to?"
"Because both parties should, in a deal like this. And I do."
A playful smirk tugged at her lips as she crossed her arms, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Am I at the Dash N Go? Because this sure feels like a transaction."
I groaned, but a chuckle escaped. "You’re…"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," she interrupted with a wave of her hand.
I shook my head, grinning at her antics. "Hmm. I was planning to say ‘disarming,’ but what did you think I was about to say?"
Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she brushed it off with a flick of her hair. "Nothin’." Her voice wavered just enough to give her away. "How would that even work, anyway? Us datin’? They weren’t wrong back there when they said I wouldn’t date a tourist. Well, they were kinda wrong because I have before, but it didn’t work out either time simplybecausethey were tourists. You may not be in town to enjoy a little slice of small-town life, but you are leavin’."
My stomach tightened at the wordtourist.I shoved my hands into my pockets, hoping to ease the tension building in my chest. "Yeah... Yeah, I am. But I don’t think that means we can’t date."
Dakota arched a brow, amusement dancing in her eyes as she nudged me playfully with her shoulder to keep walking again. "Whatever happened to not playin’ with fire?"
I slid her a half-smile. "I like fire."
She hummed softly, her voice dipping with curiosity. "Mmhmm. So, it’s okay with you that this relationship would be doomed from the start?"
"Maybe that’s just not how I see it."
Her eyes sparkled as she threw me a sidelong glance, curious and teasing all at once. "Oh, yeah? And how do you see it?"
I took a breath, searching for the right words, my gaze lingering on her face. "I think we owe it to ourselves to see what this is, even if we don’t know what it will be in the future. Or maybe... especially because we know that."
"Why especially?" she asked, her expression softening as if she were truly listening now.
