7. Will
Chapter seven
Will
My fingers drum rhythmically on the muscle of my thigh, and I bounce my leg. I know it’s ‘cuz I’m nervous that she won’t like the surprise I have planned for her. I definitely don’t want Mia to catch me in the act. If she figures out I’m nervous, I’m sure it won’t take her too long to put two and two together and guess what I have up my sleeve.
I sink back into the couch in the lobby, resisting the urge to pull out my phone. I remind myself that this is Mia. Even if I miss the mark with my surprise, we’ll have a good time together. Always do.
I know she’s stressed about the news she got yesterday, and other than our one chat—I’m sure she’d describe it as a confession—she hadn’t wanted to talk about it again. Last night, she’d headed off to bed just after ten. I figured the best thing I could do to help was organize something for us to do today to take her mind off things. A bit of planning last night, and a few covert phone calls during the day today, and I have something I hope will be exactly what she needs.
I haven’t given her any hints about where we're going, except to say I have a surprise planned, and that she needs to wear something warm and comfortable she can walk in. I glance at the clock in the foyer and suppress a sigh. I love Mia, but despite being the biggest type-A person I’ve ever met, Mia is chronically late. Hopefully, she’ll arrive soon so I don’t piss the taxi driver off before we even get started. He’s doing me a massive favor.
Mia steps out of the elevator, scraping her long hair into a high ponytail. Her jeans hug her thighs, and her waist is perfectly framed by the open light gray coat she bought today when we were unexpectedly freezing. She's always beautiful, but right now, she’s stunning in a way I can’t describe. I love how vulnerable she has been willing to be with me these last couple of days. We’ve always been close, but it’s Mia—it’s always felt like there’s a little something she doesn’t want to share that she keeps behind glass. I stand, pulling a navy-blue scarf from the pocket of my jacket, and wind it around her neck in a greeting. I can’t take my eyes off her fingers as they sink into the soft fibers, imagining them wrapping around me, instead of the cashmere of the scarf.
“Sorry, you take this back, I’ll run up and grab mine,” Mia says, starting to unwind it from her neck.
I produce a second scarf out of my pocket.
“I knew you’d forget.” I scoop up the bag I packed earlier and turn, calling back over my shoulder. “Hurry up, can’t keep the taxi waiting.”
“Hey! I’m on time!”
“You’re about as close to on time as I’ve ever seen, Mia Davis. Let’s go!”
Organizing the taxi had been a nightmare—an expensive nightmare. Earlier today I had phoned four different taxi companies begging for someone to take us south to a spot I had found online, wait for however long we took, then drive us back. Unsurprisingly, it was difficult to find someone who would agree to it but I managed to find a taxi driver who was confused, but took it in good enough humor. I think he was curious enough that he said yes just for the adventure.
We settle into the car, and I refuse to answer any questions about where we’re going. Instead, I pointedly change the subject every time she asks, prompting eye rolls and irritated huffs from her. She’s taking it in good spirits though, and despite her annoyance she graciously laughs at all my stupid made-up stories about the things we see on the way.
“Will, forgive me if I don’t believe you that there’s a cow-ghost who haunts that supermarket.”
After nearly an hour’s drive, we finally pull into a car park off the main road.
“Just head straight up to the peak up there, you can’t miss the clearing. Maybe a ten-to-fifteen-minute walk.” The driver twists in his seat to watch us get out of the car. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
“Now he talks,” Mia grumbles as I hold out my hand to steady her as she gets out of the car. “Says nothing the entire time, no matter how many times I ask him where we were going. I thought he might have been deaf and I was being rude.”
I loop my arm through Mia’s, leading her toward the fence-line. I know from checking Google Maps and talking to my mate, the driver, that we need to climb over a stile to get over the fence, then head straight up to the tree line.
“Believe it or not, the silence cost extra.”
“Will you tell me where we’re going now? It’s freezing!” She snuggles into my side, clutching my arm with both hands.
“Just as well someone remembered your scarf, then, isn’t it?” I tease, detangling myself, then I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “This is the Gurnigel pass. It’s known for being really, really dark. Tonight is supposed to have no cloud, that’s why it’s so cold. But it’s clear, so it’s a perfect night to see the sky.”
“After the stories in the car, I’m not sure I believe you.”
Mia and I have been stargazing while camping before, back in university. We were camping, and we snuck off while the others were sleeping. One thing led to another, and we ended up kissing. It's the only time we’ve ever kissed. Just the once. Neither of us have ever mentioned it again, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it more often than is appropriate. And since then, we haven’t been stargazing without a chaperone. Until tonight.
Mia tenses beside me, tightness radiating across her shoulders. I hope that means she’s thinking about that night too, but maybe that’s just wishful thinking.
We walk without talking for another few minutes, the only sound the crunching of leaves underfoot and the occasional car in the distance. Out of nowhere, the trees that were looming in front of us clear, and we’re enveloped in the darkness of a moonless night. Thankfully, the gravel path is easy enough to follow by torchlight. I look around, seeing just a few specks of light far in the distance.
