Page 104 of Winging It with You

“Kinda like this, I guess,” I say against his temple, pulling him tighter against my chest. The soft movement of the lake creates a subtle sway of the boat. “I think I spent more hours on this lake than in the house.”

“Mmm. Sounds nice.” He’s trailing his fingertips across my forearm again. It’s something he does absentmindedly or intentionally when we’re intertwined like this, but either way, each stroke of his touch reaches directly into my core.

“This is nicer.”

He turns in my arms, quickly locking his hands around my neck as he does. “I don’t want to leave.” Asher kisses me once on the neck and then three more times slowly, his lips lingering longer and longer with each pass against my skin. We haven’t talked about how all this is and will be coming to an end. I think we both just decided it was far more fun to stay in this imaginary bubble of blissed-out kisses and the warmth of family.

“Then let’s not,” I say, my lips now against his temple. I can smell the sunshine on his hair and if I could bottle up this very moment, him in my arms on the lake, I’d want to live in it forever. “Let’s just stay right here until we’re old and gray.”

“Wouldn’t that be something,” he says, his thumb slowly gliding along my cheek. I lean my hand into his touch, realizing that I’ve found myself in the middle of a moment I thought only existed in movies and daydreams—wrapped in the embrace of someone I can no longer envision a future without.

I love this man.

It’s as simple as that. And on some level, I think he loves me back. Neither one of us has said those words yet, but I feel them each time Asher pulls me close and savors every inch of my skin. I feel them when he reaches for me in the middle of the night, finding solace and comfort with my hand in his.

Clear as day, I feel them here on the lake, the changing colors of the summer sky dancing around us as we cling to each other, willing our bubble to last a little longer.

30

Asher

The Fernandez Residence

1201 Stone Hill Lane

Monona, Wisconsin

Our last night on the lake is one I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

Theo, Stefan, and Alejandro huddled around the grill. Elise and Carla laughing at the table. Frankie passed out in my lap and Lola losing her own battle with sleep.

I take as many mental pictures as I can of every detail so I never forget this feeling.

Of home and warmth and looking over at Theo, eyes bright and alive in the summer night; of the feeling of love. Ihavefallen for him, hard, and I think on some level, beyond the jokes and the charming bravado, there’s a part of him that still may not believe it.

After dinner is cleared away and everyone begins to settle down for the evening, I extend my hand toward Theo, and he doesn’t hesitate for a second to take it in his. I lead him acrossthe lawn toward the water, and when we reach the wooden dock, we sit side by side and let our bare feet dangle in the crisp water. The lake that Theo’s family’s home sits on is calm. It reflects the light of the bright moon almost perfectly on its smooth surface—I could spend hours out here, counting the stars in the clear night sky and listening to the sounds of summer swell heartily around us.

Theo doesn’t rush me.

One of the things I’ve come to admire, and envy, about him is his ability to justbe. For someone so full of life and energy, whose job demands that he constantly be on the go, he has the uncanny gift of being fully present in any given moment. He seems to savor the moments he’s a part of.

“You’re different here,” I say, leaning my head on his shoulder.

“How so?”

“I don’t know…You just seem more at ease.” There’s a lingering sweetness of campfire smoke and sun on his skin that I wish I could bottle up.

He slowly brings his lips to my temple, planting the softest of kisses there. “That makes sense. Being here—with them—is like exhaling. I guess I get to be the real me, quirks and all.”

“I like your quirks.”

“Yeah?” He puts his hand on my thigh, his skin warm and comforting against mine.

“I could do without the snoring, but…”

“Hey, now,” he says, nudging me in a way that forces our bodies even closer together.

I can’t help but smile at all the traits of his I’ve discovered during our time together. Like how he always takes a deep inhale of a freshly clean towel before using it or how he’sincapable of falling asleep unless he’s made sure that the closet and bathroom doors have been properly shut.

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