Page 68 of Fall I Want
“I love it when it’s like this outside. The briskness in the air makes me excited.” I hiccup, a sign that I’ve drunk too much. “Oh no.”
“What?” he asks.
“The hiccups. They mean I’m on my way to being fucked.” I laugh. “Not literally. Just tipsy.”
Laughter roars from him. “Pace yourself.”
“Nah,” I tell him. “Do you know what number question we’re on?”
“Um. I lost count.” He steals a glance. “But I think it’s my turn. I wonder what I could ask that you’d not want to answer.”
I flip my hair over my shoulder. “There isn’t one.”
His head falls back on his shoulders. “That’s why you agreed, because you have no limits.”
“Only with you. If you’re willing to cut yourself open, then I will too. Secrets for secrets. I’ll trade with you.”
“Mm.” His voice is velvety. “You might not like everything you learn.”
“You might not either. I’m not perfect, but I’m not scared of you learning who I am. I have nothing to hide, either.”
“Then what are you afraid of with us?”
I glance at him. “I guess that’s a question I have to answer?”
A sly smile slides over his lips. I breathe in, tucking my hands in my pockets. “I’m afraid of growing attached then having to navigate a world without knowing you.”
His face softens and I wonder what he’s thinking.
“Your turn.”
“I’m afraid of falling madly in love with you,” he says.
“Zane.” I search his face, and I think I stop breathing completely as I watch the stars disappear behind clouds. Then thunder claps and lightning strikes close by and we’re both pulled out of this conversation. The rumble has me nearly jumping out of my skin as I slide my phone from my pocket to check the radar app. “We’re about to get shit on.”
He glances at the screen just as a few drops fall from the sky like torpedoes. The wind picks up and I realize we were enjoying the calm before the storm. Figuratively and literally.
“We need to get inside now,” I tell him, looking at the growing red blob, knowing how these mountain storms work. They creep up randomly, even when there is a zero percent chance of rain.
I stand and I’m wobbly on my feet. Zane is too.
“Shit,” I tell him, grabbing the pumpkin seeds and the tequila.
“At least you got what’s important.” When his arms wrap around both pumpkins, the bottom falls out of the sky. I pick up my pace, trying to sprint without tripping, but I’m already soaked.
When I’m on the porch, I turn, finding him right behind me. I glance at the fire that’s sizzling then notice my phone is still on the table.
“Oh no,” I say, then set everything down by the back door.
“I’ve got it.” Zane rushes out, grabbing everything, including the pumpkin tools, then sprints back toward me. Fat water drops run from his hair and face. It sounds like a fucking freight train.
“My hero.” I chuckle.
“You’re awful with phones.” He hands it to me.
“It’s a bad habit I’m trying to break.”
“Come with me.” He holds out his hand, glancing back at the falling drops. “You’re already soaked.”
