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“The wife wanted to bring the kids,” he shrugged. “Loxley Adams is their favorite. But you know I’d rather be at the station.”

“You work too much, old man.”

“You don’t work enough,” he grumbled.

“Forty-four hours a week.”

“Who’s this?” Captain Reed pointed my way and I smiled. He seemed like a gruff, no-nonsense kind of man, and I immediately liked him.

“I’m Jesse,” I pushed my hand out, offering it to him to shake as I added. “I was your ‘no charge’ call a few weeks ago.”

Captain Reed stood still, barely shaking my hand as what I had just said sunk in. Then, he burst into laughter, making his belly jiggle and his head throw back.

Easton was also laughing while eyeing me with a bit of intrigue. He looked impressed, maybe that I had let the embarrassment of that night go and embraced the fact that I would be forever known as the ‘no charge’ call.

“Then this must be the caller,” Captain Reed glanced down toward Max.

Max had moved to hide behind my legs as he stayed seated on the banket, but he peeked out long enough to eye Captain Reed.

“That’s Max,” I nodded. “He loves fire trucks.”

“Well, it's good to meet you both,” he huffed. “I better get back to the wife before she… wait a second…”

“Yeah Cap?” Easton looked worried as Captain Reed immediately stopped speaking and started turning his head side to side.

“Is this the woman you wrote the, um…the, um…recipes for?”

Recipes?

“Ha, yeah.” Easton turned a bright shade of red, rubbing the back of hisneck. “This is her.”

Instead of answering or finishing what he was saying in the first place, Captain Reed just smirked and shook his head. Then he walked away, waving a hand behind him.

Confusion was written all over my face as we settled back onto the blanket, but before I could ask what recipes he sent me, the music started. It became impossible to have a conversation over how loud it was, but it somehow made me more at ease. There was a smaller chance of having to meet everyone in town if we couldn’t be heard over the music.

The first act only sang a few songs, none of them I recognized, and the second act was even fewer. We enjoyed the show, though, sitting side by side with Max nestled between us.

When it was finally time for Loxley to perform, everyone stood up and cheered. Even Max had gotten into the whole vibe of the evening and started dancing in a way only a three year old could.

Every once in a while, Max would stop dancing and look up sheepishly. Easton wouldn’t hesitate, though. He started dancing exactly how Max was, jumping in awkward circles and holding his arms up like a chicken.

Eventually, though, Max started to wear down and decided to lay on the blanket. He was happy and content, looking at the stars above and the people milling around that had kept a safedistance from our area. Meanwhile, Easton and I moved closer together, wrapping our arms around each other as Loxley sang all my favorite tunes.

Then the music stopped, and Loxley took a breath, speaking to the audience. “I love being here in Harmony Haven. These kinds of shows are my favorite. It's a chance to get away from the big lights of the city and see some of the most gorgeous parts of the country. This is the kinda place that could make you fall in love. Where life is a long song.”

The crowd roared as the music started again. It was the first few notes of my favorite song and Easton turned to me with a smile.

“Let me take you away.”

He pulled me into a slow dance and we moved in small circles, being mindful of Max at our feet. Our eyes were locked and it instantly felt like we were the only ones at the show. We didn’t even have to watch the performance because everything we needed to see in order to feel the song was each other.

“You’re scaring me,” I spoke, not even knowing if he could hear me.

“Don’t be spineless.” The sun had gone down, but his eyes were bright enough to light a path. They reflected the lights from the stage and I watched as they moved between my eyes.

“I’ll try,” I nodded, biting my lip.

“That’s my girl.”

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