Page 21 of Campfires & Canines
I incline my head, lowering my voice. "I feel like we've had this discussion before."
It's a little too much like flirting. I pull my little flashlight out of my pocket, click it on, and hold it out to her. "Here, you can even hold my torch."
Hazel giggles. I could listen to her laugh forever. But then she sways a little and I surge forward. She grabs my open hands. My nerves from my palms explode up my arm.
Her unguarded gaze sweeps down my body. "You'd better keep it. I had a bit more to drink than I realized. Or I'm just a lightweight."
She releases me but I snag her hand and hook it in the crook of my arm. Her fingers grip the muscle, splaying over the treetops of my favorite tattoo. Electricity radiates out from her fingers, lighting up my entire body.
"You're all leaving me! Hazel, can I come too?" Onyx whines.
"No," I answer flatly.
He doesn't give up. "Oh, come on! Marigold, Goldie, baby!"
Marigold is already walking away, not bothering with a light. "You'll be fine, Onyx. Just don't set anything on fire."
"Oooh," he responds, starting towards the fire as his brother dumps sand over the last of the embers. "Party pooper.”
"Numbskull," Cedar responds without any venom.
"Bye!" Hazel calls to them as I lead her away.
"Are they always like that?" she asks me. I almost forget to answer her, I’m so distracted by her softness pressing against my side.
"Pretty much."
Her scent teases me. She’s softly floral and warm. I take a deeper breath and try to imprint it into my memory.
She hums in thought. "Are Marigold and Cedar a thing?"
"No. Why?" I frown. Was she admiring Cedar's stomach after all?
"Oh, I don't know. They seemed cute together," she rambles, embarrassed.
I relax. "Yeah, I think he sees her as a little sister, but I'm not sure."
"Seriously?" She raises her eyebrows at me. "You know what, never mind."
"What?" I prod.
"Nothing." She tips her face skyward again. "It's beautiful here. I would stargaze every night."
"Yeah, I used to," I admit.
"Why don't you still?" she asks. I pause at the question.
She is so empathetic. She makes me want to spill all my secrets and fears. But she's not a new best friend, she's an honored guest and she'll be gone soon.
I clear my throat. "Just busy."
“That’s a shame,” she says. “I took an astronomy class in high school. I don’t remember much, but it was pretty cool.”
“Do you recognize any constellations?” I ask.
“I can’t see very much here,” she complains, scowling at me adorably.
“Here.” Keeping her close, I lead her east into the clearing, past the training building. “What about now?”
