18. Chapter 18 #3
A challenging glimmer lights up in her eyes. I throw my first ball and hit the pyramid dead center. Three of the ten cans fall down.
"Nice," she declares, then throws hers. She hits the bottom row, to the very right, and only one of the cans falls. My next one flies right past the pyramid.
Ultimately, I let her win. It's worth it to see the triumphant smile on her face and get a gentle ribbing.
"I would have destroyed you on the plastic shotguns," I assure her as she's hugging the teddy bear tightly to her chest with one arm, so giddy she’s almost skipping alongside me.
"Oh, you totally would have. That's why I didn't pick them." She laces her fingers with mine and pulls me to the cider booth.
The sun has disappeared, the entire main square cast in the warm glow of the streetlamps and string lights making the trees appear like they're made of gold. Plastic cup with cider in one hand and hers in the other. The day can’t get much more perfect.
"It's about time to find a place for the fireworks," I say and lead her towards the gazebo.
"Aren't they on the exact opposite end of the park, though?" Kylie wonders, but lets me guide her up the few steps.
"They're in the sky," I say very intelligently and hold her cup as she sits down on the top step. "Most gather in the square because it's the place to be, but trust me." I take a seat next to her and hand her cup back. "We’ll have a wonderful view from here."
"Okay." She extends her legs and leans her head on my shoulder. "I trust you." A warm blanket encases my heart, the only reason it doesn’t fly out of my chest, light with joy.
"That means a lot." I lift my arm, and immediately she cuddles into my side. She’s touchy. I love it.
We stay like this for a while. Sipping our cider, enjoying each other’s presence and the crisp autumn air.
"Are we… dating?" she whispers into the silence. I feel her cheek moving against the side of my chest. I want to see her face, the adorable blush she’s sporting right now without a doubt, but I can only see the top of her head.
"We declared today a date, so yeah. I’d say we are.” Her shoulders sag and she lets out a relieved sigh. “Do you want to be dating?"
"I don't know." She lets out a deep sigh and leans her head against my shoulder again. "You? Definitely. In general? Probably not." Her shoulders move with the deep breath she’s taking. "We might barely know each other yet but I really, really like you, Erik."
"I really, really like you too, Kylie." She leans away a little and glances up at me.
"Are you sure?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know." She sinks into herself. "My mom keeps calling me to tell me I'll go to hell. And sometimes I think having the divorce brand stamped on me, is making me damaged goods."
I turn to her, eyebrows high up my forehead. "What the hell?"
"I'm sorry." I deflate. There she goes again, apologizing for things that aren’t her fault to begin with. I take the cider out of her hand and set both of our cups aside.
"Listen, Kylie,” I wait for her to turn to me. “I've been in relationships too. Having a past doesn't make us damaged goods. Having a past makes us human."
"Yeah, but the difference is you didn't go up in front of their families and say 'I do.'" Her voice dies towards the end of the sentence.
Really? A bunch of people hearing her say two little words is what makes her insecure?
"Some people hearing you say 'I do,' it changes what exactly?" Her jaw drops and she slowly blinks at me. "Your divorce is through?" I ask, even though I know the answer.
“Yes. Of course.” Her voice is barely above a whisper.
"Do you have any intention of getting back with him?"
She vehemently shakes her head.
"Then I don't give a fuck." The lights in the main square dim, the first firework flies up into the sky with a high-pitched whistle.
"Kylie?" I swipe a strand of her hair behind her ear and keep my hand right there at her cheek. She nudges her face into it like a cat and closes her eyes. I smile. My heart beats into my throat even louder than the fireworks exploding.
"Okay then," she mumbles, her eyes fluttering open.
"Okay what?"
"We're dating. But you know what we should be doing?"
"What is that?" I ask.
She slides her hands up my shoulders and places her fingers at the back of my neck, thumbs playing with my hair and sending a shiver down my spine.
"Kissing." She nods. "I really think we should be kissing."
“Your wish is my command.”
I lean in, eyes locked with hers. For a moment, I freeze, only a breath away from her lips, heart beating louder than the first fireworks popping in the distance.
I want to burn this moment into my brain so I can remember it forever.
Her adorably red cheeks, the fireworks reflecting in her eyes, how she subtly leans into me, as if pulled by a magnet.
Then her long eyelashes flutter as she closes her eyes. The moment my lips find hers and I close my eyes, a bundle of fireworks explodes in the sky and right in my chest.
"Fuck," I mumble against her lips, feeling her mouth stretch into a smile.