Page 93 of Not How I Saw That Going

I bite back a smile he probably wouldn’t appreciate at the moment. “At least you didn’t end up on a gurney this time.”

“Don’t remind me.” He drops his hand from his face and motions me to the back of the truck. “Come here.”

There is a blanket laid out in front of us, with a telescope in the middle and a few candles dotting the edges. I have no idea where we are. I can only make out a few rock and cactus shapes against the darkness of the night. We could be lost in the desert, but I don’t care. This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me.

I touch his arm, and warmth skates up my hand. “You did this? While I was sleeping?”

He shoves his hands into his pockets and ducks his head like he’s afraid to admit it. I love this shy version of Ward. “You were sleeping for a while.”

“This is amazing,” I breathe, stepping onto the blanket. “Are you going to teach me about the stars?”

“I am. Do you know any constellations?”

I peer up at the sky. “Um, I think that’s the Big Dipper. There’s supposed to be a little one too, right?”

He nods and steps closer. “It’s right there.” His arm brushes my side, and I lean into his warmth. “And that’s Orion.” His arm moves around me to more accurately show me.

“Where?”

He braces his other hand on my hip and my eyelids flutter closed. “Here, I want to show you the moon.”

Is it better than this? Because I don’t think it can be.Sorry, Neil Armstrong. I’m staying here on earth in Ward’s arms.

He directs me to the telescope, and I bend forward, resting my eye against the lens. It takes me a moment to adjust, then I’m blown away. The moon is right here next to me, close enough to touch it.

“I can see the craters and everything,” I say in awe.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” he asks.

“Amazing.” I straighten and look at him. “It’s the same moon in the sky every night, but I’ve never realized how beautiful it is until now.”

“I agree,” he whispers, his breath hot on my neck. “Beauty like that should never be taken for granted.”

My pulse beats erratically, like Crew’s pounding on it with a spatula. I want—no, need—Ward to close the gap between us.

He clears his throat. “Have you ever seen a comet?” he asks, taking a step back, replacing his warmth with, well, the Arizona heat. It’s not nearly as desirable.

Am I the only one aware of what’s happening here?

I clear my throat. “Is there supposed to be one tonight? I’ve always wanted to catch something cool like that.”

“Just put your eye right there,” he says. I lean over, positioning myself to see clearly through the eyepiece.

“Okay, now watch through there. Let me check the time.” His voice trails off, and I study the night sky, not sure what I should be looking for. Dozens of stars are in view, closer than I’ve ever seen them before. I want to take one home for Crew. I can’t give him the world, but maybe a star would be enough.

“Where did you go?” I holler to Ward.

“I’m just grabbing my binoculars,” he calls from somewhere off to my left.

A black blob shoots across the sky in front of me, and I jump back. “What the heck was that?”

“The comet.”

“That wasn’t a comet. Aren’t comets supposed to be like giant balls of light?” I turn to find Ward, who’s holding something out to me.

A familiar green bottle of cleaner dangles from his hand, and I grin when my eyes find the word “comet“.

I can’t help the laugh that wells up inside of me.