Page 97 of Trick or Tease

We lay there in comfortable silence for a few minutes, just looking up at the vast canopy above us. I could feel Garrett’s chest rising and falling beneath my cheek, could hear his heartbeat steady and strong.

“Do you remember when we were kids, we’d sneak out here on summer nights? You and Billy would dare each other to sleep outside, and I’d tag along because I didn’t want to miss anything.”

Garrett chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. “I remember. You were always braver than both of us, but you would never admit it. You would act like you were scared so we’d feel tough.”

“I was scared sometimes,” I said.

“Liar.”

“You two were always talking about the places you’d go, the things you’d do when you grew up. Billy wanted to travel the world, and you wanted to conquer it. I just wanted to stay right here and be part of whatever you were planning.”

“And look how things turned out,” Garrett said softly. “Billy found his happiness right here on the farm, and I spent twelve years chasing something I’m not even sure I wanted.”

I lifted my head to look at him. “What did you want? Back then, when we were lying out here making wishes on shooting stars?”

He was quiet for so long I thought he might not answer.

“I wanted to matter,” he said. “I wanted to be important, successful, respected. I wanted people to look at me and think I’d made something of myself.”

“And now?”

He turned slightly so we were facing each other, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. “Now I think maybe I had it backwards. Maybe the important thing isn’t what other people think of what you’ve made. Maybe it’s about what you’ve made of the people around you. What you’ve contributed to something bigger than yourself.”

My heart did a little flip at the intensity in his voice. “Today felt pretty important,” I said. “Seeing all those families having fun, knowing we created something that brought the community together.”

“It did,” he agreed. “More important than any contract I’ve ever negotiated or deal I’ve ever closed.”

I wanted to ask him what that meant for his future, for us, but I was afraid of the answer. Instead, I settled back against his chest and tried to memorize this moment.

“Make a wish,” Garrett whispered against my hair.

I closed my eyes and wished for the one thing I wanted most and feared I could never have: for him to choose this life, this place, me, over everything else calling him back to the city.

When I opened my eyes, a shooting star was streaking across the sky, as if the universe had heard me and decided to offer just a glimmer of hope.

“Did you make a wish?” I asked softly.

“I did,” he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. “But I’m not telling you what it was.”

“That’s not fair. I told you mine.”

“No, you didn’t.” He chuckled. “You just closed your eyes and got that dreamy look on your face.”

I turned in his arms so I could see his expression in the moonlight. “Maybe I’ll tell you later.”

“Maybe I’ll make you tell me,” he said, his voice dropping to that low, husky tone that never failed to make my pulse race.

His thumb brushed across my bottom lip. I couldn’t help but part them slightly. The simple touch sent heat spiraling through me, and suddenly the blankets felt too warm despite the cool night air.

“Garrett,” I whispered, not sure if I was warning him or encouraging him.

“I know we should go inside,” he said, his forehead resting against mine. “But I don’t want this moment to end.”

Neither did I. Out here under the stars, with his arms around me and the whole world feeling peaceful and right, I could almost believe that this was our real life. That every night could end like this, with us together, planning tomorrow and the day after that.

But the hay was starting to poke through the blanket, and the October air was getting colder by the minute. When I shivered involuntarily, Garrett made the decision for both of us.

“Come on,” he said, sitting up and pulling me with him. “Let’s get you somewhere warm.”