Page 65 of Same One
“How many do you want? I can make you another one.”
“This is good,” she said low, holding up her treat. She didn’t want to be greedy when he was probably hungry.
“I’ll make you another one,” Tabian said around a chuckle.
He loaded two more marshmallows onto his wire and pulled her legs into his lap. His hand was gentle on her shin, rubbing it slowly as he cooked. Tru relaxed back into her camp chair and took a bite. The chocolate had melted, and the marshmallow pull was huge. She laughed as she tried to wipe the mess off her lips, but Tabian reached over and wiped her lip. His eyes were so full as he looked at her face. “You’re so beautiful, Tru.”
Butterflies, butterflies, butterflies.
“I wish you were a werewolf sometimes so you could hear my honesty.”
“I can hear it well enough,” she whispered.
Tabian leaned over and slipped his hand behind her neck, then kissed her. It was quick because Bayen was crashing through the woods headed this way, and there were only somany yacking sounds she and Tabian could take, but the kiss had done its job.
Between his lips, the sip of beer, the sugar high from the s’mores, and the innate feeling of contentment running through her right now, she felt high as a freakin’ kite.
“Whatever good mojo you are giving off right now is addictive,” Tabian said, then blew flames off his marshmallows. He liked them well done, and honestly, they were delicious that way.
“I don’t think I’ve been accused of having good mojo in a long time.”
“You’ve got it now,” he said. “Shooting star.” Tabian pointed to the sky.
She caught the last second of it. “Make a wish,” she whispered and closed her eyes.I wish Bayen can steady out and find his place and enjoy the rest of high school.
When she opened them again, Tabian was watching her with this soft smile stretching his lips.
“What did you wish for?” he asked.
“I can’t tell you or it won’t come true.”
“Can I guess what it’s about?”
“You won’t gues—”
“It’s a wish for Bayen.”
Tru froze. Oh, he was starting to figure her out. “You think you’re so smart,” she teased.
“I am about some stuff.”
“You think you know everything.”
“I know enough.”
Indeed, he did know how to do so much more than anyone else she’d ever met. Tonight she’d watched him put together and advertise three new camping gear products and he’d looked like he’d put them together a hundred times before.
He was just a man who knew how to do things.
It was so hot.
Bayen returned, but he seemed agitated. He came stomping out of the woods and sat down, poked at his now cold marshmallows, then stood and paced away, and back. He put his marshmallows over the fire, but changed his mind and set them down again, and clenched his fists together.
“Are you okay?” Tru asked softly.
“If I tell you something, you have to promise not to do that girly, human, emotional pout thing.”
“Emotional pout thing,” she repeated, confused.
