Leaning over, we started moving haphazardly as I mimicked Ty’s erratic moves. Levi and Millie with Pam and Jaxson soon joined as we danced to “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynard Skynard. There was no doubt Millie’s selections were still playing.
A few songs later, we wrapped it up and headed outside. The cool breeze felt good against my heated skin. Time drew near for Millie to leave. I hugged her tightly to me. “Thank you for all you did. Be careful.”
“I promise. Be happy, London. We’ll figure this out. We’ll use our code.”
If Millie found something new out
about me being framed, she would tell me about a new ice cream flavor she tried. It was simplistically stupid, but would keep anyone unaware of what we were doing. With not knowing who was behind this and seeing the depths they went, we weren’t going to take a chance our phones were tapped.
I waved as she drove off and took a deep breath as hands wrapped around my leg. “Night, London. I’m leaving.”
Kneeling, I gave him a hug. “Night, Ty. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”
“Night,” I said to Jaxson, who was right next to me as I stood.
Jaxson picked up Ty putting a few feet between us. “Love you, Ty. Listen to Grama and Grampa.”
“Love you, Dad. Make sure London gets home.”
“I will.”
Skipping away, Ty got in Levi’s mammoth sized truck before leaving. Crickets chirping filled the silence between us as Jaxson moseyed closer to me. We were alone at the edge of the parking lot. “Did you arrange this?”
“Mom and Dad offered to give us some time together.”
Time alone . . . with Jaxson. I smiled at the thought. “It’s been pretty crazy the last couple of days.”
“It’s why we need to have a date . . . some time for us.”
Jaxson helped me in his big truck. Like father, like son. Nervous butterflies drifted in my stomach. Let things happen naturally. See where this goes. No pressure. With my hand held in his, he rubbed soothing circles as the truck bounced along the dirt road.
“How are you doing after this morning?”
The realizations of the morning felt like a lifetime ago. “It’s surreal. I’m scared. It’s a new reality for me.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
I stared out the window. “I know. It means a lot.” And it did. More than Jaxson would ever know. The truck came to a stop. “Where are we?”
“A field. Come on.”
My eyes rolled heavenward at Captain Obvious’ statement. In the moonlight the grass swayed to its own beat as the wind rustled about. It was peaceful. At the back of the truck, Jaxson spread a blanket. “I thought we could spend some time watching the stars.”
“I’d love to.” Snuggled into the side of Jaxson, I gazed up into the sky and asked, “Do you worry this is too fast?”
“No. Not at all, London. It feels wrong to hold back.”
“Yeah, it does.” That was true. When I let my heart lead me, things felt right.
We lay under the stars and talked while stealing kisses. A shooting star raced across the sky. “Make a wish, sweetheart.”
“You.”
“I wish—”
I silenced him with my finger. “You can’t say it out loud. It’s bad luck.” A brow raised and I explained. “Before Mom got sick, we wished on every shooting star. We always said them out loud and our wishes didn’t come true. Don’t say it out loud. Please.”
Lips found my forehead. “I’ll keep it to myself but let you know when it comes true.”