Page 41 of The Pieces We've Lost

There’s a park fairly close to the stadium

I’m in the mood to just walk. But I don’t want to be out here right now

Works for me.

I’d arrived at the park far before Ellison did. It was also conveniently next to the Houston Zoo. I hadn’t been to a zoo in years. Billings had one and my parents took us once as kids, but I couldn’t say it was something I sought out in the cities I traveled to.

I waited in my truck until I saw her pull into the parking lot. She looked so focused when she was driving, more serious than she normally did. I was sure I looked weird to people walking by, with a huge, goofy grin plastered across my face, but I couldn’t help myself. I noticed everything about her, it was hard not to smile.

I stepped out of my vehicle and walked over to the parking spot she had pulled into. She was looking in her rearview mirror and fluffing an eyelash when I got next to her car. Careful not to startle her, I tapped lightly on the window. She whipped her head around to face me, but once she realized it was me, her face relaxed.

She opened the door and I grabbed the handle, pulling it open the rest of the way for her.

“You know, you probably shouldn’t just tap on people’swindows like that.” She gave me a cheeky look as she got out of the car.

“Why? Did I scare you?” I teased.

“No.” Her eyes narrowed.

“Are you sure?” I enjoyed pushing her buttons.

“Yes, now get out of the way so I can get out and close the door.” Although she rolled her eyes, there was a small glint of playfulness in them as I kept my hand on the door and extended the other to her. She sighed out of her nose and grabbed my hand, accepting the help getting out of her car. I closed the car door before she could try to and soon after she locked it.

“So, what do you want to do?” I asked.

“I already told you, I wanted to go for a walk. Get some fresh air.” She looked at me but kept walking.

I looked in the direction of the urban park and then toward the zoo.

“You keep looking at the zoo. Is there something you’re not telling me, Sparky?” She bumped into me as we walked next to each other, purposely crossing into my path.

“I just haven’t been to a zoo in years. I was surprised to see one,” I admitted.

“Do you want to go to the zoo?” she asked softly, lowering her eyes a little.

“Was this your plan all along, Blaze?” I teased her, using the nickname that I’d come up for her shortly after we’d met.

“No, I didn’t think anything of it. And what’s the deal with the name? You called me that earlier too.”

“Well, you call me Sparky,” I offered.

“And? What does that have to do with anything?” Her steps paused, and she looked confused as ever.

“If I’m a spark, then you’re the blaze that keeps me feeling alive. You fuel my fire.”

It was true. Sure, rodeo gave me a purpose for my life, but meeting Ellison had made everything I’d gone through leading up to this point worth it. Before her, I’d only been going through the motions and everything was solely based on habits. But with her, everything had changed.

“You’re so cheesy.” She scoffed, but I could see her trying to hide the smile on her face. “Let’s go to the fucking zoo then.” She laughed, a real laugh, and it was music to my ears.

The line to get tickets was long. A couple times, I debated grabbing Ellison’s hand and dragging her away. We could find something else to do—all I wanted was to spend time with her—but then the line started moving a bit quicker and we were almost to the window.

“Good morning, folks! What can I do for you today?” the employee at the window greeted us.

“Just two adults.” I handed my card through the small hole in the window in exchange for two tickets. I handed Ellison the tickets, and she grinned like a little kid on Christmas.

We walked through the gates and were welcomed by signs pointing us toward different exhibits, vendors selling food and T-shirts, and hundreds of people.

Ellison pulled me over to a larger map of the zoo. If we went right, we would be heading toward the more aquatic animals, including the sharks and penguins. If we went left, it was elephants and monkeys.

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