The trees are so vividlygreenagainst that blue water with frothy white waves and the bluest sky in the world.
“Wow,” is all I can say. “This could be the best view on the planet.”
“I’m inclined to agree.” His hand’s still in mine, and he squeezes. “Come see this.”
The doors on the back of the van are open. The bed looks out tothisview, and there are lights strung over to the trees, above a fire pit where we can cook.
Well,hecan cook, and I’ll roast marshmallows.
Petunia’s already in her harness, and her leash is tied to the inside of the van, where she’s lying on the bed, enjoying the view of the water, as always.
“Can we just live here all the time?”
He laughs and pulls something out from under the bed.
“Hold that thought,” he says, and before my very eyes hangs a hammock between two trees.
“I call that spot,” I inform him. “I’m going to read and sleep there all the livelong day, while I listen to the ocean.”
“It’s all yours.” He pulls me to him and kisses me softly in that way he does that turns my knees to jelly and my heart to mush. “Are you happy?”
“So happy. I already feel lighter.”
“Excellent. Now, let’s get cozy. Do you need a snack?”
“Uh, this is vacation. Ofcourse,I need a snack.”
“That’sthe third marshmallow I’ve lost to the fire.” I stick my bottom lip out in a pout.
“You leave it in the flame too long,” Tanner says. “Just get a little sizzle going, then pull it out.”
“That’s what she said.” I snort out a laugh when he narrows his eyes at me. “Come on, that was funny. I like mineburnt.Like, black. Give me all the charcoal on this sucker.”
“It’s going to fall off,” he warns me as I impale another marshmallow. He’s eaten three s’mores already, and I haven’t had even one.
Because I’m trying to get the marshmallow just perfect. This time, when it starts to sizzle, I count to three, then pull it out and let it burn outside of the fire. And when it just starts to turn black, I blow it out.
“Success,” I announce with glee. “Finally. I’m starving.”
“You just ate a burger and a hobo packet.”
“I’m starving for sugar,” I clarify, and build my little s’more sandwich, then take a bite. “Oh, my gah, so good.”
Tanner reaches over and rubs some chocolate off my lip, then sucks it off his own thumb.
We can’t see the water anymore in the dark, but the sky is scattered with millions of stars, and I can even see the Milky Way.
“It’s incredible out here.” Tanner and I huddle up with a blanket wrapped around us and settle back in the double camping chair that he brought along to look up at the sky.
“I should have thought to bring a telescope,” he says softly. “With no light noise out here, I bet you can see some awesome things.”
“We could probably even do that at home.” I lean my head on his shoulder. “Do you see the Milky Way?”
“No, where?”
“There.” I point due west. “You have to really hunt without a time-lapse camera, but you can make it out.”
“Holy shit, I see it.”