Page 4 of Trip Through Your Wires

“Fighting,” he laughs. “Or fucking. Probably both.”

I can’t help but laugh having thought the same thing earlier. “They’re clearly not over one another.”

“Clearly,” he agrees.

We’re both quiet for a moment, and when I turn my attention back to him, find him staring at me. “So what do you think, Sparky, is tonight the night?”

“Who knows,” I shrug. “They’re—”

“Not for them,” he leans in, breath tickling my lips. “For us.”

“Us?” I repeat.

He nods.

“There is no us.”

He reaches up and brushes an errant strand of hair from my face. “Keep telling yourself that.”

I wish I had another beer in my hand—shitty or not—because my throat has suddenly dried up.

“What?” he asks with a grin when I remain silent. “No witty come back?”

“No,” I swallow, trying to ease the tightness. “Well, actually, yeah, one. Shut up.”

“Shut up,” he laughs. “What are we, ten?”

I shake my head and look away, but when he slips his hand into mine and our palms meet, I whip my head back around. “What the hell are you—”

“Let’s get some air,” he smiles. “You’re looking flushed.”

He drags me through the cave, over to the crack in the wall that leads to the beach, and when we slip through and our feet hit the sand, he lets go of my hand. “Better?”

“Not really.” The air is thick, and clings to my arms. It feels like a storm’s coming.

“Hang on.” Placing both of his hands on my hips, he starts walking me backward.

I look down as my feet kick up sand. “What are you…”

“Trust me,” he says with easy confidence.

Moving my feet in time with his, I let him guide me until I feel rock against my back. Feeling the stone cold against my skin, my eyes whip up as goosebumps shoot down my arms.

“Granite,” he loosens his hold of my hips, but doesn’t let go completely. “It may feel like a swamp out here, but it’s as cool as a cucumber.”

“Because it conducts heat in a different way,” I nod knowingly.

“Igneous rocks,” he grins. “You know your geology.”

“I know a lot of things.”

“Oh yeah?” he taunts. “You a science girl?”

“I am a science and math girl. Struggle with Shakespeare, though.”

He smiles and the skin at the corners of his eyes folds gently. “We’ll leave that to Cruz and Ellery then, hmm?”

I can’t help but smile. “Sounds like a plan.”

---