I didn’t answer. We trudged along the side of the house and I made my way over to the maze. It was freshly trimmed—I know because I’d done it the week before—and I knew my way around it.
I didn’t stop until we were in the center, and pausing, I glanced up at the sky, nodding to myself as I let go of Monroe’s hand and reached for my backpack.
“Nate, what are we—”
“Hold on,” I said, grabbing her once more and planting a kiss on those lips. It only lasted a few seconds and it took everything I had to break it off.
I whipped out a worn blanket, one I’d taken from my bed, and spread it over the grass.
Then I motioned for Monroe to lie down.
She arched one of those delicate eyebrows, a soft smile on her face, but pulled off her shoes and then knelt on the blanket, moving over when I did the same.
“So, a midnight picnic?” she said, nudging me with her elbow.
I shook my head.
“No?” she grinned. “I don’t think Gram will like us camping out together overnight.”
“I only need you for a few hours.”
“A few hours,” she repeated.
Damn, but I liked to see her smile. It made me feel like a king.
I lay down, and for a moment, she stared down at me, her expression unreadable, and I could tell she was a little nervous.
“I’m not going to bite you.”
“I know,” she answered quickly. “You’re going to kiss me.”
“Yep. That I am.” I reached up and grabbed her arm, tugging her down until she was sprawled across my chest. Her hair hung loose, obscuring her face and tickling my nose. Her scent was all around me. It was in me, and I felt it as if it was alive. As if it made me alive.
She was so warm, so soft, and with a groan, I rolled her over so that she was beside me, on her back and tucked into my arms.
For a few seconds, her breaths fell rapidly, little puffs of mist that hung in the air and then disappeared like the fireflies along the edge of the maze.
“What are we doing out here, Nate?”
“Just wait. You’ll see.”
“See what?”
I pointed to the sky and turned to watch her as she followed my finger. I’d already seen the beginning of the meteor shower as I’d pedaled like a crazy person to get here, but according to the reports online, the big show was just about to start.
We lay like that for about ten minutes. Her body next to mine. Her breaths lifting me up. The soft sounds that fell from her lips were mesmerizing. This girl had her own rhythm, her own state of being, and it was addictive.
I could spend the entire night watching her.
I knew when the first wave of meteors broke through to our side because Monroe’s eyes widened along with her smile. Only then did I look away and turn to the sky.
“Holy shit,” she exclaimed. “What is this?”
“A meteor shower,” I answered, watching the shooting sprays arc across the sky. The last time I’d watched one had been a few years back. Trevor and I and a few guys from the football team had gone out to Baker’s Landing with a couple of six-packs. We’d stayed the night. Got wasted and watched the sky.
It had been pretty cool, but nothing compared to tonight. To being out here under an endless sky with Monroe tucked into my side like she belonged there.
We watched the light show for hours, it seemed, and when the dew fell and Monroe began to shiver, I pulled the blanket over us and wrapped us up like a cocoon. I felt…peaceful, and I would have stayed that way forever if I could have.