Little Conversations

by Matilde, Sibylla

  Back at Sorcha’s, they snuggled in the hot tub under the glow of the rising moon. Snuggling led to so much more, and Devin made a mental note to have the hot tub drained and cleaned before Sorcha got home.

  But more than anything else, they just lay in bed, hours on end, telling each other and showing each other how they loved.

  Sorcha came home a few days later, slightly surprised by her unexpected houseguest. She knew Devin had been utterly heartbroken when she’d left Montana, although she hadn’t known much more than that. And, here was a guy. He was a hot guy, but he was a guy Sorcha had never met, had never even heard of. At first, she was afraid that Devin had completely lost it and picked up a random dude at a bar once she’d arrived in town. Then she realized Ronin was from also Montana, and she became even more nervous, rightfully concerned that this was who Devin had needed an escape from. She gave Ronin the third degree, eyeing him cautiously, watching for any signs that he might even remotely cause heartbreak.

  But then she saw the way he looked at Devin. The way he watched her walk into a room. Sorcha noted the way he smiled at Devin when she wasn’t even looking. The soft way he said her name. The sweet and gentle kisses he pressed to her shoulder as he walked up behind her. Ronin was so in love with her cousin. The guy was clearly besotted, overcome. He worshipped Devin. So after a few days, Sorcha lightened up a little.

  Since neither Ronin nor Devin had gotten a round-trip ticket, they rented a car for the return trip to Montana, leaving in the middle of the afternoon about four days after Sorcha’s return. They drove through the desert, taking a detour through Lancaster to see what Ronin might remember. Even this time of year, it was still hot and dry, desolate as all fuck, which is exactly what Ronin remembered.

  They headed northeast through the desert, and the Joshua trees cast their eerie reflections in the setting sun. Once darkness had fallen, they got out to look at the stars… to see if they looked any different in this part of the world than they did back in Montana. Lying on a blanket in the dark desert, they both agreed that, while it was pretty, nothing could match the starry mountain skies of home.

  They took their time travelling north, stopping at every little touristy place they could find. After pulling into a hotel really late the first night, they looked for places to stay earlier in the evenings and ordered takeout delivered to their rooms, more intent on sating other needs than those for sleep and food. They slept late after nights of kissing and touching and loving, then woke to more kissing and touching and loving.

  They drove to Hoover Dam and dropped pebbles over the side and stayed overnight in a posh hotel in Vegas. They explored Utah’s capitol building and, at Devin insistence, even though the cold of winter was fast approaching, they stuck their toes in the Great Salt Lake.

  Rather than driving through southern Idaho, they detoured through Yellowstone, entering through the south and spending the night at Old Faithful. Ever since she was a child, Devin had wanted to stay at the Old Faithful Inn with its unique and creative, natural wood architecture, so Ronin paid more than he ever had for a hotel room, even paying a little extra to get one with a private bath. He was actually kind of horrified that there were ones that didn’t have a private bath! It was the second week of October, and winter was fast approaching. Only a handful of tourists milled about. There was only a day or two left before the lodge closed up to hibernate until spring, and Ronin and Devin received 5-star treatment from the staff—a bottle of champagne and extra special dessert.

  Finally, they made it back to Montana. They were finally home, and, for the first time Ronin could ever remember, his house really felt just like that—like a home.

  On their first day back, they drove his truck to her little storage unit, and they loaded up her boxes. Within a few weeks, Devin had put pictures on his walls. She steamed the beer stains from his couch before pulling out her super soft chenille throw and lots of fluffy pillows. She bought crisp, tailored curtains and replaced the dusty blinds with roman shades. On the mantel, she arranged some mementos they’d picked up on the trip home from Cali, along with a few framed couple-selfies from their favorite stops along the way. The bachelor pad slowly disappeared to turn into an enrapturing haven for the two of them, their own little place of solace sitting back in the trees on the edge of town.

