The waiter stopped at our table to take our order.
“Can we have the check?” I asked him, earning me a confused look from Thayer.
“We haven’t eaten yet,” Thayer said as the waiter walked away to get our check.
“I know you took me here because you thought I’d like it,” I said. “But, I want to do something you want to do.”
A sly smirk crawled into his cheek. “You sure you want to know what I want to do?”
“Keep it clean Caruthers—at least for now.”
He laughed. “I’ll try.”
Thayer led me upstairs in Mount Cranmore’s ski lodge to an attic stock room. We ducked, so we didn’t bump our heads on the beams on the pitched ceiling, and moved around boxes before stopping at the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the mountain. It was dark on the mountain, except for the light coming from an inflatable movie screen at the base. People watched the movie from snow tubes while heaters were all around to keep them warm.
Thayer tugged my hand and pulled me down to the floor with him, bending his legs so I fit between his knees. “We won’t be able to hear it, but I figured it’d be warmer,” he said as he wrapped his arms around me, and the back of my head rested against his shoulder.
“How many girls have you taken up here?” I asked.
“Just you, G.”
“I don’t believe you.”
He tightened his arms. “I promise. It’s been you and only you.”
My stomach dipped. This right here, this was what our first date should have been. An upscale restaurant was not what I needed. And certainly not what I wanted—especially for us. “We’re finally watching a movie together.”
“You totally could’ve joined us in Aspen.”
I elbowed him, causing him to laugh.
“What? You definitely would’ve taken all of them in the pillow fight.”
“I would’ve,” I assured him. “If any of that actually happened.”
“You don’t think it did?”
“Nope,” I said.
He huffed. “Okay, there was no movie.”
“And?” I prompted.
“There were no games.”
“And?”
“And, there was only a small pillow fight.”
I elbowed him again, eliciting more laughter. “Liar.”
“Fine,” he relented. “There was no pillow fight. I passed out as soon as I left you and Gino in the hallway.”
“I knew it,” I said. And, even though I never really thought any of it happened—especially the pillow fight—I liked knowing for sure. I closed my eyes, remaining present and living in the moment. Being in Thayer’s arms. On our first real date. Alone. Happy.
“Will you come to Steamboat with me?” he asked.
My eyes sprang open. “If you want me there.”