Star
I walk into the Snowpack the next day, my head still buzzing from the night before. Everything about it was unexpected — Barrow, the dance, the way he looked at me, the way everything felt so…right.
I can’t stop thinking about him.
My chest tightens as I step into the cafe and head straight for the counter, trying to pull myself together.
Ruby is already there, looking way too chipper for this early in the day. She shoots me a knowing smile and leans over the counter with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“Look what came for you,” she says, pulling a small bouquet of tulips from behind the counter.
My heart skips a beat, and I blink down at the flowers, confused.
“For me?” I ask, feeling heat rise in my cheeks. Ruby’s too excited for this to be anything but something .
“Uh-huh,” she says, practically bouncing with excitement. “Barrow dropped them off this morning. Along with a note.”
She hands me the bouquet like it's the most normal thing in the world, but my fingers tremble as I take them.
“Barrow?” I whisper, trying to keep the surprise out of my voice.
Ruby’s grin only widens. “Yep. He asked me to give them to you when you came in. What are you going to do, ? Tell me you’re going to meet him tonight, right? You have to!”
I stare down at the flowers, the note tucked between the stems, and my pulse picks up. I can feel Ruby’s eyes on me, and for a moment, I’m frozen.
My mind is racing, my heart thumping loudly in my chest. It’s not just the flowers. It’s the invitation.
It’s him .
I take the note, carefully unfolding it with hands that feel too shaky. My breath catches as I read the simple words, Barrow’s handwriting warm and direct:
Had an amazing time last night. I’d love to see you again. How about meeting me at the sandy bank on the river after your shift? I’ll bring the fire, if you bring yourself.
- Barrow.
My stomach flutters at the words. I feel the heat on my cheeks again, and I quickly glance up at Ruby, who’s watching me expectantly.
“Well?” she asks, practically holding her breath.
I’m trying to keep my composure, but it’s not working. I’m terrified, excited, all of it at once. “I don’t know...” I trail off, my voice barely above a whisper. “This is...it's crazy, right? Falling for a guy I barely know?”
Ruby raises an eyebrow, her expression pure mischief. “Are you kidding? This is exactly what you need, . You’re going. I can feel it.”
She’s right. I can feel it too.
Something inside of me that I’ve tried to ignore for years is waking up, and it’s leading me straight to him.
“Okay,” I say, almost to myself. “Okay, I’ll go.”
Ruby claps her hands together in excitement, her grin stretching wider. “Yes! Trust me. Barrow is exactly what you need.”
I laugh nervously, still holding the bouquet like it might somehow disappear. “I don’t know what I’m doing...but I’m going.”
“Good,” Ruby says, practically beaming. “I don’t think you’ll regret it.” She gives me a wink as she heads off to the back to prepare for the lunch rush.
I stand there for a moment longer, staring down at the tulips in my hands, the warmth of the note still lingering in my fingers.
Barrow wants to see me again.
He wants me to meet him at the river, with nothing but a fire and the cold night air.
I know I’m nervous.
But I can’t lie to myself — I want to go.
No, I need to. I can’t wait to see him again.
Later that night, I finish my shift, my nerves twisting tighter with each passing minute. The cold night air hits me the moment I step outside, and I pull my coat tighter around me, trying to settle my thoughts.
I keep replaying everything in my head. The flowers. The note. My certainty that I need to meet him tonight.
I’m still not sure how all of this happened, but something inside me is telling me this is a chance I have to take. And as the chilly autumn wind bites at my cheeks, I remind myself that I’m not going to turn away from this. Not this time.
The walk to the river feels longer than it should. My heart is beating in my throat, and with every step, I think about how crazy it is that I’m doing this—meeting a man I barely know in the middle of nowhere.
But then I see the flicker of light in the distance. My heart skips, and I break into a jog, my breath coming in quick bursts.
As I get closer, I see Barrow, standing beside a crackling fire, his face illuminated by the warm light, and I can’t help but smile. The worry in my chest eases just a little.
I stand for a moment, taking him in—his broad shoulders, the gentle smile that’s already forming when he sees me approach.
“You came,” he says, his voice soft and filled with that warm relief. “I wasn’t sure if you would.”
I can’t help but laugh, the sound a little shaky. “Yeah,” I reply. “I’m here.”
Barrow steps closer, his eyes soft and steady as he looks at me. “I’m glad,” he says, his gaze flickering down to the blankets he’s laid out on the ground, the thermoses beside them. “I wasn’t sure what you’d think, but I’m glad you trusted me enough to come.”
“I almost didn’t,” I admit. “This is wild, right? I mean, meeting a guy at the river in the middle of the night? What kind of woman does that?”
Barrow’s smile turns gentle, and he steps closer, his presence calming. “A woman who trusts herself,” he says. “A woman who trusts me.” He pauses, his voice going a little quieter. “And I promise you, , I’m not here to hurt you.”
I swallow hard, my heart pounding, and I suddenly feel something warm in the pit of my stomach.
“I trust you,” I whisper, surprising even myself.
He reaches out, taking my hand gently in his. His fingers are warm, his touch steady.
“Come sit with me,” he says softly, leading me to the blanket, where the fire crackles. He gestures to the s’mores, the hot cocoa, the hotdogs roasting over the flames. “I’ve got everything ready.”
I sit beside him, and for the first time in ages, I feel like I belong. The warmth of the fire, the night air, and Barrow — so sure, so grounded — surround me.
It’s perfect.
We talk, sharing the cocoa, laughing over silly things, until there’s nothing but us and the crackling fire. And then, as if we both know the moment is right, Barrow leans in, his eyes meeting mine.
I nod, my heart racing again, and that’s all he needs. He gently touches my cheek, and the kiss is soft at first, gentle and slow as he waits to see if I’ll pull away.
I don’t.
I lean in, my hands finding their way to his chest, feeling his heart hammering beneath my touch. I press my lips to his, tentatively at first, then with more insistence, more hunger.
And then, everything fades away. The fire, the cold, the world — everything but us.
When we finally pull back, I’m breathless, my heart racing as if I just ran a marathon. “That was...wow,” I whisper, still caught up in the rush.
Barrow smiles, his eyes dancing. “Yeah,” he agrees. “Wow.”
And for the first time in my life, I’m not afraid of what comes next. This is real. Barrow is everything I’ve been longing for, everything I didn’t quite believe existed.
I can’t walk away.
Not now.
Maybe not ever.
He’s got so much to teach me, and I want to see where it leads.