Page 23 of Unraveling Rain
After quickly setting the chairs in place, about ten feet from the van, I walk back to check if she needs help with anything else.
“Hey, can you set this table up?” she asks, stepping out of the van with a small steel fire pit in her arms.
We carry everything over to our little stargazing camp. She places the firepit on the table, then she rushes back to the van. A moment later, she returns with a tray loaded with ingredients for s’mores.
“I haven’t had s’mores in ages,” I say, eyeing the marshmallows.
She places the tray on the table and easily lights up a couple of small logs in the firepit.
“Yeah, I haven’t had them in a while either. I can’t wait for my niece and nephew to be old enough for bonfires, but I thought this could be a cool activity to do while we chat,” she says, placing a couple of marshmallows on a stick, and I do the same.
“So this might sound lame, but I don’t usually do this,” I admit.
She chuckles as she turns the marshmallows over the fire.
“At least you recognize it sounds lame. I mean, you’re a hockey player. I might not know much about hockey, but I’m sure you have a gaggle of women following you around.”
“How do you figure?”
She shrugs. “Well, that’s how it goes. At least in the movies.”
I bark out a laugh. “Like the movies, huh? I guess some elite athletes have that kind of life, but I can assure you I’m not one of them,” I say, inspecting my marshmallow to make sure it’s the perfect shade of brown.
Rain does the same and quickly gathers a piece of chocolate and the Graham crackers.
“Why not? You have the looks. I’m sure you’re talented. Otherwise, your team wouldn’t have sent you to a top-notch therapy facility to recover,” she says, taking a bite.
The marshmallow oozes out of the cracker, and Rain ends up licking her fingers—and somehow, it’s the hottest thing I’ve seen all day.
I can’t stop looking at her.
She catches me staring. Again. And laughs. “You can’t help it, can you?” she asks, a beautiful grin on her face.
She doesn’t need to say it out loud. I know she’s talking about my need to look at her all the time. And right now, allI want to do is clean the little bit of chocolate that smeared on her lips—with my tongue.
“I can’t,” I tell her honestly. “That’s why I said I don’t usually do this. This has never happened to me before.”
She holds up her index finger before going to her van and returning with two beers.
“Okay, I think you’re going to have to tell me the last time you used that line on a girl. Because I can’t believe this is a first for you,” she says, passing me a beer.
Before opening the can, I think for a minute. I’m not sure if alcohol is against my routine here, but one beer won’t hurt. Ruin didn’t mention anything, and I won’t meet Dr. Gutierrez until tomorrow.
“You can’t drink?” Rain asks, already reaching for the can in my hand. “I’m sorry—I didn’t think about your dietary restrictions.”
But instead of giving it back, I tighten my grip.
“I don’t know of any dietary restrictions. Those might start tomorrow after I speak with the doc.”
Her fingers relax, but they linger on top of mine. I’m not sure why she tried to block any possibility of a hookup, because if the electricity running from her fingers to mine is any indication, she wants to get to know me as much as I want to get to know her.
I’d bet my life on it.
“Okay, cool. Cheers,” she says, finally taking a seat and cracking open her beer in one swift move.
“Cheers,” I say, flicking the top and taking a big gulp. It’s an IPA, with hints of citrus. Interesting. “This is good. I don’t think I’ve ever tried this beer before.”
She chuckles. “I guess you’re going to have a lot of firsts in Azalea Creek, then. This is from a local brewing company.”
