Page 84 of The Chances We Take

I shrugged.

“I learn something new about you every day, Isabelle Bennett.”

“I feel like it’s only fair I learn something new about you, too, then, Reid Lawson,” I countered.

“Ask away. I’m an open book.”

I didn’t quite believe he was, though. There were things I knew about him, sure, but there were also topics I didn’t dare bring up.

“Hmm.” I tapped my lips, thinking about what to ask him. About things we hadn’t already talked about in the past. “What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?” I was sure Reid had done some crazy things in his college years.

“I’m gonna be honest with you, I haven’t done too many crazy things.” He chuckled at the admission. “I’ve always been the more cautious friend.”

“That honestly surprises me. I would have thought you’d be the type to be cliff jumping and racing horses bareback.”

“Someone’s gotta stay safe to keep Mikey and the others in line,” was all he responded with, amusement in his tone.

Our food arrived a short ten minutes later, and I sighed as I took the first initial bites of my breakfast.

“If this is what the food is like over here, I don’t think I ever want to leave,” I proclaimed.

Reid was digging into his food as well, his mouth too full to respond, so he nodded in agreement.

We didn’t talk much throughout the meal, too preoccupied with shoveling the sweet huckleberry-covered cakes into our mouths. I didn’t think I’d ever had something so perfect before.

When we finished eating, Reid pulled out his wallet to pay and we made our way to the exit. However, a whole case of fresh pies caught my eye, and I pulled him over to look.

“I’m absolutely stuffed,” I groaned. “But these look so good.”

“We still have time, we can always come back,” Reid assured me.

I nodded and let him take my hand as we walked out of the restaurant and back to the car.

“Where to?” I asked as he turned on the ignition.

“Wherever you want. I’m along for the ride.” Reid shot me a wink before pulling out of the parking lot and driving toward the city.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

isabelle

Are you sure? This doesn’t seem safe.” Reid’s voice dripped with hesitation, and his eyes had a wary look as I opened the window to climb out onto the roof below it. His earlier admission to being cautious started to make more and more sense as I tried to get him to sit on the roof with me.

“It’ll be fine. I do this all the time at home.” I gave him an encouraging wave to follow me as I sat on the windowsill and swung my legs out. “Live a little, Cowboy.”

The night air provided a cool breeze off the water, and I shivered a little, goosebumps already covering my arms.

“Wait, before you come out here, bring two of those blankets.” I pointed to the basket of shag blankets in the corner of the room.

He handed me the first one, and I laid it out on the roof like a picnic blanket, patting it after I sat. The roof was slightly slanted downward, but I wasn’t worried about falling as I lay on the blanket on my back.

Reid followed, bringing the second blanket with him.When he sat down, he shook it out so he could cover us with it.

“Lay down and look up,” I said as I pointed up at the sky. There wasn’t a single cloud, and being out of the city, there was hardly any light pollution, so all of the stars were visible. “It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?”

He let out an agreeable hum, and his hand reached for mine, our fingers interlacing.

“That one’s Hercules.” I pointed at the stars above us. “And that one’s Ursa minor.”

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