We had to park on the road, then walk down the narrow steps to his lake house, which was built on a steep hillside, while the rain lashed against us. Angus kept his nose to the ground, inhaling all the new scents in big chuffs, almost yanking Sophie off her feet. He’s on a blanket by the fire now, his nose tucked under his tail while Sophie idly strokes the fur around his neck.
I can’t read her expression, but she’s barely said a word since Marcus picked us up at our house in Dogwood Bay. We’d moved out of Marcus’s place at the end of January and into a rental. I still remember how lost I felt that first weekend, wandering around our new home. It was cold and lonely, and I missed Marcus. The next week I invited him over for dinner while Sophie was out with her friends. We sat on the couch and polished off a bottle of wine, getting closer and closer with each glass. The feel of his leg against mine, his chest so close, his arm grazing against mine every time he reached for his glass, was driving me crazy. I couldn’t stop watching his mouth, how his lips quirked to the side when he smiled or laughed. A couple of times I caught him watching me, a warm look in his eyes, and his hand lingered on my leg a little too long when he was making a point in his story. He had to be feeling the chemistry.
Finally I got bold and said, “Are you ever going to kiss me?”
He looked surprised. “You want me to?”
“Do you want to?” Okay, so it wasn’t my best line, but I was more than a little drunk and out of practice. I’ve never had to make the moves before. It worked anyway. He smiled and leaned over and kissed me, his mouth warm and tasting of sweet red wine and chocolate cake.
We kissed on the couch for a while, then I took his hand and led him to my bedroom. My body felt drugged with endorphins, my legs wobbly and my heart beating fast. He left before Sophie came home, murmured against my lips, “I’ll call you.”
I woke up daydreaming about the scent of his skin, his touch, the taste of his lips, his deep laugh that made his chest vibrate, how good his shoulder muscles felt under my hands. I could still smell his cologne on my sheets and wrapped them tight around me. Then I had the panicky thought that it might have been impulse on his part. What if he had regrets? I rolled over and checked my cell and saw his text message. Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. Last night was amazing, but let’s do this right. I want to take you out for dinner. Is tonight too soon?
We’ve been dating for two months now. During the day we text or FaceTime, and the nights we don’t stay together, he always calls before bed. I don’t know where we’re going—we haven’t discussed our future, it’s too early, but we agreed to live in the moment. Each weekend is an adventure—a new hiking trail, rock climbing, a bike ride in the mountains, shopping the local market and cooking together, or maybe just an all-day movie marathon.
We were sitting on the couch at my place one night, legs entangled while we talked about spring break, when I said, “The three of us should go away somewhere.” With any other man, I would have waited, but Sophie didn’t seem to mind when I stayed over at Marcus’s place or when he came to our home—probably because we’d already lived with him for a few weeks.
“Yeah? Have any ideas?”
I studied his face while I thought it over. His hair had gotten a bit long, falling across his forehead. I brushed it away, smoothed my thumb over the lines on his forehead, marveling that I can do that now. It still amazed me that I’d known this wonderful man for over a year and had no idea our friendship could turn into something so special.
“Maybe skiing? The mountain is still open.”
He paused for a moment, then said, “What about my lake house? I just have to call the caretaker and check that it’s ready. It hasn’t been rented for a few months.”
“Are you sure? Would that be hard for you?”
“The lake is beautiful at this time of year. I’d like to show it to you. What do you say? Want to give it a try?” He leaned closer and whispered, “I need you there.”
I cuddled closer. “It sounds lovely.”
I was still a little nervous about how it would be for Marcus, with all his family memories, but we would build new ones together. I imagined early morning walks, a cozy fireplace, making meals together, playing board games. When I told Sophie, she asked if she could bring Jared. After discussing the ground rules—separate bedrooms, no sneaking around—I agreed, but then Friday she announced that he was going away with his friends. She said it was no big deal. “Everything’s fine, Mom.” But I think she’s more upset than she’s letting on.
I move to the couch near where she’s sitting and pull the cream-colored afghan over my shoulders. “Why don’t you check out some of the movies?”
Marcus looks up from the fire. “Help yourself.”