Page 24 of Carson

“Well, I was, but then the water called.”

She picks up the bag she dropped at my feet earlier. “I found so many good things.”

It’s filled with rocks and other odds and ends. Little acorns, sticks, and a Coke bottle filled with dirt. “Oh, look at this one. It’s the prized find of the day.” She holds it up to the light.

My hand instantly reaches out to touch it. “Wow, is that amber?”

“I’m sure it is,” she says, still marveling at her good luck. “I’m so happy the wind blew me to your stream.” Her bottom lip trembles as she pulls the stone to her chest.

I lean in closely, pausing for only a second before placing my lips against her temple. “I’m happy too,” I whisper over her skin.

She holds perfectly still but doesn’t pull away.

“What is happening?” she asks after a few moments.

I pull away. “I don’t know, but it feels really good.”

A little chuckle escapes her, and she finally meets my eye. “It does.” Her head dips immediately after her admission and she stands, busying herself with the food.

“Here, let me.” I take the package of hot dogs from her and open them.

We sit side by side, each with a stick in our hands.

“They always smell so good as they’re cooking.” She puts hers directly into the flames. “I like them charred to a crisp.”

“Damn it. If Cole was here, it would be two against one, because he likes them burnt too.”

“You can’t really burn a hot dog,” she says, staring into the fire.

It makes me laugh. “Are you serious? Of course you can.” I pull the two dogs on my stick over my plate, pushing them off with my finger.

“Those aren’t even hot, are they?”

“They’re perfect.”

She wrinkles her nose up in the most adorable way, and I wish Cole was here to see it.

“Oh, shoot, I’ve got to go listen for the last bird.”

Luna jumps from her seat beside me and drops to the ground a few feet away. She closes her eyes.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

She doesn’t open her eyes. She just brings her finger to her mouth, letting me know to zip it.

I move to the ground, scooting until I’m sitting directly in front of her.

A small smile flirts at the corner of her mouth. “If you’re going to join me in listening for the last bird, you have to promise to be quiet.”

“I promise.”

“Okay then. Close your eyes and listen.”

There’s no way I’m closing my eyes with her in my view, but I do listen.

I’m not sure how much time passes, but when she opens her eyes and smiles at me, I’ve already envisioned an entire lifetime with her.

She pushes herself from the ground.