Whiskey and Country

“I—what?” She blinked, confusion swimming in her eyes. “Oh, the spare?”

I nodded.

“I did it?”

I nodded again.

The smile painting her face tugged at my heart. Still in my arms, she leaned back to check the scoreboard.

“Nick, I did it,” she exclaimed, her arms around my neck.

Without thinking, I lifted her off her feet and spun her around.

When I lowered her body to the ground, her front glided down my chest, and we both sucked in a breath, electricity from the kiss we shared seconds ago waiting to reignite again.

“Thank you,” Dahlia said, before stepping back and returning to her seat so I could play my turn.

My eyes drifted to her, and while she looked in the distance, her fingertip traced the length of her lips, as if to commit to memory the kiss that meant much more to—I was pretty sure—both of us.

Around a pitcher of beer, at the back of the bowling alley, we sat at a high-standing table an hour later.

“To your spare,” I said, raising my glass.

“To great teamwork,” she replied. “How do you like Green Mountain so far?”

My eyes locked on hers, and I didn’t blink when I said, “More than I thought I would. That’s for sure.”

Dahlia’s adorable blush confirmed she was well aware of the meaning behind my words.

A train of yawns left her mouth as I parked in her driveway. “Thank you. For tonight,” she said. “I would invite you to—” Another yawn escaped.

The pad of my thumb smoothed her lips and rested at the corner.

“Go rest. I’ll see you later.”

She closed her eyes and nodded, using her hand to cover more yawns coming out.

“Who knew a day off could be so exhausting?”

I laughed. “Catch up on sleep. We’ll talk later.”

Dahlia moved closer and kissed my cheek. “Thank you, Nick. For being so understanding.”

My body trembled with an untamable ache.

I unbuckled my seat belt, but she stopped me with a palm on my forearm. “Don’t. I can go in by myself.” She opened her door. “I had fun tonight.”

I nodded my agreement. “I had a great time too.”

Just when she was about to shut the door, Dahlia turned around. “Hey Nick, tomorrow I’m working till four. Carter will drop Jack around that time, a change of plans, as he’s leaving town for a night. What if we come over to your place? I could help with the flowers.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I said, hating the words as soon as they exited my mouth.

“I’m pretty good with garden stuff. Better than bowling. You and I already proved we make a great team. And I also wanna see those beauties with my own eyes. For real this time.”

“You sure?”

“Totally.”

“Come over when you’re ready. I’ll text you the address.”

“I’ll bring dinner.”

“I—”

Dahlia lifted a finger. “Shhh. I insist. We’re friends, remember? And friends bring each other dinner all the time. It’s no big deal.”

“But you’re already helping me—”

“Nick, you’re helping me all the time.”

She turned and walked to her front door, waving at me before closing it behind her.

For a long minute, I stayed in my truck, unable to move, my eyes transfixed on her house as lights blinked through the curtains on the first floor, then the second.

Feeling like a creep, I drove away.

“Bro, I hope none of this is a dream.” I kissed my fingers and saluted the sky as I made my way inside my house, unable to chase that happy feeling wrapped tight around my heart.

Derek’s Bucket List – 16. Nick: Feeling like my life is moving forward and I am floating