Page 98 of His North Star
Ty had taken plenty of landscape photographs. Three were of the two of us at the top of the trail with different views behind us, our smiling faces tilted toward one another. My head brushed against his jaw.
The tenth photo was of me by myself.
I stood in profile, with one foot resting on a rock, my gaze focused on the lake below us, a serene smile on my face. The sun’s rays turned my reddish-brown hair to copper. I looked pretty.
“When did you take this one?” I flipped the phone so he could see.
He glanced back and forth between the photo and the road a few times. “When we first got to the top.”
“I don’t say this often, but I actually like this one.”
“You always look good,” he said, as if I should know this about myself. He continued, “But I agree, that one captures what it feels like to be in nature.”
Was thata friend or the man who might love me speaking? “You’re going deep on me there,” I teased.
“Just telling the truth.”
“I wish I captured your expression when we got to the top.”
He shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll get a chance.”
“You’ll be expecting it now. It won’t be candid.”
“Wait a few years. I’ll forget.”
I chuckled.
What would he look like when appreciating the beauty of the earth? Peaceful like me? I scrolled back to our selfies. I studied our expressions. The way our arms wrapped naturally around one another.
We easily passed as a couple. I finally understood what other people hinted at.
Ty pulled into the parking lot. They housed the telescope in a small dome structure. It looked like a mini silo, or an adorable, tan R2D2. There were two large screens on the outside. From what the ranger said, they would display what the telescope viewed on the screens so we could see it while waiting in line.
“I should’ve brought a deck of cards or something,” I said. The line already snaked around the building.
“Once it’s dark, you’ll be too busy craning your neck, anyway.”
“True,” I agreed. “Why don’t you go over your presentation for me and update me on your marketing sheets?”
“Here?” He waved at all the people surrounding us.
“They won’t care. I doubt they’ll even eavesdrop. Come on, you don’t have a lot of time before the big day.”
“Fine.” He sighed.
The next hour passed quickly as Ty went over his presentation again. The parts I’d memorized, I mouthed along with him. He covered my mouth with his palm, a smile on his face, while he kept going on with his spiel. I had to give it to him—his sales pitch was solid.
The clouds were now underlit in red and orange hues. The sky loved to show off her rainbow of colors throughout the day. From sunrise to sunset and everything in between, her beauty was unparalleled. It was why I was so fascinated with it. Thankfully, our waiting time for the telescope was getting shorter as well.
“You’ll have those investors eating out of your hands,” I said.
“Hopefully. You ready for a game?”
I tilted my head. “Like what?”
“Umm, how about Would You Rather?”
“Sure.” I nodded.