“Wow, look at that,” I breathe. Mia follows my gaze. I feel, rather than see her nod in the dark beside me. I turn and look around. We have a three hundred and sixty-degree view across Switzerland, just as I had been promised online. It’s spectacular.
“That must be a town that way,” I say, nodding with my head toward the lights as I pull the picnic blanket from my bag. Together, we spread it on the soft, damp ground.
We lay on our backs staring up at the sky, occasionally exclaiming about seeing a shooting star. I quietly point out the constellations I recognize, and Mia shows me the ones she knows as well. At some point, I realize Mia has rolled to her side and is facing me, head propped on her hand. Now my eyes have adjusted, she looks almost like she’s glowing in the dim starlight. She’s as spectacular as the beauty of tonight’s clear sky. She smiles, then turns her head to look back at the sky. An invitation? I take the opportunity to roll on my side too, mirroring her posture. I, too, turn my head to look at the sky.
Mia points out a shooting star, following it across the sky with her finger, then rests her hand next to mine, the backs of our hands touching. Out of the corner of my eye I see her lips part, and suddenly it becomes impossible to focus my attention anywhere but those lips. I wonder whether she can feel my heart pounding in my chest. I brought her here tonight so she can do something to take her mind off things. Getting turned on by her this quickly was not in the plan, but seeing her looking like that, so similar to the first time we kissed, wakes something inside me.
Though now I think about it, it’s hard to imagine a more perfect way to take her mind off things.
I lean forward, as slowly as I can, giving her plenty of opportunity to pull away if I’ve read it wrong. When I can’t take the suspense anymore, suddenly, her lips crash into mine.
The gap between us closes so quickly I have to hold back a gasp, a gasp which turns into a small moan as our lips meet. Mia’s fingers grip into the fabric of my jacket, and her hips press firmly against mine. I slide my arm over her waist to pull her in toward me, snaking my hand up her back. In return, her thigh snakes between mine, the heat of her radiating up my thighs and building to a slow throb in my cock. Somehow, her hand has fallen to my hip, and her freezing fingers are sliding over the tiny sliver of exposed skin between the gap of my jacket and jeans. Despite how cold her hands are, my skin burns where she’s touching me. I roll backward, keeping my hand between her shoulder blades and slowly pull her toward me, on top of me. She doesn’t hesitate to melt into my chest, folding her arms behind my neck, locking us together.
A few moments later, her lips drop from mine so she can catch her breath. She nuzzles into the warm fluff of my scarf. My mind is racing as I silently press my lips to her forehead.
How did this start? Did I start it?
I don’t even realize I’m massaging her perfect ass until her contented moan pulls me out of my head. I lift her chin with my other hand, catching her mouth again, gently biting her lip. My jeans are tight over my crotch and I shift my hips under her, hoping she won’t feel the swell of my hardness pressing into her. Or at least, if she does, that she likes it.
After the longest make-out session in my adult life, and not a small amount of dry humping, which I also haven’t done since I was about seventeen, I lean my forehead on Mia’s. She’s propped up, balanced on one elbow, with the other hand still grasping my jacket between us.
I kiss her cheek, then whisper into the silence between us, “you’re like a little Limpet, stuck onto the side of me.” Concern flashes over her face. “That’s not a bad thing, Mia. I’d have you as my wee Limpet any day. But we’re going to have to go back soon—” I kiss along her jaw, down to her neck. “—before we freeze out here.”
I kiss her again, savoring her taste, savoring every second with her before she reluctantly rolls off me.
Our walk to the waiting taxi is silent. Did she kiss me first? Did I kiss her? I push the memory of her lips; her tongue against mine out of my head, trying to focus. She’s my best friend. A lot is going on in her life right now. Would this have happened if she didn’t have other distractions? Is this her way of deflecting her feelings about what is happening with her birth family?
This time, we don’t touch like we had on the walk up, but every time our hands bump together, it feels like I’m getting a tiny shock of electricity. Without her body draped over mine, I’m freezing. I hope she’s warm enough. Though I don’t know whether it’s the physical warmth my body is missing, or just her, pressed against me after dreaming about it for so long. Does she feel the same?
When we get back to the hotel, we both head to our own rooms for the evening, not even hugging goodnight like usual. I fling myself onto the bed and turn on some stupid action movie to drown out the silence, trying to sort through my feelings.
She leaned into my touch. I didn’t imagine catching her looking at me all those times, surely?
I scratch at my beard. I’ve always suspected the only reason for our first kiss years ago was because Mia was stressed about exams. Was this the same? I’ve spent years coming to terms with the fact that there is never going to be more between us. Years watching her date other people longingly from the sidelines like a sad puppy. Years ignoring the zap of desire when I make her laugh, and the burning heat that stays for hours when she touches me. Can I do it all over again?