  Devin enrolled in distance ed courses, still not sure what she wanted to do, but began by taking some core courses to help get her going while she decided. Ronin continued to build stunning log homes in the mountains, although now he came home every night, regardless of how far he had to drive. Shane and Joe gave him all kinds of shit, but Ronin simply had to be with Devin at night… every night. Even if he only got to hold her an hour, it was worth the bumpy roads and flat tires and cracked windshields to see her. It was like he needed her more than food, more than sleep, more than air.

  Just a little taste of her every night, and he felt whole.

  Epilogue

  A little over a year later…

  “Open your eyes, honey,” Ronin whispered as he stood behind Devin with his hands on her shoulders.

  Devin did, and they were standing on a bluff overlooking the small town. The sky was clear and cold, full of stars that shimmered down upon them. The wide, full moon cast its bright beams down to the world below and mixed with the radiance from the streetlamps that dotted the neighborhoods and lined Main Street. The whole world seemed to glow and sparkle with a light that reflected off the newly fallen snow.

  “Ooooh, how pretty it all looks… like Christmas,” Devin murmured.

  “Dev, honey… look up a little.” Ronin pointed ahead. “There…”

  Devin raised her eyes to the horizon, facing to the north where Ronin was pointing. There he was. Orion the Hunter had only just made his way up over the mountains.

  “Orion…” she breathed. “You remembered about Orion.”

  She leaned back against Ronin’s chest and he wrapped his arms tightly around her middle, resting his cheek against the side of her head.

  “I kept trying to figure out, though…” Ronin trailed off as he shook his head, softly nuzzling her hair. “I saw it the other night when I was coming out of the mountains. Those three stars looked so familiar to me. Their layout. Their brightness. I just… I couldn’t remember why.” One of his arms pulled away from her body. “Then I figured it out. I realized where I had seen that same pattern before.” He raised his hand, slowly uncurling his fingers. “This. It reminded me of this.”

  Lying there in the palm of his hand, glimmering in the bright moonlight, sat a ring.

  It was crafted of two delicate platinum bands with three sparkling diamonds, spaced slightly apart, in between. The facets of stone glittered in the reflection of the stars. Ronin used his other hand to pick up the ring with his thumb and forefinger, and he held it up to the sky so that it was positioned in front of Orion. And it did. The pattern of the stones was so very much like Orion’s belt.

  “And this? This reminded me that I want to marry you…” he finally whispered.

  Devin’s jaw dropped open in awe, rendered speechless by his beautiful proposal. She slowly turned in the circle of his arms, completely bewildered.

  And then, he received the most beautiful gift he could ever hope for.

  Devin looked up at him and flashed him the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen… and then she nodded.

  Ronin slipped the ring on her finger and kissed it once it was in place. Devin couldn’t take her eyes off him. She was mesmerized by the warmth she felt inside, the searing love for this man.

  “I know this is more of a wedding band than an engagement ring, but it was too perfect for you,” Ronin said softly, his eyes still fixed on the ring he had placed on her left hand. “I’ll get you an engagement ring, too…”

  “No,” Devin whispered. “You’re right. This is perfect.” She dipped her head slightly to catch his eye as she cradled his face in her hands. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever see
n.”

  “Devin, baby,” he smiled down at her, “it’s got nuthin’ on you.”

  And there, in the moonlight with the blanket of stars spread across the sky, Ronin kissed her sweetly. She was his. The love of his life. Forever.

  Music that inspired the story

  See the complete playlist on Spotify

  Little Conversations—Sibylla Matilde

  http://open.spotify.com/user/sibyllamatilde/playlist/1GAslshmDRMWZxvFf5ugK5

  Chapter 1 – Quarters

  The Beast ~ Concrete Blonde

  Mr. Brightside ~ The Killers

  Favorite Things ~ Me First & the Gimmie Gimmies

  Despair ~ Yeah Yeah Yeahs

  Chapter 2 – An Ending and a Beginning

  Little Conversations ~ Concrete Blonde

  Just Give Me a Reason ~ P!nk

  Picking Up the Pieces ~ Paloma Faith

  Bad Romance (BBC Live Version) ~ Thirty Seconds to Mars

  Nervous Alibi ~ The Outfield

  The Kill (Live) ~ Thirty Seconds to Mars

  Chapter 3 – I can’t!

