Page 123 of Say You'll Never Let Go

“If we turn back every time there’s a hint of trouble, then we’ll never do anything,” Kara says, as they grab their packs and aim for a trailhead to another epic viewpoint.

He nods in return, already distracted by the beauty of the landscape just from the parking lot. Can’t imagine how much better it gets the further they go. He wants to find out and he wants to do it all with her.

Fuck whoever else is out there. For now, he’s happy to let his thoughts drift back to what’s been occupying his mind the rest of the morning. He and Kara had sex, and it happened more than once, so it’s not a fluke. She didn’t think it was an awful mistake after the first time. In fact, they almost didn’t leave the house this morning when staying in bed seemed like a betteradventure. They’ve moved from best friends into something more and his mind is still spinning.

Operation Woo Kara was a success. Even so, that doesn’t mean he’s finished.

He’s gotten her. Now he has to keep her.

He must have a stupid grin plastered on his face as they begin the hike, because she elbows him playfully. “What’s that look about?”

“Nothing. Just feeling pretty damn lucky right now.”

She beams at him. Despite having seen it often by now, it never gets old. She’s only more beautiful than she was five seconds ago, and another ten seconds later, it’ll still be true then.

“I am, too,” she agrees. “Lucky.”

On the rare occasions he allowed himself to imagine what life might be like for themafterit was always a little awkward at first. Strange after being friends for so long and then suddenly shifting that dynamic overnight, but the reality of it hasn’t turned out that way. It’s so much easier than he expected to make this leap because the more he thinks about it, the clearer it is that they’ve been together for years already.

The only thing they haven’t done is what happened last night, but sex alone doesn’t make a relationship. Everything else does.

She’s seen all of him,felt all of him, and she’s still here.

He tries not to dwell on those moments when she’ll look at him as if calculating the outcome, ready to broach whatever subject she’s been hiding since admitting she’s got a secret. The conversation never comes.

Suddenly, he needs to know for sure that this is what he thinks it is. He’ll sound ridiculous and insecure, but if they can’t talk about the important shit, then they’ve got other problems entirely.

He’ll ask her today. Soon. Just needs to find the right moment.

They come to a stop in a field of lush greens out of place in the desert. The red rock formations jutting out of the ground remind him they’re still out west. It’s a blend straight out of a sci-fi movie. All that’s missing is their crash-landed ship as they explore a new planet.

“Food?” She shrugs off her pack, where they’ve stuffed a makeshift picnic of odds and ends.

“I can always eat.”

“I know,” she teases, her tone full of innuendo.

Suddenly, he’s hungry for something else all over again. The rumble of her stomach suggests they at least make a token effort at this picnic.

She hands him a leftover muffin, her knee resting against his because they’ve turned into cats now, always touching.

“Favorite TV show?” He fails at voicing his real question and reaches for the safety of that game instead.

Luckily, she follows him easily. “Golden Girls. “

He raises a brow. “Really?”

“Yes. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I dunno, you just seem more like a serious TV kinda person. I remember you loved that one about aliens and FBI agents back in the day.”

Kara shrugs. “Maybe I’m not as serious as you think. Or maybe I just wish I wasn’t, and Golden Girls made me smile when not much else did.”

His eyes soften, and he nudges her shoulder. “Which one did you like best?”

“Rose, of course. Betty White is always the favorite in anything she does.” Kara’s nose scrunches up. “Wow, just realized all the famous people are gone by now, aren’t they? Never really thought about that.”

“Guess so. Maybe some made it, though.”