Page 157 of First Chance

For now.

Chapter Fifty-Six

Jo

Instead of parking the Bronco by the house, he continues driving past the bunkhouse and down one of the larger paths. The anticipation of what he has planned is making me tingle with excitement.

“Happy Birthday, darlin’.” The path opens up into the wild strawberry field, the deep green vines are dark with the dim light of dusk, and it’s nearly too dark to see.

He parks in the open grassy area where he’s set up a blanket and cooler next to a pile of logs in a makeshift fire pit. He comes around to open my door and pulls me out and into his chest. “Don’t worry, this fire will be contained for the entirety of the evening, no threat to life.”

“Thank you for the disclaimer.” I giggle, letting him lead me to the blanket. He strolls around the fire pit, lighting it and all the candles in small buckets that I couldn’t see. The citronella smell hits me as he creates a barrier around us to ward off insects.

“I brought wine, but I don’t want you to drink on an empty stomach, so cheese and crackers or a cupcake are your options,” he says, digging through the cooler for his loot. He’sso casual about it as if this isn’t the grandest romantic gesture that I’ve ever experienced.

“Cheese and crackers, please.”

He doesn’t pour my wine until I’ve started eating, and when he does, he gives himself some too, which surprises me.

He takes a drink and cringes. “Yeah, no, can’t do it.”

“Doesn’t burn enough?” I laugh as he pours it into my tumbler.

“I only have a sweet tooth for one thing.” He glances at me and smirks at his cheesy joke.

The butterflies in my belly flutter, but there are also nerves, deep down.

“Come here.” He must sense them, pulling me down beside him on the blanket until we’re both staring at the sky, listening to the fire crackle.

“You see that bright star right there?” He points to a star that outshines the ones around it, and I nod against him.

“That’s yours.”

“You’re really laying it on with the sweet comments.”

He chuckles. “No, I mean it belongs to you.”

“What?”

“I bought it in your name… No matter where you are, you can look up and find your star and know that I’ll be looking at it, too.” He’s looking up at the stars, but I can’t help but stare at him.

“How?”

“Jordy helped me.” He shrugs.

I don’t understand how he thinks I can find anything better than this. Than him. The love he gives me defies gravity.

It’s bigger than the universe.

Tonight will be the best night of my life. Tomorrowmorning will be the worst.

He tips his head to look at me, and his brows scrunch. “Why are you crying?”

“They’re happy tears. This was such a special gift, thank you.” My lips find his, and they don’t relent.

I want to kiss him for all the times he’s made me feel special.

And, beautiful.

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