  What the Hell ~ Avril Lavigne

  Celebration ~ Kings of Leon

  Someday? ~ Concrete Blonde

  What if You ~ Joshua Radin

  Chapter 4 – Little White Towel

  Rainbow Connection ~ Me First & the Gimmie Gimmies

  Walk ~ The Foo Fighters

  Chapter 5 – Hero

  On Call ~ Kings of Leon

  My Party ~ Kings of Leon

  I’m With You ~ Avril Lavigne

  Chapter 6 – Kim

  The Story (Live) ~ Thirty Seconds to Mars

  Demons ~ Imagine Dragons

  Chapter 7 – Genuine Illusion

  One Woman Army ~ Kate Earl

  Skip the Charades ~ Cold War Kids

  Give Me a Sign ~ Breaking Benjamin

  Chapter 8 – Bar IX

  Love Somebody ~ Maroon 5

  Just Dance ~ Lady Gaga

  I Love It ~ Icona Pop

  Closer ~ Tegan & Sara

  The Other Side ~ Jason Derulo

  Blurred Lines ~ Robin Thicke

  Chapter 9 – Orion the Hunter

  Just Breathe ~ Pearl Jam

  Chapter 10 – Late Night Visit

  Open ~ Rhye

  Chapter 11 – Barroom brawl

  Angel ~ Eric Clapton

  Rough Boy ~ ZZ Top

  Turning Tables ~ Adele

  The Lonely ~ Christina Perri

  Wash ~ Pearl Jam

  Breathe Me ~ Sia

  Chapter 12 – Not Okay

  Jar of Hearts ~ Christina Perri

  Dear Agony ~ Breaking Benjamin

  Chapter 13 – What the fuck!?

  Attack ~ Thirty Seconds to Mars

  Finish What Ya Started ~ Van Halen

  Half of Something Else ~ The Airborne Toxic Event

  Chapter 14 – Emotional hangover

  From Yesterday ~ Thirty Seconds to Mars

  Try ~ P!nk

  Wait For Me ~ Kings of Leon

  The Last Worthless Evening ~ Don Henley

  Chapter 15 – Don’t Pull Back

  Do or Die ~ Thirty Seconds to Mars

  Stronger (BBC Live Version) ~ Thirty Seconds to Mars

  Chapter 16 – Different

  Answer ~ Sarah McLachlan

  Kiss Me ~ Ed Sheeran

  Chapter 17 – A Beautiful Day

  Country Lane ~ Telekinesis

  Supersoaker ~ Kings of Leon

  Pickup Truck ~ Kings of Leon

  Chapter 18 – A Wild Goodbye

  Arizona ~ Kings of Leon

  The Face ~ Kings of Leon

  Chapter 19 – What was that?

  Charmer ~ Kings of Leon

  Over the Rainbow ~ Me First & the Gimmie Gimmies

  Cold Desert ~ Kings of Leon

  Chapter 20 – He’s Free

  Alibi ~ Thirty Seconds to Mars

  Chapter 21 – Escape

  Bright Lights ~ Thirty Seconds to Mars

  Was it a Dream? (Live from the Virgin Megastore)

  Wish You Were Here ~ Avril Lavigne

  Bleeding Out ~ Imagine Dragons

  Revelry ~ Kings of Leon

  Black ~ Pearl Jam

  Chapter 22 – Liar

  Longing to Belong ~ Eddie Vedder

  Arms ~ Christina Perri

  Epilogue

  I Choose You ~ Sara Bareilles

  Devin’s Cosmo Drink Library

  Red Velvet Shortcake

  1½ oz. Red Velvet ZING Vodka

  2 oz. cream soda

  Splash of lemon juice

  2 strawberries

  Garnish: strawberry

  Muddle strawberries in a cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients except cream soda. Shake and strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with soda. Garnish with a strawberry.

