adjustments are all that’s needed to make whatever you want happen.” He looked up at me. “Guess I inherited my philosophical side from him too.” He grinned.
I wasn’t sure if it was possible to pinpoint the exact moment you fall in love with someone, but this felt like that moment. Listening to this science-minded philanthropic artist with a bad-ass tattoo, talk so fondly of things like magic and art and family... I was nearly swept off my feet. As we sat there in the waning light, watching the flames dance in the twilight, I realized something in that exact moment. Even though I knew that all we could ever have between us was a summer fling, I was falling for him.
I was falling for Troy Bellisaro. A guy I hardly even knew.
Oh man…
I was so screwed.
I cleared my throat. “What were your dreams about?” I knew it was a personal question, but I had to ask.
His eyes narrowed as he surveyed me. “What are yours about?”
My lips pressed into a tight line. It was a fair request, quid-pro-quo, and yet, I wasn’t ready to shatter the magic building between us with talk of another guy. Troy read my silence and gave a thin smile. “Maybe one day we’ll be ready to share every part of ourselves with each another. Even the dark parts. But, it doesn't have to be this day. We have time.”
I breathed an internal sigh of relief, and at the same time looked forward to the day I could fully expose all of myself to him.
When we finished eating half the package of marshmallows, he sat next to me by the fire. I tucked my feet up under me and leaned against his arm.
He delivered on his promise of giving me exactly what I wanted. The s’mores were perfect. He was perfect. I was the one who was a mess. Literally and figuratively.
“You have marshmallow stuck to your cheek,” he said, and reached over to pull it off. Again his touch set off a series of explosions.
“Thanks.”
The silence fell like a curtain between us again, and we watched the flames dance without speaking for a time.
“Maybe we should get back. Don’t want to start rumors on day one.”
“Nobody wants that,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment.
He offered his hand to help me up and then walked me back to my cabin. As much of a gentleman as any dream guy could ever be.
“Good night Nora. See you in the morning, and sweet dreams.”
“Yeah, you too.”
As I watched him jog back the down the path, I wondered if there was a chance Troy might star in my dreams tonight, instead of Darcy. Warm amber lights flickered on along the porch, and the twilight sky was filled with the sounds of night, crickets and fireflies performing at their best. I climbed the steps and entered my new home. If this was what the summer had in store, I could get used to roughing it. I was so blissed out as I shut the door to my perfect night, that I completely forgot Troy hadn’t explained his amnesia act to me.
Chapter Twelve
The first week flew by in a series of trainings and getting the students settled, while fumbling my way around the puppetry department. Troy and I had spent a lot of time together, mostly going over job related stuff, and while there was nothing even remotely close to our s’mores night, I enjoyed spending time with him during the day.
When I got up the next morning, Kenzie was already mixing a drink. Not tea or coffee like a normal person would be making at 7am. Vodka.
I plodded into the kitchen rubbing my eyes. “Kinda early, no?”
“For what?” She continued to pour a few fingers of vodka into a coffee mug, and followed it with some pineapple juice. Then she grabbed a green lollipop from her candy stash on the counter and popped it into her mouth.
My stomach rolled over twice as I shuffled toward the coffee machine.
Climbing up onto the barstool at the counter she examined her schedule for the day. They arrived each morning, slid under the door, ready and waiting for us when we got up.
She looked over her
I wasn’t sure if it was possible to pinpoint the exact moment you fall in love with someone, but this felt like that moment. Listening to this science-minded philanthropic artist with a bad-ass tattoo, talk so fondly of things like magic and art and family... I was nearly swept off my feet. As we sat there in the waning light, watching the flames dance in the twilight, I realized something in that exact moment. Even though I knew that all we could ever have between us was a summer fling, I was falling for him.
I was falling for Troy Bellisaro. A guy I hardly even knew.
Oh man…
I was so screwed.
I cleared my throat. “What were your dreams about?” I knew it was a personal question, but I had to ask.
His eyes narrowed as he surveyed me. “What are yours about?”
My lips pressed into a tight line. It was a fair request, quid-pro-quo, and yet, I wasn’t ready to shatter the magic building between us with talk of another guy. Troy read my silence and gave a thin smile. “Maybe one day we’ll be ready to share every part of ourselves with each another. Even the dark parts. But, it doesn't have to be this day. We have time.”
I breathed an internal sigh of relief, and at the same time looked forward to the day I could fully expose all of myself to him.
When we finished eating half the package of marshmallows, he sat next to me by the fire. I tucked my feet up under me and leaned against his arm.
He delivered on his promise of giving me exactly what I wanted. The s’mores were perfect. He was perfect. I was the one who was a mess. Literally and figuratively.
“You have marshmallow stuck to your cheek,” he said, and reached over to pull it off. Again his touch set off a series of explosions.
“Thanks.”
The silence fell like a curtain between us again, and we watched the flames dance without speaking for a time.
“Maybe we should get back. Don’t want to start rumors on day one.”
“Nobody wants that,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment.
He offered his hand to help me up and then walked me back to my cabin. As much of a gentleman as any dream guy could ever be.
“Good night Nora. See you in the morning, and sweet dreams.”
“Yeah, you too.”
As I watched him jog back the down the path, I wondered if there was a chance Troy might star in my dreams tonight, instead of Darcy. Warm amber lights flickered on along the porch, and the twilight sky was filled with the sounds of night, crickets and fireflies performing at their best. I climbed the steps and entered my new home. If this was what the summer had in store, I could get used to roughing it. I was so blissed out as I shut the door to my perfect night, that I completely forgot Troy hadn’t explained his amnesia act to me.
Chapter Twelve
The first week flew by in a series of trainings and getting the students settled, while fumbling my way around the puppetry department. Troy and I had spent a lot of time together, mostly going over job related stuff, and while there was nothing even remotely close to our s’mores night, I enjoyed spending time with him during the day.
When I got up the next morning, Kenzie was already mixing a drink. Not tea or coffee like a normal person would be making at 7am. Vodka.
I plodded into the kitchen rubbing my eyes. “Kinda early, no?”
“For what?” She continued to pour a few fingers of vodka into a coffee mug, and followed it with some pineapple juice. Then she grabbed a green lollipop from her candy stash on the counter and popped it into her mouth.
My stomach rolled over twice as I shuffled toward the coffee machine.
Climbing up onto the barstool at the counter she examined her schedule for the day. They arrived each morning, slid under the door, ready and waiting for us when we got up.
She looked over her
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