Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
I sling my backpack over my shoulder and grab the transport box for the samples. The lab is still quiet in the early morning, and the equipment hums softly in the empty space. My thoughts, however, are already racing ahead, filled with the tasks waiting for me today. Taking a deep breath, I head to the lab door, ready to join Greg and the pilot at the helicopter pad, where they’re waiting for Mike and me to head out and collect more caribou samples in the field.
As I push open the door, Mike is leaning casually against the wall on the other side, arms crossed and a grin stretched wide across his face. His whole demeanour radiates anticipation, and I can’t help but shake my head, since I know exactly what’s coming.
“Sooo,” he drawls, falling into step beside me. “Tell me.”
I give him a sideways glance. “Tell you what?” I ask, playing dumb as he nudges me with his shoulder.
“Oh, come on.” Mike rolls his eyes. “You were super quiet this weekend, and I never heard from you about biking. You were with him, weren’t you? ”
I turn to look at him, and his grin somehow grows even bigger as he practically skips with excitement. It’s too early on a Monday for this.
But the memories of the weekend bubble up to the surface, making it hard not to smile.
“Yes,” I admit. “We went on a hike, and then he came over after I left my mom’s yesterday.”
Mike shoves the back door of the centre open, leading us out into the warmth of the morning. It’s going to be one of those perfect sunny days that begs you to be outside.
“So, tell me ,” Mike presses, his tone more urgent as he gives me an intense look, like he absolutely needs this information.
I can’t help but chuckle, and I draw out my pause to torture him as I watch Greg hop into the front seat of the helicopter when he sees us approaching. “It was a good time,” I say casually. “I kissed him.”
His reaction is immediate as his hand shoots out, smacking the centre of my chest and stopping me in my tracks. He whirls on me with wide eyes. “Dude, you open with that.”
The pilot starts the engine, the rumbling sound filling the air as the blades start turning.
“Then what?” Mike asks, his lips turning up in a sly smile.
I push him back and continue towards the helicopter, raising my voice over the roar of the blades. “Then nothing. We talked about a book he’s reading and barbequed.”
He raises an eyebrow as we duck under the spinning blades and load our equipment into the back. “Sounds… peaceful,” he says with a shrug.
“It was,” I reply, settling into my seat and pulling on my headset.
And it really was. Peaceful in a way I haven’t let myself enjoy in a long time. My home has always been my sanctuary, a place to recharge and just be, with no expectations. But last night, with Arthur, it felt like more. I could see the life I want to build, and it didn’t feel lonely. The sunsets and quiet evenings spent on the deck, with donkeys, and apparently highland cows, wandering around. The simplicity of it all felt so perfect, and like a much-needed balance to my everyday chaos.
While I enjoy the action and constant movement in my life, there’s something about the stillness I’ve discovered with Arthur that I crave just as much.
“So, he is into guys then?” Mike’s voice cuts through my headset, dragging me from my thoughts.
I glance over at him and shrug. “I guess so.”
He huffs out a laugh and shakes his head as the helicopter begins to lift from the ground, and the world below us starts to shrink.
And yeah… I guess that’s a conversation we should have.
“You going to bring him to the wedding?” Mike asks.
I open my mouth to answer, but hesitate. “Uh, I don’t know…”
“Why not?” Mike asks, glancing at me with a furrowed brow.
I sigh, trying to put the right words together. “Arthur doesn’t like loud, busy places. And I’m in the wedding, so I won’t be with him much.”
Mike waves that off like it’s no big deal. “Not during the ceremony, but you’ll be free at the reception. Why don’t you bring him out this week? We’ll go to the pub in Rockport Bay, so it’s right by you. He can meet us so he knows some people there, and G here can hang out with him while you’re busy doing best man stuff.”
Greg glances back at us and I lift my eyebrows in question at him. He just nods, then turns back to the front. He’s not a big talker so… that could actually work…
“Ok…” I say thoughtfully. “I’ll ask him. ”
“Excellent,” Mike says with a proud nod. “Now, G. Did you have a photo booth at your wedding? I need prop ideas.”
