She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so alive, so in her skin, and in the moment.
It was exhilarating. She didn’t want to break the magic spell by moving. Or speaking. Or even breathing.
Finally, to her intense disappointment, Troy took a step back.
“Watch out for apples,” she joked.
He smiled. “Hey, at least you set the mug down before you almost took that fall. I don’t know if I could’ve brought it back to life twice in one day.”
“I think you could’ve.” She kept her voice light as she said this, not wanting to reveal the true feelings her words hinted at, but rather keep the whole thing between them on the level of banter.
For now, anyway.
Troy, though, apparently had a different idea.
“So, Alison. I have a confession.”
“Shoot.”
“I didn’t just come over here to return your mug.”
“Oh, no?”
“No. I was wondering, since you’re new in town, if you’d let me take you to dinner. Show you around a little.”
She let a slow smile grow on her lips, mirroring the warm glow spreading through her body at his words. “Just since I’m new in town, huh? A welcoming committee sort of thing?” she teased.
He chuckled. “Exactly. Call me the Welcome Wagon.”
“Okay, Welcome Wagon. What time do you want to pick me up?”
“Seven sharp.”
“I’ll be ready.”
He gave a wave as he stepped out the back door. “See you then.”
She watched him walk across the sandy, patchy grass expanse that separated the two homes and couldn’t help feeling like there might be a lot more song-filled afternoons in her future.