Page 85 of The Chances We Take

“I never would have pinned you as an astronomy girl,” Reid teased. “But I noticed your tattoo yesterday. I like it a lot.”

“I used to love astronomy as a kid. And Greek mythology too. I got that tattoo when I went to college. I used to tell my little sister that no matter how far away I was from her, whenever she missed me, if she looked up at night, she would be able to find comfort in the fact we saw the same stars and know she wasn’t alone. And that whenever I missed her, I could also look up and see what she was seeing. No matter how far our distance, we would always be connected somehow.”

“That’s beautiful.”

“You see the really bright star above us?” I changed the subject away from my sister, pointing out Vega, one of the brightest stars in the galaxy.

“Yeah.”

“It’s called Vega. And it’s part of the Lyra constellation, which represents the lyre, the instrument Orpheus played.”

He looked over at me, but I was unable to read his expression.

I couldn’t tell what he was thinking at that moment, soI continued. “Orpheus and Eurydice is one of my favorite Greek myths.” I told him the full story; how when Eurydice died, Orpheus went into the underworld and made a deal with Hades that they could both leave, but only on one condition: Orpheus doesn’t turn around to look at Eurydice. And I told him how Orpheus eventually failed because he turned around.

Reid kept his eyes trained on me the entire time, completely engrossed in the tale.

“Isn’t that sad?” he asked when I had finished. “Why would he look? Seems like a lack of self-control.”

“That’s the thing. It wasn’t a lack of self-control, it waslove. In every interpretation of the myth, Orpheus turns because of his love for Eurydice, not in spite of it.”

“That makes a lot of sense. When you put it that way, it’s beautiful. Beautifully sad, but still beautiful.”

I turned my head toward him, away from the stars, slightly in shock. No one had ever really understood what I meant when I told them about that story. They’d always just brushed it off, or said, “cool,” and moved on. But Reid, he always listened to me. He alwaysunderstood.

I leaned into him and rested my head on his shoulder, a warm feeling bubbling up inside of me. He made no comment as he put one arm around me and with his free hand, stroked his fingers through my hair.

They say to be loved is to be seen, and sitting there, in the dark with Reid, looking up at the stars, I’d never felt more seen.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

reid

Today was our last full day in Glacier, and I had one last thing I absolutely wanted to show Isa: the Going-to-the-Sun Road. It required us to wake up bright and early, which she grumbled about, considering we stayed up late watching the stars, but I reassured her the view would be well worth waking up at the crack of dawn.

“This road gets a bit windy. You sure you won’t get carsick?” I asked as we entered the park. “We can turn around.”

“I don’t think I will,” she replied. “I want to see this.”

“Well, just let me know how you’re doing and if you ever feel sick, okay?” I reached over, placing my hand over hers.

My phone buzzed in the center console, but I ignored it. If it was important, they’d call me. Anyone else could wait.

The line of cars wasn’t long, and soon we started to make our way along the highway. I’d driven this road only once before in my life, with Colter and Jake. It was a long drive—about fifty-two miles—so it wouldprobably take up most of our day, but the views were magnificent, and knowing Isa, she would love it.

She was already peering out the passenger side window, taking in everything. She reminded me of a child in a candy store, completely in awe.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked her as she leaned back against the seat.

“Just how much I’m going to miss all this when we go back—when I go back to Texas,” she murmured.

“Well, let’s not think about that quite yet. We’ve still got a full day ahead of us.”

Isa nodded, and I couldn’t help but stare at her. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail, but a few tendrils framed her face. In the sunlight, her eyes glowed, enhancing the bands of color that wrapped around her pupils.

She turned her head, catching me in the act, and then whipped her head forward a split second after. “Oh my gosh, watch the road! Why are you looking at me?” she practically shrieked.

I laughed, turning my head toward the road again. “Ten and two?” I teased, sliding my hands up the steering wheel.

---