Page 49 of Wild Mistake
“That’s sweet.”
“It’s good for him to get out of the house. At least, I think it is.”
“He’s been having good days, then?”
“Mostly. He repeats the same questions, and sometimes he gets uptight, which is our sign to call it a day. But I try and pick activities he will like, and that keep us away from crowds.” It’s selfish really. I benefit from our time together as much as him, if not more. I can’t make up for the years I missed, but I can create as many new memories as possible. He won’t remember, but I will. It’s a gift.
“You’re good with him.”
“I try.” I sneak a glance away from the road to flash Sarah a smile.
“You’ve always been good with people. You make friends with strangers. You know how to make those around you feel comfortable. To feel like they belong.”
“Are you saying you’ve missed me at the diner this week?”
She rolls her eyes. “That’s not at all what I said.” But I catch her smiling.
“I also was helping Will out at the hardware store. His husband is out of town and he’s short help. Worked out that I have nothing but time.”
“You’re reconnecting with everyone.”
She isn’t wrong. But there’s something in the way she says it that hints at something larger. Does she question my sincerity? I want to spend time with her. I have an unexplainable desire to get to know her better and fill in the gaps from the years we spent apart. But it’s not tied to duty or atonement for the past.
Our conversation drifts toward safe topics for the rest of the drive. I tell a few funny stories from my time in the military. She shares about her boys, and their personalities take shape in my mind. The time passes easily and soon I’m pulling to a stop on the pathway that leads to the hot springs.
“I think this is as far as I can drive.” I turn off the truck. “We’ll have to walk the rest. It shouldn’t be far.” Jackson said it’s only a ten minute hike from this point.
“It’s kinda dark.” Sarah bites at the inside of her cheek.
“Don’t worry. I came prepared.” I hop out of the truck and walk over to the passenger side, holding my hand out to help her climb down. “Give me a minute.” I move to the back and retrieve the bag packed with towels, water, snacks, extra clothes, and most importantly, lanterns. Turning one on, I make my way back to Sarah and offer her my arm. “Shall we?”
She slides her hand around my bicep and we head down the path. I don’t know if it’s nerves or exhaustion from being on her feet all day, but Sarah’s pace is slow and it takes us a little longer than I anticipate to reach the hot springs.
“Wow,” she exclaims as soon as it comes into view.
Steam rolls off the water into the cold night. The dark profiles of Ponderosas encircle this miracle of nature. The stillness of the winter night is deafening. It’s as though we’re the only two people in the world.
Sarah takes a seat on one of the boulders near the shoreline.
I unpack the additional lanterns and place them so we can clearly see. Sarah hasn’t removed her jacket or shoes and I can’t tell whether it’s because she’s having second thoughts or she’s waiting for me to go first. “You backing out on me?”
“It’s really cold.” She wraps her jacket a little tighter around her body.
“Oh, but the water’s warm.” I shed my coat, shoes, and socks. “We made it this far.”
“Fine,” she grumbles, but I catch the hint of a smile play on her lips.
Thankfully it’s a calm night, no wind chill to send my teeth chattering. But as I toss my shirt to the ground, goose bumps scatter across my skin and my nipples harden. That water is looking better by the second.
I turn to face Sarah and walk backward a few steps, frowning as she follows me fully clothed. “You aren’t wearing all of that in?”
“I was going to.” She’s ditched her coat and footwear, but not the diner uniform.
“I thought we were skinny dipping.” I had no expectations, but now that we’re here it seems a waste not to. We’re the only two souls for miles and I am dying to see Sarah—all of her. Where there’s nothing between us but for a few scraps of clothes. Nothing holding us back. I reach for my belt buckle.
“What are you . . .” Her mouth parts with a small gasp, but her eyes are hungry as they rake over my body. She watches intently as I remove my belt and then unbutton the front of my jeans.
I catch her gaze and wink. “You gonna watch or you gonna join in?”
