Page 53 of Say You'll Stay

He grins in amusement. “You, ah, spend much time looking at the stars?”

It’s a sudden subject change, but she goes with it. “Not really.Why?”

“I used to lie outside all the time when I was a kid and watch them. Looked up all the constellations. When’s your birthday?”

“Are you gonna do my astrology chart? You’re full of surprises.”

“Stop. You wanna know or not?”

“Okay, okay. September the second.”

He scans the sky before settling on a spot with a pointed finger. “That one’s yours. Virgo.”

“I don’t see it.”

He takes her hand, lining up their fingers to guide her to the outline of her very own set of stars.

“Oh, there it is,” she says, softly. “I never paid much attention to this stuff. I know my sign, of course, but that’s about it. You know Virgo is the virgin, right?”

He flushes, almost choking on the air in his mouth.

“So we know that’s not accurate. Not off to the best start here,” she teases, lips pursed in victory. “Where’s yours? And Lucy’s?

“Sagittarius is mine. The archer.”

“Okay, that’s fitting.”

“And hers is the same, but I think Leo fits her better. A lion. Do you see it?”

“A kitten!” She grins as her line of sight follows his finger, delighted that it matches his nickname for the baby. She picks up Lucy as if she cares about any of this. “Look, a little lion.”

The baby is more interested in Cole’s shirt than astrology. Her small fist grabs the fabric, giving it a tug.

“Maybe we start easier for her. Big Dipper, Little Dipper,” he offers.

“Good idea.” She pauses, her shoulder brushing his and the next words whispering softly. “Is there anything up there that could have predicted how lucky I feel right now?”

She’s doing that thing again where she straddles the line of their friendship and risks irritating him, but his answer is a careful arm around her shoulders, encouraging her to lean in while they watch the twinkling night sky.

“I’m feeling lucky, too,” he answers, offering the reciprocation she so badly needs.

Watching Flower leave uneven paw prints in the snow, they spend the rest of their time outside in peaceful silence, exchanging glances over sips of tea.

* * *

A few hours later, they’re in the middle of securing fresh traps around the perimeter. Suddenly, the hushed rustle of footsteps beyond the trees stops them cold.

Cole’s got the gun up aiming blindly, only to have several other barrels emerge as a group of men show themselves.

“Easy now. We’re all friends here.” One of them says, too calm to be sincere. “Who have we stumbled upon?”

His attention fixates on her, but Cole intervenes, standing in front of her and Lucy. “Get your eyes off my wife before I carve ‘em outta your head.”

“Bold statement for a man that’s got four guns pointed at him. What’s your name, son?”

“I’m not your son.”

“You best tell me. I’m asking nicely after all, but I won’t ask again. I’ll even go first. Name’s Ray.”

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