Page 81 of Starrily

“Simon!” Callie shot to her feet. “You crazy—I just said it might not be edible!”

He shook from laughter. “Relax. It was the smallest bite possible.” He chewed. “An earthy note, a bit of nuttiness in there …”

Callie facepalmed. “Can you have a bit less of a death wish?”

“Come on.” He offered her a hand to pull her back down, and once she sat, he spit out the bite. “I’ll be fine.” One little mushroom wouldn’t bring him down. He had way bigger problems.

But currently, he didn’t want to think about those.

He wasn’t sure if she’d done it subconsciously, but Callie leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed. Simon stayed locked in his position, not wanting to disturb her, and rested his eyes on the lake. A shame he didn’t think of bringing more camping supplies on the trip. This was the perfect spot. He’d put up a tent, get a little fire going, and they’d wait until night fell and sit outside and watch the stars. Just the sky, the forest, and them. Two free spirits on their adventure, not a man who, for the first time in his life, was deadly afraid, and a woman running from her own ghosts. He’d lay her down, and they’d make love under the stars …

For a bit, the moment was perfect.

“Callie,” he whispered, and she looked up at him. He only had to lean down and seal her lips with his. He made the slightest nudge, and he thought she did, too—

Behind them, Theia suddenly crashed against the crate door of her carrier. Simon and Callie jumped apart.

Theia meowed, looking somewhere up, and tried to get a paw through the door.

“She probably saw a bird,” Callie said. “We should go before it gets dark.”

And just like that, the moment was gone.

Chapter 19

Callie loved her cat, but Theia was chaperoning her too hard.

The second day drew to a close, and after they left the lake, Simon led them to their next lodgings, where he, once again, got them separate rooms, murmuring something about “needing room for Theia anyway.” That, plus Theia’s little outburst at the lake, and Callie was getting a bit annoyed.

She was sure Theia wasn’t doing it on purpose, but still. All Callie needed was the right moment. One moment. And she couldn’t get it.

The third day opened with clear, sunny skies as far as the eye could see, perfect for a drive. And perfect to take the scenic route, as Simon turned off the interstate and onto a less traveled road, cracked from weather influences, and grainy and patchy from bits of sand blown over from the sides.

“I thought we could visit the good old Route 66,” he said.

“You did, huh?” Callie tried on a pair of sunglasses—ones Simon got for her yesterday—and fastened on a wide-brimmed hat.

“It’s on the bucket list if you need confirmation.”

She checked the tablet.

“Devil’s in the details,” Simon helped her out. “One six short, but close enough.”

“Liar. You added this between yesterday afternoon and now,” she said. “I would’ve remembered it when I crossed off‘find gold.’”

“All right. I added it.” He wagged his finger. “Which is not forbidden! There’s no clause in the rules saying I can’t add items.”

“Because there are no rules.”

“Just the way I like it.”

She shook her head and put on some music.

“You won’t mind if we take a bit of detour, will you? At best, it will add a day.”

“I suppose the truffles were my fault.”

“Youridea, not your fault.” He quickly glanced back. “And you, Theia? Surely you won’t mind the scenic route.”