“How’d you end up in Minnesota?”
“Closed my eyes and pointed to a place on one of those spinning globes at a store.”
“Really?”
“I…hitched up to Minnesota. It was between this town and a storybook-type town called Rena. I liked it here, so I stayed. It’s small, but not too small that a newbie sticks out.”
“Where’d you come from?”
She reached for her drink. After a long gulp and a few tugs on a new Red Vine she said, “Mexico.”
“Really? I’ve always wanted to go there. I—”
“You need to think bigger…think Cayman or Hawaii or something. Mexico sucks.” She settled back down, eyes fixed on the screen.
Okay, whatever happened to her happened in Mexico. Nice to know.
“Come here,” I said, opening my arm so she’d cuddle under it. “I’ll behave. I promise. Unless you ask me not to.”
She scooted closer. “Is that why you reserved this seat instead of the chairs…or blanket?”
“Of course. I didn’t get to see you Saturday night at the bar or all day today, since I was working at the store.” I hugged her close. “Much touching needed.”
Sarah laughed as she reached into the bag of candy I held. “You’re doing well.”
“Yeah?” I rested my cheek on the top of her head, basking in the lilac scent. “Kiss-worthy good?”
Chapter Eighteen
Sarah
“Thisisdatenumberthree, Angelina.” I primped my hair.
“You look great,” Angelina said, her smile beaming through the video chat. “No pressure. Just…go with it.”
“Easier said than done.” I took in a deep breath. Tonight was the night I’d decided I was going to kiss Drey. “He’s been so patient with me. Like he knows.”
“That guy might be a big lug, but he’s no dummy.” Angelina laughed. “Guys might not talk much, but they think a lot. You can trust him.”
“I do.” I finger-combed my hair one last time. I changed the pink to purple, and I wasn’t sure I liked it against my auburn natural color.
“You’re just scared. Because of what happened to you. I get that, girl. Totally get it. Take it slow. He’s patient.”
“I’d say.” So was Angelina. She’d been right about the connection between survivors. I never realized it, but hell, I’d wanted someone to confide in but never tried. Never took the risk…until her. She was impossible to refuse though.
She was so sweet, and she and Hunter were annoyingly cute. I never would have guessed someone like Hunter would be reduced to a romantic, giggly guy like he was around Angelina.
Which made me want to have that with Drey. My heart palpitated at the thought of being close to him. And not just sex. Sex was easy for me, this talking, getting to know each other…dating…that was not so easy.
But I was ready for the next step. Hopefully.
“Okay. I better go.” I glanced at the iPad screen. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Sure babe. You can do this. Hell, Lizzie, you remember her, right? She’s on her fifth simulation of getting on a plane.”
“She’s working to come here?”
Angelina popped a few candy corns into her mouth and said, “Next try is at an actual airstrip and walking to a real, live plane. And ifshecan do that? You can dothis.”