Mac knows Riley will think it’s dorky. He knows. But it’s his favorite place in the world and it’s beautiful and he just has to show it to her.
His grandfather used to bring him up here when he was a kid, and they would find all the constellations they could see and Mac would learn about all the different kinds of stars. It’s special to him and so is Riley.
He explains this to her while they’re up there and she looks at him with something so soft, so loving that it makes Mac warm inside, gives him butterflies he hasn’t had since college, and it’s the most incredible thing in the world.
They sit in the bed of Mac’s truck and Mac points out all the constellations. Riley listens intently, leaned against him, staring at him more than at the stars.
After a while, Riley wraps her arms around herself, suppressing a shiver. Mac looks over at her, cutting off his tangent about the life of a star.
“You cold?” Mac asks, already pulling his arms out of the sleeves of his leather jacket.
Riley shakes her head, starts to say no, but Mac is handing her the jacket before she can get a word out. She looks at it, then at him, and she can see in his eyes that he’s not going to take no for an answer, so she accepts. She turns around and lets Mac slide it up her arms and onto her shoulders. It’s warm inside from Mac’s body heat, smells like his cologne, and Riley loves it.
Mac is staring at her, smile playing softly on his lips.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” She asks, putting her hands inside the pockets.
“No reason. You’re just so beautiful.” Mac says and Riley giggles, and Mac has to pull her in for a kiss. Riley goes willingly, melting into him as he kisses her.
They pull away after a few minutes and Riley smiles, tells him to tell her more about the stars.
Mac should be cold, it’s freezing, but the way Riley is looking at him could keep him warm even on the coldest nights.
