Page 19 of Striking the Match (Redwood Bay Fire #3)

Cassius’s frown deepens. “What a douche,” he says, like he has half a mind to stomp back down to our cars to go beat my brother’s ass right this minute.

I laugh and squeeze his arm without pausing to think about it. But it feels right, so I let my hand linger. The point of sharing that story wasn’t to make him mad.

“Don’t worry. My mom read him the riot act.

She didn’t give a shit that he’s in his late twenties and has been taller than her for a decade.

She told him to go mow the lawn and cool off while we celebrated.

” I grin, feeling a little emotional even though this happened a while ago now. “She’s really proud of her baby boy.”

“Good,” Cassius says with a nod.

I let my hand drop, even though I don’t want to. But it would be awkward to hold on to him any longer, I’m sure.

Cassius looks like he’s still in thought. “So…when you were thinking about the wildfires, you were really second guessing being on this date and having a good time? At least, I really hope you’re having a good time,” he adds with a nervous chuckle.

However, my brain has ground to a halt and so do my feet again, despite feeling a drop of rain on my cheek.

We’re on a trail lined with those trees that have thick trunks and branches reaching over the path to create a sort of canopy overhead, so at least we have some shelter right now if the heavens are going to open.

It does seem like it’s getting darker by the minute and there’s an ominous rumbling in the distance. None of that really registers, though, as I stare at Cassius, my mouth hanging open like a goldfish.

“You’re not having fun?” he slowly asks.

I shake my head, then realize how that could be interpreted. “No, I mean, yes! I’m having fun. Spending time with you is…I mean…did you just say date?”

He shifts uncomfortably, and I wonder for a horrifying second if I imagined it.

“Oh, shit,” he says and pinches the bridge of his nose, not helping to ease my worries. “I promised Bryan I’d make it clear and use the right words, and I still don’t think I did.”

What’s his slightly scary PA got to do with this?

Before I can spiral, he reaches out and takes my hands in his, and my heart stutters in my chest. “Yes, Teddy. This is supposed to be a date. The other day at Redwood Walkway and Pirate’s Cove was a date, too.

I was just too afraid of scaring you off to say it out loud, but that’s not fair.

I’m really sorry. I like you so much and hanging out together has been awesome.

But I’m fully aware that I’m not an ordinary guy and this would be a complicated situation for you, even if you were interested in me, which I don’t expect?—”

“YES!” I blurt so loudly it startles a couple of nearby birds.

Cassius blinks at me as a laugh bubbles out of my chest. But I feel lightheaded and giddy with joy, so I don’t really care if I look like a dork right now.

“Yes, Cassius. I’m very, very interested in this being a date.

A second date, actually. And not because you’re a football player. Or…were. Whatever. I like you. A lot.”

His face splits into the most beautiful smile and his thumbs brush against my knuckles, sending shivers all over my body. I’m so consumed by him, I barely feel it as a couple more drops of rain fall on my head. The trees rustle discontentedly around us.

“Yeah?” he asks. “You’d want to…explore something between us?” He laughs and looks around. “Other than this big hill where we’re about to get soaked.”

He’s probably right, but I don’t care. I want to try and be as honest as I can be with him right now.

“I’d want to explore everything with you,” I murmur, my heart thumping in my chest.

I’d say that I can’t believe this is really happening. However, I think I’m so far beyond that point I’m just going to have to accept this is now my reality and move forward, otherwise I’m only going to annoy both of us.

“But?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.

I laugh. “But,” I concede, “I can’t promise not to second guess myself sometimes and have intrusive thoughts.

I…Cassius, I wasn’t just a fan of yours when I was growing up.

I’ve still got photos of you in my locker at work right now.

Getting to know you has been like something out of my wildest dreams, but better.

Because you’re not some athlete I’ve got on a pedestal anymore.

You’re a fun, caring, thoughtful, smart, gorgeous man that I’ve somehow accidentally gone on two dates with.

I don’t know how…I’ve never dated as an adult.

This feels like I’ve jumped straight to the advanced level. ”

He throws his head back and laughs before beaming at me again. “Tell me about it. And I’ve had a bit more of an adult life than you.”

I bite my lip, my pulse still throbbing in my ears. “You really never dated this whole time?” He shakes his head. “And you’re sure you want to try…with me?”

“Yes, Teddy.”

He squeezes our fingers and draws me closer so our hands are pressed against both of our chests.

He’s only a little taller than me, and I gaze into his eyes.

They’re so near that I can see little flecks of gold in the hazel.

His breath is warm against my lips. The rain is getting heavier, making dark spots on our clothes.

“You could date any guy you wanted,” I clarify, “and you’re picking me?”

“Yes, Teddy.” He grins. There’s something sensual as his gaze travels over my face, lingering on my mouth. “They’d also have to want to date me. But I think you said you were open to that, right?”

“Yeah,” I rasp, almost like I’m lost in a trance.

It seems he still has a little sense about him, though. “You’re right that it will be complicated. There will be stupid rules we’ll have to follow if we want to have any privacy. I don’t ever want you to feel trapped or held back.”

That sobers me up somewhat, and I frown.

“You don’t make me feel trapped,” I tell him sincerely.

“You make me feel free. Seen. Important. If you want to stay at home rather than going out where people might bother you, we can cook or order in. We can hike in the middle of nowhere or hang out with pirates.”

He shakes his head and caresses my fingers some more.

“Not all the time, though. I’d want to show you off.

I don’t want to hide anymore. I’m done with the closet.

But that would mean people probably getting in your face at times, digging into your life, leaving shitty comments online.

It would be a lot, and I wouldn’t want you to be unprepared. ”

Part of me—that childish part—wants to say none of that matters. But he’s right. It’s going to be really important to consider everything he’s warning me about, and I shouldn’t go into this blind. However…

“I think…I think I’d like to try,” I whisper. “I’ve never felt like this about anyone before.”

“Me neither,” he says, and my heart explodes like the Fourth of July.

Except…the rumbling isn’t just coming from my imagination. The rain is running down our faces now and splattering on the leaves all around us. Thunder booms over our heads and with a gasp I look around, realizing the gravity of the situation.

I’m still clinging to his hands, though.

“I think we might have to abandon the waterfall for today,” I tell him ruefully. I’d say I was disappointed, but how can I be after the conversation we’ve just had? “We should probably…”

My words trail off as I frown. The rumbling sound changes.

It’s louder and lower. My training is screaming at me that something is very wrong.

I turn around and squint through the rain and the tree branches, trying to discern what’s causing the new noise and exactly which direction it’s coming from.

Movement farther up the peak catches my eye, but I can’t quite understand what I’m seeing. It’s almost like the trees are waving or shivering in the cold.

Then one leans, like it’s trying to reach for us from several dozen feet away…

Before it topples, rolling down the hill.

It’s not the only one.

“LANDSLIDE!” I yell, grabbing Cassius’s hand as we start to run.

It’s moving faster than we can, though, and I already know it. I just have to pray that my author knows what she’s doing.

Because this is not how mine and Cassius’s story ends.