Page 16 of Beauty and the Beard

“Are you gonna light it?”

“When you catch your first fish, we will.”

As I predicted, Sasha loves catching bass. Every tiny fish he reels up and fights to get in the boat, he laughs so big I swear I can seeevery tooth in his mouth. And if that wasn’t enough to convince me he’s enjoying himself, the constant giggles and shouts when his rod tip bounces with a bite is a sure sign I’ve just hooked him on fishing. I’ve lost track of how many fish he’s caught now, but I could watch him all day.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had this much fun.” He plops into the chair and rubs a hand across his stomach. “But I’m starving. Can we eat?”

And that’s how I let Sasha into my heart.

He enjoyed the water and the fish. He puffed on a cigar and I’ve laughed so hard my cheeks hurt. And now I’m setting up a table at the bow of the boat and unpacking the food Millie made for us.

Sasha is a breath of fresh air in a room with the windows painted shut. As he pops pieces of fruit in his mouth and clicks off more photos, I’m sad our time together today is nearing an end.

But I want more days with him before he leaves. More laughter. More of this feeling, that life can still be like this, even for only a short time.

“I have a full lodge booked next week for the start of summer vacation. I might not get to take you out fishing again until the following week. But I’d love to do this again with you.”

“You have a business to run. It doesn’t stop for me. I can amuse myself. In fact, I’d love to look at the photos we took today and print some. Is there a place in the town I could visit? Even aWalmartwould be good.”

“Um, I don’t actually know, but after Pete gets the guests shuttled in, I can ask him to take you to town if you’d like. You can explore and see what’s there. Ask around. There’s a drugstore that might have a kiosk.”

“You don’t go into town much?”

Shaking my head, I spread some cream cheese on a cracker. “Not anymore. It was… uncomfortable after Connor died. I’ve kept to myself up here, mostly.”

He nods, thoughtful, and chews more fruit.

“You know, I understand what you mean. Sort of. That’s how I felt when I had to live with my guardian after Mom died. I didn’t want to leave the house because everyone whispered about the new kid who was too pretty to be here. It was easier to hide in my room.”

A silence falls on our conversation, but it’s not unwelcome.

Because it seems like we have something in common.

A loss we don’t like to talk about.

Chapter 5

Sasha

Back in my cabin after an amazing day with Leaf, I strip out of my clothes and step into the tiny shower. The scent of hisColt Cigarslingers in my hair and I’m sweaty from the warm day’s sun. Perhaps even a little fishy. After all, I caught fish, and I even held one for a picture.

As the water flows over me, I close my eyes, and there’s Leaf. Vivid behind my eyelids like the dream he is. Not since I met Roman at my first photo shoot, have I ever felt more comfortable with someone and able to be myself. He laughed with me and taught me things I never thought I’d ever do. All without expecting anything in return.

It’s a refreshing change of pace not being pressured into something I don’t feel comfortable with. Like the photo shoot on the boat I told Leaf about. If he knew that project turned into something with more skin than clothes for a private project against my protests, I don’t think he’d be the calm, quiet guy he’s been so far.

Done with my shower, I choose an outfit for dinner. Leaf asked me to hang around after supper tonight, and while I know it’snot a date, I take extra time to apply some light makeup. Nothing too dramatic. I don’t get any homophobic feels here, but you never know when you’re dropped off in the middle of nowhere if they live in the current time or are still locked in the closet with their bibles.

Either way, Leaf appreciated my lip gloss earlier. I noticed him looking.

Keeping it simple, I focus on a bit of eyeliner and a pink-tinted lip gloss. Leaving my hair tousled, I rub a bit of mousse through it, and dress in a pair of khaki linen pants and a fitted red t-shirt.

With my camera bag and phone, I leave the cottage again and follow the path up to the lodge. It’s still early before dinner starts and I want to explore more near the main building. Take some photos outside and walk more of the grounds.

My cottage had a map of the grounds and the trails nearby to hike. I’m not dressed for hiking, but there was something nearby I wanted to check out quickly before dinner.

Map in hand, I begin the walk up the road a few hundred meters and follow the flagged trees to a winding, single lane path. The tree leaves rustle in the breeze and squirrels trill constantly along with the buzz of mosquitos in my ears. It’s a very morose roadway. A sorrow seems to hang in the air, and when I reach the end, a small cabin appears. It’s clearly abandoned with grasses tall against the side and windows covered in dust. The larger building off to the right, though, that’s what I’m here to see.

A sign above the door reads,Leaf’s Sweet Shack,and my heart melts. What a cute name for his sugar shack. Of course, it’s not time for syrup making as he explained to me, but I peer in the windows to see shelves of equipment, a giant wood stove and huge shiny metal vats that remind me of the brewery my friend Zane owns.

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