Page 29 of Hot Times in Heart Falls, Vignettes Vol 3

He nodded.

“I get it. The timing for me to say something has always been tricky. Life got messy with the accident. You were Luke’s best friend. I was too young. You’re always careful. And I appreciate that. But I’m not too young anymore, and I’m not confused about what I want.”

“Ginny—”

“This is what I want. You. This night. Us.” Her voice shook just a little, but she steadied it with another breath. “I would never have wished for Dare to end up mindlessly drunk on the anniversary of losing her whole world, but I can’t pretend I’m not grateful for what created a moment alone with you.”

Tucker was frozen.

“Today is awful. Mom and Dad are gone forever. Caleb and Luke— Hell, you know what we’ve all had to deal with for the last five years. You’ve been here. You’ve helped.” She slipped her hand over his. “If something good could happen—on this day of all days—maybe it won’t always be just pain and bad memories.”

He stared at her for long enough that the wind outside seemed to still.

Then his whole expression shifted. The warmth of family and friendship was replaced by something fierce. Intense.

His lips parted slightly, a muscle ticking in his jaw. That was his tell—his heart was racing. He was thinking too hard and too fast and didn’t know where to put any of it.

Ginny sat very still. For once in her life, she didn’t press further. Didn’t push. She’d said what she came to say.

Now it was his turn.

5

Tucker had thought a lot of things about this day in February over the years. That it was cursed. That it was a weight he’d carry forever. That it was cruel to keep expecting any kind of light to shine through something so heavy.

He had not expected it to feel like this—his chest so full of hope and heat he could hardly breathe.

Ginny sat across from him, her face open and brave. Every word she’d spoken echoed like a bell in his ribs. This is what I want. You. This night. Us.

He was already halfway gone.

“Ginny,” he said quietly. “I hear you. I do. But if we take tonight, I don’t want it to end in hurting you worse.”

Her lips quirked. “Because you’re not living here? Not able to be my full-time boyfriend?”

He opened his mouth to explain, but she beat him to it.

“I’m not looking for promises of forever. I’m looking for warm hands and hot kisses and to be able to turn my brain off for one goddamned minute this day and think about— No. Not to think at all because you’ve got me so off-kilter all I can do is feel.”

Tucker’s heart kicked once, hard enough it felt like a warning. But it sure as hell didn’t stop him.

“Are you going to tell Dare?” he asked. “Am I supposed to tell Luke?”

Ginny's eyes softened, but the heat in them never wavered. “That’s up to you. But I’d suggest we’re adults. What we do is our business and no one else’s.” Then a wicked sparkle danced across her face. “Also, Luke will beat you up. I don’t want that on my conscience.”

Tucker huffed. “He’d try.”

Their smiles met and held, full of history and something new stirring just beneath it. It was right—laughter and anticipation, sexual tension braided with friendship.

“I’d tell Dare someday,” Ginny said, voice quieter now. “But not tonight or any time soon. Tonight is for us. Here and now.”

He stood and offered her his hand. “Then here and now starts with this.”

She took it without hesitation.

Tucker helped her off the bunk and pulled her to him, slow and sure. Her body settled against his as if it was always meant to. He lifted his hand to her cheek, brushing a thumb along her jaw before he bent and kissed her—gently, reverently, just once.

A soft, impatient noise rose from the back of her throat, and she grabbed the collar of his shirt. “You said yes to warm hands and hot kisses,” she whispered.