Page 306 of Mountain Grump
Ethan opens the passenger door. And I feel his hands on my hips as I climb into his truck.
He shuts the door when I’m settled, and while he circles around the hood, I reach out and drag my finger down the suncatcher hanging from his rearview mirror.
But I stay quiet as he drives us down some sort of service road.
I stay quiet as I hold my hand out between us. And he stays quiet as he places his palm in mine.
And I recognize the landscape when we come to a stop.
We never went onto a real road, just traveled through the woods. And we’re stopped in the clearing where Ethan showed me how to find the North Star.
Where he showed me how to follow his Starlight.
I follow him out of the truck and take his hand again as soon as I can.
And I squeeze his fingers as we walk to the fence line.
I let go of his hand as I step through the fence. As he holds the wires open for me. As the suncatchers dance with the movement.
And once we’re both through, our hands find each other again.
Then together, side by side, we walk to my front door.
Chapter 178
Ethan
I can feelhow real this is.
I can feel it where our hands touch.
I can feel it in the air between us.
And I can see it. Because in front of her house, next to the pink chair I bought her, is a green one that wasn’t there before.
She bought it for me.
So we can sit outside together.
Because she means it.
Because she loves me.
Because she believes me.
And I can feel how true it is as she leads me through her house.
I can feel how true it is when we stop at the foot of the bed.
And I can feel the truthof uswhen I lower my mouth to hers.
Chapter 179
Tilda
His lips arewarm against mine.
And my hands shake when they reach for his sides.