  Source: ZING Vodka

  http://www.cosmopolitan.com/food/cocktails/cocktails-to-try-right-now-zing-vodka#slide-3

  Snowball

  3 oz. Hpnotiq Harmonie

  1 oz. coconut vodka

  Garnish: shredded coconut

  Combine ingredients in a glass filled with ice and top with shredded coconut.

  Source: Hpnotiq

  http://www.cosmopolitan.com/food/cocktails/cocktails-to-try-right-now#slide-1

  Island Margarita

  2 oz. TY KU Coconut Sake

  1 oz. tequila silver

  ½ oz. Grand Marnier

  ½ oz. agave nectar

  ½ oz. lime juice

  Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filed with ice. Shake and strain into a glass.

  Source: TY KU Sake

  http://www.cosmopolitan.com/food/cocktails/cocktails-to-try-right-now#slide-11

  Honeydew Margarita

  1 oz. honeydew melon puree (put the melon in a blender)

  1 ½ oz. tequila

  1 oz. triple sec

  ¾ oz. fresh lime juice

  ½ oz. simple syrup (Devin used Starbucks Classic syrup, though, and it was AWESOMESAUCE!)

  Garnish: melon balls

  Shake all ingredients with ice, pour into a glass, and garnish with melon balls. (Salt on the rim is optional.)

  Source:

  http://www.cosmopolitan.com/food/cocktails/cosmo-cocktails-honeydew-margarita

  Raspberry Le Flor

  1½ oz. Svedka Raspberry Vodka

  ½ oz. elderflower liqueur

  ½ oz. lemon juice

  ½ oz. simple syrup (again, Devin used Starbucks Classic syrup. Who wants to mess with cooking when there’s booze to drink)

  ¼ oz. water

  Garnish: mint sprigs and raspberries

  To make simple syrup, mix equal parts hot water and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass. Garnish with mint sprigs and raspberries.

  Source: Svedka Vodka

  http://www.cosmopolitan.com/food/cocktails/cocktails-to-try-right-now#slide-4

  About the Author

  Sibylla Matilde grew up in the mountain valleys of Southwest Montana exploring the dusty Old West gold country on the back of a horse. She attended a two-room schoolhouse beginning in 1st grade and had the same teacher until she changed schools after 7th. Beginning at about age 12, Sibylla discovered historical romance, feeding off of work of Jude Deveraux and Lisa Kleypas. She loves a book that can make the reader run the gamut of emotions, from the sweet glow of new love to gut-wrenching heartache. She is a true romantic and always has stories floating around in her head, living in a fantasyland until she writes them down to free them.

  Music is her emotional trigger. Growing up with a Wagnarian-loving mother, Sibylla was raised to treasure music that digs deep into the psyche, drawing out elation, sorrow, grief, desire. The soundtrack to her life includes many genres spanning centuries. She looooooooves Thirty Seconds to Mars (rather obsessively, actually... but, really, how can you NOT be crazy about those guys!?) and pimps them out to
all her friends through Spotify. She also delights in Met Opera HD broadcasts at her local movie theater and hopes (listening Met?) to someday see Diana Damrau reprise her role as Mozart’s Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte.

  Sibylla lives with her husband and hero who saved her from her own calamitous, young-adult self. He makes her laugh daily, even when things are tough. He’s proved to her that love really can heal a shattered soul. In 18 years, they have never had a fight, although they argue regularly with their two teenage kids who have, unfortunately, inherited their father’s quick wit (unfortunate as it is a quick wit that Sibylla, herself, definitely does not possess—there is a reason she is a writer and not a stand-up comedian). They live a quiet life with their two weird little rescued Chiweenies. Wait… teenagers & little yap-dogs? OK, maybe not so quiet.

  Email:

  Sibylla.Matilde@gmail.com

  Facebook:

  https://www.facebook.com/sibylla.matilde.5

  Twitter:

  https://twitter.com/SibyllaMatilde

  Goodreads:

  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7226522.Sibylla_Matilde