Page 80 of Hunt for the Roses
“This is wonderful,” I say as I continue to look out around the acre of land. I walk up to the wooden railing on the opposite side of the gazebo from where Dane is standing and stare out into the garden for a few silent moments.
“What are you thinking about?” I hear Dane ask from behind me.
I don’t turn around to face him but answer his question anyway. “Did you know there is a specific meaning for each color?”
“No, I didn’t know that.”
I swallow as I continue to stare into the distance. “Yeah.”
I hear Dane’s footsteps tread closer to me, and when he reaches me, he cages me in from behind by placing his palms on the railing on either side of my hips.
Before he can say anything, I point to the red rose pathway and say, “Love and admiration.” Then I point to the pink rose pathway to the right as I say, “Gratitude and appreciation.”
“Fascination,” I continue on when I point to the orange rose pathway to the left of the red rose pathway. “Friendship,” I say as I point to the yellow rose pathway that’s to the left of the orange rose pathway. “Innocence,” I say as I point to the white rose pathway that’s to the right of the pink one. Both of us are silent for a few moments before I turn around to face Dane. “Not the most interesting information, I know,” I joke.
“I’m still listening,” Dane reassures me as he looks into my eyes.
His sincere tone makes my heart beat faster, and knowing Dane is fully present in this moment with me makes my feelings for him that much more profound.
“I know you are,” I whisper, reassuring him that I appreciate his attentiveness.
Dane’s lips stretch into a smile as he grabs my hand and wraps his other arm around the small of my back. I place my free hand on top of his shoulder and throw my head back in soft laughter when I realize he’s slowly moving us into a small circle. “Dane, we don’t have music,” I say.
Dane’s eyes scan my face curiously. “Since when do you, the dancing queen of Crestside, need music to dance?”
I look around at a few other couples walking around the garden. “Since we easily could be the center of attention.”
My head is still turned when I feel Dane’s lips hover over my ear. “We own the night,” he whispers. When he pulls his head back, I turn mine so I can look up into his striking green eyes. His smile has faded slightly, and he evokes a more serious emotion than before.
I inhale as I tip my lip up at the corner and release my hand from his. I wrap both my hands around his neck as he rests both palms around my waist, fully embracing this silent dance with him, and we start swaying in sync. “Just tonight?” I ask as I peer up at him.
Dane swallows thickly as he considers my question and what I’m actually asking.
Is our time together limited?
“In a perfect world, no,” Dane says.
“And this isn’t a perfect world,” I add.
Dane averts his eyes downward as he shakes his head. “No, it isn’t.” I eye Dane curiously as we continue to dance in a slow circle, waiting for him to continue on. Waiting for him to give me hope.
Hope for us.
Eyes still cast downward, Dane says, “But we can chase happiness.” Then he picks his head up to lock his gaze on mine. “We can chase the light.”
“The roses,” I say.
Dane’s lips tip up into a small smile as he says, “So I’ve been told.”
I hold Dane’s eyes for several moments, speechless at this grand gesture he’s made tonight. For me. If I was any bit unsure how Dane felt about us, there’s no shred of uncertainty that plagues my mind now.
I lean forward to rest my cheek on Dane’s shoulder, and I keep my eyes open as they trail a view of the rose garden with each step of our small dance. I’m so grateful for this chance we’re being granted, not worrying about the repercussions, or how wrong or careless this may be. We’re submitting to the wonder of this moment, and consuming every drop of it until the glass we’re drinking from must be taken away from our lips. We’re doing what we feel in our hearts, and the beauty of that outweighs all the beauty there is in the rose garden itself. I feel my arms press more firmly around Dane’s, and I feel his palms sink into my lower back just the same. Like we’re physically clinging onto this dance. A dance we fear is eventually going to end too soon.
I’m actually coming around to the idea that there is no song we’re moving our bodies to, because we get to determine when this particular tune ends. And I’m definitely okay with having that control.
My skin starts to form goosebumps from the featherlight touch of his soft lips on my shoulder, and the way he rubs the small of my back with his thumb. I finally let my eyes close as I rest my head against Dane’s shoulder, and my heart feels put back together again. I don’t hear the box of rattling pieces anymore, but instead, the first beats of a new heart.
“Rebirth,” I whisper.
