Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 96512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“Pretty much. Some move away for college and come back. The odd ones leave completely.”
“You never moved away for college?”
I pause. Am I going to get into this with Fisher? I stare at him. He’s got the prettiest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. They’re warm and inviting. They make me want to share all my stories.
“I thought about going to art school. No, I didn’t just think about it. I really wanted to go to art school.” I take a breath. “I got accepted into a great program in New York. One of the best in the country. Even got a full scholarship.” I try and keep my voice steady. “But I got pregnant just as my acceptance form was due.”
Fisher frowns. “With Riley?”
I shake my head. “No, not with Riley. I lost the baby at six months.”
It’s been a long time, and I’m past the devastation the miscarriage created. But I don’t think I’ll ever be truly over it. Every year on my due date, I want to shut myself away and cry. And paint. And cry some more.
“I’m so sorry,” he says, his eyes full of concern.
“It was tricky. And then all I was focused on was getting pregnant again. I wanted so desperately to fill the gap the miscarriage had left. I think I put too much pressure on myself, and I couldn’t get pregnant, but I couldn’t think about anything else. Art school wasn’t a possibility then, even though I could have probably applied again and gotten in for the following year. It wasn’t what I wanted at that point. I wanted a baby. A baby to make up for the baby I’d lost. A baby to take away the pain.”
Fisher sighs. “That’s tough.”
“Yeah, it was difficult. And I was young. Really young. It’s weird. When you’re that young, you don’t realize how the decisions you make then can affect the rest of your life. I didn’t really comprehend the impact of the decisions I was making back then. Not that I regret any of them. Riley’s the best thing in my life, but having her meant I gave up the idea of having an art career.”
Fisher just nods.
I smile up at him. “Our lives couldn’t be more different, right? Where did you go to college? Yale?”
“I’m not some trust-fund guy,” he says. “I’ve worked hard for what I’ve got.” He smiles at me. “Different lives—you’re right. But we have a lot of things that… overlap.”
Our gazes lock.
I can’t help it. Suddenly, I burst into laughter. “What are we doing?”
Fisher’s smiling at me like he seems to whenever I laugh. I’ve noticed that when I smile, he wears this expression, like watching me is making him smile, and it makes me feel warm and good, and I want more of it.
“Having a picnic by the falls,” he suggests. “Enjoying each other’s company. I like you, Juniper.”
I press my lips together, trying not to grin like I’m fourteen and my pop-star crush just told me he liked me. “I like you too, Fisher.”
“But you’re right, I’m not living here in Star Falls. It’s not like we can…”
“Turn into anything?”
“Right.”
I hold his gaze so he focuses on what I’m about to say. “But we can have fun and enjoy each other’s company while you’re here.”
His tongue darts out to lick his lips, and my cheeks heat.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t want to… I don’t want to pretend.”
I smile. “I like that about you, Fisher. No pretending.”
He nods.
I glance over to the falls. “You know what I’ve never done?”
“Tell me,” he says.
“I’ve never skinny-dipped at the bottom of the falls.”
Fisher’s eyes flare in the darkness. “Well, that seems to be a huge error of judgment. On your part and mine.” Without skipping a beat, he starts to unbutton his shirt, and then he stands. “Come on. What are you waiting for?”
“I think I need another glass of wine.”
“Chicken,” he goads, toeing off his boots.
“Well, I can’t have a fancy New Yorker tell me I’m chicken now, can I? Turn around so I can get naked.”
“Do I have to?”
“You absolutely do have to.”
He groans but does as I asked.
Turns out, there are some firsts left in my life. First time I’ve ever been on a picnic date, first time I’ve ever been on a date with a guy from New York, and the first time I’ve ever skinny-dipped at the bottom of the falls in Star Falls.
TWELVE
Fisher
The air is still warm even though it’s nearly ten. Which is just as well because I’m stark bollock naked.
The splash of water tells me Juniper has reached the pool.
“You okay? Careful you don’t slip.”
“You worry about your New York ass slipping. I’ve known these rocks my entire life. I can map each dip and edge with my eyes closed. Which is a good freaking thing because it’s dark as hell down here.”