Page 70 of The Kiss Countdown

He massages the bridge of his nose. “I know you don’t like surprises, but I promise we’re not walking into a cave or a herd of wild boars, so would you just do it?”

I huff, but do as I’m asked, even going so far as covering my eyes with both hands since I’m feeling generous. My ears perk at the swish of Vincent’s feet against the nylon floor as he gets closer before his hands land on my shoulders.

“Don’t peek,” he says in my ear and turns me around. “We’re coming to the entrance, so duck your head.”

As soon as we leave the tent’s thin barrier, a rush of cool wind blows against my sweater. With the sun gone, it’s significantly colder.

Vincent keeps walking until we move from grass to stone. “Okay, now open.”

I eagerly drop my hands and look around. And around.

Did he want to show me the lake? I like how it looks. Nice, if a little lackluster. The crescent moon’s reflection looks like something you might be able to swim to and grab hold of, and the wind makes tiny ripples dance along the surface.

“The lake looks pretty. This is the perfect place to come and meditate,” I say.

He chuckles. “It is, but that’s not what I brought you out here to see. Look up.”

When I do, I see stars. Hundreds, no, thousands of them littering the sky like a blanket of twinkling fireflies.

For the second time that night, I gasp as my heart swells. “Vincent, this is beautiful. I’ve never seen so many stars in my life.”

Each time I blink, another one seems to appear. How can there be so many?

“When I was little, I used to think stars were magical,” Isay. “Even though you can only see a handful from the city. But right now, it feels like I’m witnessing a miracle. I have no idea how you ever managed to leave this.”

“I’ve never regretted leaving the country for life in the city, except for moments like this. Nothing compares to the handiwork of the universe.”

I think of how awed my mom sounded when she told me about seeing stars from the Grand Canyon. While I was happy for her, I didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of how she felt. But at this moment, I feel like I’m sharing something special with her. Along with Vincent.

I reach for his hand as we study the night sky in silence.

“Tell me something,” I say, barely above a whisper so I don’t break the spell we seem to have fallen under.

“What is it you want to know?”

“Anything, really. Tell me your favorite fact about the universe.”

Vincent is silent for a moment before shifting on his feet. “Generally speaking, the distance between most stars is so inconceivably vast that it’s unlikely any two will ever collide. However, there are clumps of stars called globular clusters where this is not the case. Like there.” He lifts our joined hands, pointing to an area in the sky. “Those are part of the Hercules constellation. They’re crowded together much more tightly, so the chance of impact is increased.”

“What happens if they crash into each other?” Not that I care. I just want to hear him talk. I’m enjoying the timbre of his deep voice and the easy cadence of his words.

I sway to the side, seeking his heat, pleased when he lets go of my hand to wrap his arms around my waist and continues speaking. “If the stars are going too fast when they collide, it’s a big explosion, and in the end, all that’s left arestar bits. But if they move relatively slowly, they’ll merge.” His voice drops an octave and goose bumps race down my spine. “They’ll create something much bigger and brighter than what they were on their own.”

His words are stirring a deep longing in my soul.

More still, he’s seducing me. It’s a slow and steady seduction that’s been building since that night in his kitchen. Maybe even before.

“Did you see that?” he says.

“See what?” Sights and sounds lost their meaning a long time ago.

“Keep watching. The show’s just getting started.”

I open my mouth to ask what he means, but a light streaks across the sky, gone as quickly as it came. I hold still and wait. Another burning streak appears, then another, until what look like dozens of tiny fireballs begin pelting the atmosphere. How long we stand under the starlit sky watching the meteor shower, I have no idea. It could be several minutes or hours.

Vincent’s chin rests on top of my head as he speaks. “If you haven’t already, it’s perfectly acceptable to make your wish now.”

Even at his sweetest he can’t resist being a smart-ass. Still, I close my eyes, trying to form the desires of my heart into concrete words. I want my business to flourish, but I also want to always feel how I do in this very moment—content, cherished, happy. Like I’m right where I need to be, with who I’m meant to be with.

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