As Mike starts listing off all of his prop ideas for the photo booth, which I’m sure is already handled, I shift my gaze out the window. The tops of the trees pass beneath us, the dense canopy of trees rolling by like waves in an endless sea of green, while the sky slowly wakes, transforming into a vivid, endless blue.
But despite the serenity outside, my mind keeps circling back to Arthur. It's only been a little over a week since we met, but the thought of introducing him to my friends sparks a mix of excitement and anxiety. I worry that it might be too soon. I’m not even sure he’ll want to. This weekend was the first real confirmation that he was even interested, and even then, it was subtle. I thought I saw it in the way he spoke and lingered by me while we hiked, and in the softness of his gaze before we kissed. But after that kiss… I felt it.
I don’t quite know how to explain it, but I feel this magnetic pull, like a quiet connection is drawing us closer, despite how different we are. He’s reserved and methodical, while I’m outgoing and spontaneous. And yet, we understand each other. It almost feels like I’ve known him far longer than I have, even though there’s so much more to uncover with him. It’s a strange feeling, but it’s one I want more of.
I shift in my seat and let my gaze sweep across the treetops, where the golden rays of the sun catch on the highest branches. The wilderness stretches endlessly, like a patchwork of green and gold as the trees sway gently in the early morning breeze. The sky is gradually shifting from pale grey to a vibrant blue, as hints of pink and orange fade into the horizon as the sun rises higher. It’s a stunning view from up here, and I think of Arthur as I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone to snap a picture.
I send it to him, and tap out a message.
Morning! Heading out into the field today, and the view is incredible up here in the chopper.
I hit send and stare down at my phone, my heart thudding just a little faster than it should.
As the helicopter hums along, and Mike continues chatting away with Greg, I keep my eyes on the screen, waiting for those three dots to appear to show that he’s typing. And when they do, I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips.
Arthur
View is good here too.
A moment later, a photo comes through. And my jaw drops.
Even taking a photo with a fucking phone, he’s incredible.
I can tell by the lighthouse and scenery that he’s at Cape Spear, the easternmost place in Canada. He’s captured the intense beauty of that place, in an image that frames the lighthouse and rocky cliffs against a sky ablaze with fiery reds and oranges as the sun rises over the deep blue water. I can almost feel the chill of the morning air as I take in the beautiful details of the photo. If he took this with his phone, I can just imagine the photos he captured with his camera.
That’s amazing. Holy shit.
You were out early.
Yeah, doing landscape photos today.
My smile grows wider as I remember the gorgeous photos he took this weekend during our hike.
Fuck. I really want to see him again.
Do you have plans tonight?
My thumbs hover over the screen as I anxiously wait for him to reply.
After I’m done here, I’m going home to edit these photos.
I’m not quite sure what that means… It’s not a no, or a yes. I hesitate for a moment, trying to decide if I should go for it.
And I do.
I was thinking of taking the bird home after work. If you wanted to come see her and help her settle?
Silence.
“Herd up ahead,” Greg calls, and I look up, spotting the caribou in a clearing in the distance.
I know I should focus, and that in a few short minutes we’ll be over the herd and I need to have my eyes on them. But my gaze flicks back to my phone.
Still nothing.
Fuck.
I know he doesn’t like to change his plans and routine, and ever since he met me, it seems like that’s all he’s done. I’d already asked so much of him this weekend… maybe it was too much. He looked so anxious when he first got to my house yesterday, and even though he seemed to relax, I’m sure it was hard for him.
Worry starts creeping in as I think that he could very well slam the breaks on this at any point.
But just as I rub my hand over my face, my phone buzzes.
Ok. What time ?
A breath escapes me as the tension drains, and a grin spreads across my face. I’ve never felt this nervous with anyone before. And somehow, in his quiet and reserved way, Arthur seems to have completely captured all my thoughts and attention.
I finish at 4, so I’ll meet you at my place at 4:30?
See you then.
I shove my phone into my pocket, still smiling as I catch Mike watching me with a raised eyebrow.
“What?” I ask innocently, peering out the window as we approach the herd.
Mike just chuckles. “You got it bad.”
But all I can do is huff out a breath and shrug.
Because, yeah. I do.