~ RIG ~
The couch was too small for me to stretch out, so eventually when we’d caught our breaths I turned her on her side and curled her up, spooning her, one arm around her middle, my knees behind hers, and an arm under her chin while her head rested on the arm of the couch.
She sighed and I wondered if she would sleep, but her eyelashes kept blinking like she was looking around the room.
I was still a little stunned. But I’d never been happier.
As I reached up to stroke her hair back, away from her face and down her back, I whispered, “Sorry for the surprise, that was supposed to happen in the treehouse.”
She giggled. “We still have days here yet.”
Both of us breathed a little slower for a second, remembering just how short our time might be. But I shook off the dark thoughts. While we were here, we were safe, and I was going to make the most of that. So I changed the subject.
“Are you okay?” She was still new to this, and that hadn’t been gentle.