Page 120 of The ABCs of You & Me

“I think when someone has been told by society that they can’t do something for most of their life, waiting to prove people wrong may become a bit of a burden.” I walk along the trunk of a fallen tree, balancing easily with Foster’s assistance. “I mean, we live in such an instant gratification society now that waiting for anything is hard. Imagine deciding you’re going to do something and then being told you can’t yet and you’ll have to train for a while first. Painful.” I hop down from the log and pull Foster to a stop. “What you’re doing with him, for him, is really great. Most people would have said some lovely empty things and then let him do it alone. He’ll remember this forever. You’ll be the guy who not only told him he could do it, but helped him do it.”

God, I want to kiss the smile he smiles at me and never stop. “I think he’ll do it. It may take a long time, but he’ll do it.”

“And when he does, we’ll be at the finish line screaming like maniacs.”

Foster raises his hand and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. “I can’t wait for that day, sunshine. It’s going to be a big one.”

FIFTY-THREE

FOSTER

Leaving the bed when Sophie is half wrapped around me is hell, but sticking with my running routine is something that is important to me, so I’m up the minute my alarm goes off.

“Stay.” Sophie’s sleepy voice rasps, her hand brushing across my back.

I’m tempted to lie back and pull her into me. “I’ll be back soon,” I whisper, kissing her hand and watching as she offers a lazy smile and immediately falls back to sleep.

Running a trail through the forest is a bit different than the usual running I do down decently managed sidewalks, but I manage to make it back to the yurt without twisting anything.

Sophie is sitting on the deck in one of the Muskoka chairs, holding a coffee and staring out at the calm lake. She hasn’t noticed me yet, and I stop to take in the view and a few deep breaths. Eventually she turns her head in my direction, and her smile is a beacon, leading me back to her.

“Good run?” she asks, reaching for my hand.

“It was.” I bend and kiss her quickly. “I’m going to shower very, very quickly.”

She pulls me back as I begin to rise. “Good,” she murmurs, her lips connecting with mine.

“Some of these feel quite…vain.” Sophie glares down at the card she’s pulled from the box.

“But they work both ways, and therefore we both benefit.”

“I guess. Okay, Foster, what are three things that made me attractive to you?”

Only three things? This is going to be hard to narrow down. “First, your smile. Yeah, that one right there.” I point at her mouth as the corners tip up. “Your laugh, which is good because it goes well with your smile. And…” I study her for a beat. “Your hair.”

“My hair? As in my generic blonde hair?”

“The way it catches the light. It’s s—” I start to say.

“Sunshine,” she says slowly.

“Sunshine,” I confirm. “Now, do me.” I sit up expectantly, breaking the tension.

“Oh, I plan to,” she says, her eyebrows bouncing along with her shoulders, making me laugh.

“Let’s finish this round, then you cando meall you want,” I assure her.

She sighs and leans back on her hands. “Well, as my dad said, apparently I really liked your face when I was six. Turns out I still really like your face.” She giggles. “Like, I really, really like your face.”

“Great face, got it. What else?”

“Your kindness. You’ve always been kind. Even when you teased me as a kid, it wasn’t malicious. Now watching you work with the kids.” She fans her face, “Hot. And…” She studies me, her gaze eventually landing on my mouth. “Your smile, specifically when you look at me. I mean, it’s always great, but it gives me butterflies. Like it’s a goddamn butterfly conservatory”—she gestures around her entire body—“everywhere.”

“Everywhere?” I creep forward, expecting her to inch away, but she doesn’t. “Even here?” She cracks up when my finger presses into her shin.

She nods. “Especially there. You give me shin tingles like no one else.”

Sitting back, I draw another card. “What sense is the most sensual to you?”

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