Page 38 of Light My Fire Three Times
“I’ve got this,” he announces. “You’re my guest tonight.”
I shake my head. “Oh no, Karl. You don’t have to do that. We’re both adults here, and I’m perfectly capable of paying my share.”
He looks at me with that teasing smirk. “I know you’re capable, Liv. But tonight, I’m taking care of it. Deal?”
I raise an eyebrow, but the smile tugging at my lips betrays me. “Alright, alright. You win.”
After dinner, we step out of the restaurant and into the crisp night air. The sky above is clear, the stars scattered like glitter, and the town is calm.
Karl gestures down the quiet street. “Want to take a walk? I can show you some of the spots around town that make Coyote Glen feel like home.”
I smile, feeling a little giddy at the idea of exploring with him. “Sure, I’d like that.”
We walk side by side, the sound of our footsteps mingling with the calming hum of the night.
As we make our way down the main street, Karl points out little spots that seem to have hidden histories.
There’s the old diner on the corner where people gather for morning coffee, a quirky little bookstore that smells likenostalgia, and a park with a fountain that looks straight out of a movie set.
We stroll through the park, the crisp night air swirling around us, and it feels like something out of one of those romcoms Ivy’s always gushing about.
The kind where the couple walks through twinkling streets and accidentally bumps shoulders, laughing in that effortless, charming way. Only this is real, and it’s me with Karl Madden, the fireman who makes my heart skip a beat every time he smiles.
We reach the fountain, the water splashing against the rocks, and Karl stops, turning toward me with a grin that’s half teasing, half mischievous.
“This is where we used to hang out after school,” he says, hands casually in his pockets, eyes twinkling in the moonlight. “I spent more time here than I should have. Trying to avoid my parents, trying to get a date, you know, the usual.”
I raise an eyebrow, trying to keep casual. “Sounds like a perfect spot for both. Trouble and romance?”
He shrugs, giving me that trademark grin that makes my heart do a little flip. “Well, mostly trouble. But the romance came later… after I got the hang of sneaking into movies and stealing popcorn.”
He nudges me with his elbow, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Ah, yes,” I say, smiling up at him, “I bet the town's still mad about that.”
Karl shrugs again, utterly unfazed by the potential small-town rebellion.
“Yeah, but hey, it was the best popcorn.” He steps closer, leaning in like he’s about to share a huge secret, and I lean in too, suddenly aware of how close we are. “But you know… if you ever need some 'movie advice,' I’m your guy.”
I roll my eyes dramatically, but there’s a smile tugging at my lips. “Modest, aren’t you?”
Karl’s eyes gleam, like he’s got a million more stories to share, but instead of telling them, he steps a little closer. He glances at the fountain, then back at me, his smile warmer now, letting his guard down for a second.
“Maybe I’ll tell you the really embarrassing stories later,” he declares. “But for now, I thought I'd let you enjoy this nice, quiet evening with me. No movie sneaking required.”
The way he says it, so casual but with that underlying sincerity, has me feeling something stir inside me. And I can't quite put it into words.
I feel a nervous giggle bubble up, and I shake my head.
“So modest,” I tease, but there's a flash in his eyes that makes it hard to keep up the playful tone.
Then Karl does something that completely catches me off guard. He steps closer, almost imperceptibly, like he’s testing the waters. My breath hitches, and I feel that flutter in my chest. He’s standing so close now, his presence overwhelming in the best way.
I’m not sure who moves first, but in the blink of an eye, his lips are on mine.
The kiss is slow at first, tentative, like he’s asking for permission without saying the words. But I don't need any more time.
I close the space between us, kissing him back with more confidence, my hands instinctively reaching for his chest as if this is precisely where I’m meant to be.
