Page 114 of Sunset Catchers

“Then, the more you get comfortable, the more your hold on yourself will loosen.”

My arms loosen around my torso.

“And then, once you’ve put your guard down, you’ll let your arms fall away.”

Said arms fall heavily along my body, as stumped as me. My face must project something Levi interprets as freaked out because he says, “I told you.”

“I’m not freaked out. I’m just…touched?”

“Touched?”

“Yeah, that you go to such lengths to know and understand me.”

Levi’s curved mouth is as soft as the mingling shades of blue in the deepening sky.

“Is there anything else?”

His shrug is sheepish as I straddle his lap again. Levi brings his fingers over my lips, tracing their shapes.

“Sometimes, you get that smile that is both sad and happy.”

“I do?”

“Yes. Usually when we talk about your childhood. It’s as if you’re both happy in the present, while also being sad about something in the past.”

“Wow. That’s…” I release a long breath. “I’m an open book, aren’t I?”

He shakes his head, cupping my cheek.

“Only to me, Winnie.”

Our hearts hug through our chests.

“No. Only for you, Levi.”

“There’s one thing I still haven’t figured out, though.”

“What is it?”

“Your love of pink sunsets. I feel like there’s a story here.”

“There is. I can tell you if you want?”

“I want too,” he says immediately.

“Okay. So, when I was ten years old, I asked my mother why the sky was turning pink…”

28

Juniiiiie!” I yell as I barge out of my cottage.

“Winnie Bear!” Junie yells back as she barges out of her car.

We stop once we’re in front of each other; short of hugging. We keep those for special occasions.

“I missed you and your head full of artificially blonde hair.” She laughs earthily. A deep rattle. The only way she knows how to produce this sound of joy.

“I missed you and your fake tits.”