The Hazards of Skinny Dipping (Hazards #1)(39)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“All right, see you in a few.” He grinned before striding back toward the field.

***

“What’s going on with you and Reed?” Cara asked on the way back from the house on Sunday night. It was a clear night, slightly cool, but still warm enough that the walk was pleasant.

“Nothing. We’re just hanging out.”

“You sure? You two spent practically the whole weekend together.”

“We did not.” I hadn’t even heard from him after paintball. We’d had a great lunch at a burger joint, but that was it. “What’s up with you and Bill, Mallory?” Deflection seemed like a great idea.

“Don’t get me started.”

“Wait, what happened?”

“I went back to the house with him after the party. He totally broke down and cried about missing his ex-girlfriend.”

“Seriously?” Cara and I said in unison.

“Yes. It was so awkward. I think I’m done dating for a while. It’s kind of a blow to your self-esteem when a guy cries right before you’re about to hook up.”

I put a hand on her back. “It could have been worse.”

“How?”

“He could have cried during sex. Or after.”

“Good point. Wow, my favorite pessimist just described a glass as half full.”

I laughed. “What can I say? Life without Dylan is good for me.”

“Are you sure it’s not life with Reed?” Cara laughed.

“Reed and I are just friends.”

“Uh huh. I’m sure.”

“We are.”

“I give you guys a month.” Cara messed with her phone. She was probably texting Aaron.

“I say two weeks.” Mallory ran a hand through her hair.

“What? You don’t think I can handle being single?”

“No. I don’t think you can resist Reed.”

“He doesn’t like me that way. I’m telling you, we’re just friends.” Was it bad that part of me wished we could be more?

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I had forgotten to turn the ringer on. I smiled when Reed’s name flashed across the screen. “Hey.”

“Hey, are you busy?”

“Define busy.”

“Doing something important. Is there another definition I’m not aware of?”

I laughed. “I’m not busy.”

“Want to do something?”

“It depends. What would we be doing? I don’t think I can handle any more paintball.”

“I promise, it doesn’t involve guns at all.”

“I’m halfway back to my dorm. Should I turn around and head for your house?”

“I’ll head toward you. We can meet up halfway.”

“See you in a minute.” I hung up.

“Was that Reed?” Mallory asked.

“Yes.”

“And you’re sure nothing’s going on?”

“We’re friends.”

They both laughed.

“I’m going to meet up with him. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

Cara grinned. “He found you first.”

I spun around. Reed was right behind me. “That was fast.”

He shrugged. “What can I say? I was anxious to see you.”

“Have fun, you two.” Mallory grabbed Cara’s arm, and they continued toward the dorms.

“What are we doing?” I asked. Reed had already turned back the way he’d come. I followed.

“We’re going airplane gazing.”

“Airplane gazing?”

“You’ve never done it? It’s like stargazing, except you’re watching planes take off.”

“We’re going to the airport?”

“Near it.” He stopped at his truck and held open the passenger door.

“Thanks.” I smiled. “Do you go airplane gazing often?” I asked when he got in.

“Not so much anymore.”

“Why the sudden decision to go again?”

“It’s not sudden.” He downshifted. “I finally have someone I want to go with.”

I couldn’t help smiling.

Reed pulled into an empty field, parking the car somewhere in the middle. He shut off the engine and the headlights. We were in almost complete darkness. The full moon and some distant lights from the road were the only illumination. He reached over me to pull a flashlight out of the glove compartment.

“Ready?”

“Where are we going?”

“Not far.” I could almost hear a smile in his voice.

He switched on his flashlight and hopped out. I waited for him to come around before I joined him. “Why do I feel like I’m in a horror movie?”

He laughed. “It’s not a horror movie. I promise.”

“Good.”

Reed opened the tailgate. He had a few blankets rolled up in the back. He hopped up and gave me a hand. He spread out a blanket and lay down on his back. I tentatively settled down next to him.

“Geez, Reed, if you wanted to get me alone, you could have found an easier way.”

“This isn’t just alone. It’s isolated,” he said in a scary voice.

I punched his arm. “Don’t mess with me.”

He laughed. “I won’t. Trust me. You’ll like this once the planes start.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

I heard the first plane before I saw it. It roared to life before flying right above us.

“You’re right. This is cool.”

He laughed. “That didn’t take long.”

I looked back up at the sky. “Whenever I see a plane, I wonder where it’s going.”

“Yeah, I’m like that when I see people at the airport. I wonder what their stories are.” He shifted, and his arm brushed against mine. “Like when I see an excited-looking woman, I wonder if she’s going to see her boyfriend. And if I see a young kid, I wonder if he’s going to see his parents.”

“How introspective of you.”

“Introspective? I’ll give you introspective. Do you ever wonder what we’re doing here?”

“Like why we’re alive?”

“Yeah. Do you?”

“Of course. Doesn’t everyone? I don’t know. I guess we’re here to live, learn, hopefully fall in love, have kids, and continue the cycle.”

“So you want to fall in love and have kids, huh?”

“Not now, or at least not the kids part.” I knew I was blushing, but thankfully, he couldn’t see it in the darkness.