“They were pissed when they found out. But I was eighteen.” I shrug. “Nothing they could do.”

“Which one is it?”

“Which tattoo was my first?”

She nods. I hesitate but then start to unzip my jacket, experiencing the same raw nerves I did in the car weeks ago when I went to unbutton my shirt for her. I’m revealing an important part of myself, and I want more than anything for her to understand it.

“Actually, my grandpa was kind of the inspiration for it.”

Even with the sun, the autumn air chills my skin, working its way through my long-sleeved thermal when I shrug out of my jacket. It’s going to get worse in a second.

“There aren’t any books in the cabin, but that’s because I took them all when he died. He read to me all the time when I was a kid. One book was his favorite.”

I pull up my shirt, revealing my rib cage on the right side. There’s a whole series of images there, but I point to the one I want her to see. It’s of an old dog with shaggy hair and drooping tail but with one ear perked. Behind the dog is the shadow of a man.

“The Odyssey. There’s a scene where Odysseus finally makes it home, and his dog is the first to recognize him right before he dies. That image stuck with me. So, I drew it. A bunch of different ways. Finally ending on this one. And, when Grandpa Ben asked me what tattoo I wanted to get, I felt like it had to be this.”

After giving her another second to look, I let my shirt fall back into place and thrust my arms into my coat. But, even with my clothing shielding me again, I am exposed.

If she wanted to, Holly could really do some damage at this moment.

“That piece … I don’t want to say it’s beautiful. Because that’s not right. It’s … haunting. Yeah. Haunting.” She leans forward and squeezes my arm, so I meet her eyes. “You’re so talented, Ben.”

With her face close and the warmth of her words, I’m at risk of becoming drunk on Holly. This would be the time to lean in and capture her lips, but she pulls back before I can focus my mind enough to make a move.

“I’ve never read The Odyssey. I’ll have to add it to my list.”

I watch as she stands and brushes some dirt off her tight jeans. My teeth bite into my lower lip as she smooths her hands over her backside, innocently looking for debris.

Clouds drift across the sun, lowering the temperature.

“Time to head back.” I collect our trash, shoving it into my backpack, suddenly eager to return to the cabin.

Holly’s smile is small and a bit regretful. She turns to face the overlook, spreading her arms wide, as if to embrace the whole scene. “Good-bye!” Her call echoes over the expanse, fading as my grin grows. With a firm nod, she turns back to me. “Ready.”