Solivagant

Chapter Twenty-One - Robinne

If anyone had told Robinne that a month ago at the Dripping Springs annual charity ball, that she would be sitting here on Ralph's back porch on her laptop watching the sunset, she would've pegged you for a fool. A madman at best. But, here she was, doing just that. Sunsets were always her favourite part of the day and here in Texas, they got a thousand and one times as beautiful as they did back home.

     So much had happened since that night in Ralph's truck where she'd kissed him, her kiss telling him all that she needed to say at that moment until such a time she wanted to expand upon their words. Before she could tell him that, when they broke from their second first kiss, he did something she never saw coming.

     He'd slipped off her shoes, threw them in the back of the truck and carried her down a small, winding gravel pathway, leading to the most beautiful cavern she'd ever seen. Granted, she hadn't seen any in real life so, this was the only and most beautiful one. Ralph had explained to her that this was a hotspot for any and all who wanted to get cool, hang out with family and friends or just come to take photos. Where he'd taken her was actually a place called 'Hamilton Pool Preserve in Travis County. Usually, you would have to come during one of the two reservation period times but, he pulled some strings to allow them to have the space to themselves for a brief period of time.

     With it not being daylight, it was hard to see the cavern in all its beauty but nonetheless, what she had seen was worth it. Even what happened next was worth it. Ralph had the mad, bonkers suggestion of taking a late night dip. He'd made sure the bacteria levels were safe for them to do so. So, that's what they did. She was surprised she'd agreed to his crazy suggestion but, she never regretted it for a second.

     Their respective clothes were left safely placed on a flat-ish rock, ready for them to collect when they'd finished swimming. Robinne was an excellent swimmer, so she had no worries about drowning. Ralph proved to be an excellent swimmer in his own right too, having confessed to her that he and his brothers, plus several friends over the years as he'd grown up, had gone swimming in more than a lake or two. So he was not a novice in any means.

     They'd swam for at least an hour during their time there, talking about anything and everything under the sun thanks to the relaxed, romantic setting. She learned a lot about Ralph that she never knew, things that she never would've if she hadn't come out here with him tonight. Such as all the truth surrounding what Delilah meant to him, things he got up to as a kid, his likes and dislikes. Most surprising of all? Just how much he had opened his heart to her, confessing things she'd never pegged him to think or even feel. Things she'd cherish and keep close to her heart forever.

      Just as their swim was coming to a close, they'd shared one final kiss under the moonlight, floating in the centre of the cavern's waters. Each kiss they shared unlocked the potential of more chapters to add to their lives, as their story was being newly written with each passing moment.

     After leaving the cavern pool, Ralph donned her in spare clothing from the spare clothing in the back of his truck which he always kept in there, habit of being a cowboy. Always prepared. He'd then given her the choice of going back to his place or back to hers. Not wanting her to feel pressured in any way if he'd automatically taken them back to his place. Regrettably, she'd chosen her place. Though when being dropped off, she did offer to invite him in for a drink and a warm up before he headed off home.

     He accepted.

     It was around midnight when Ralph eventually left to go home, having spent the few hours after arriving at Robinne's place, talking to her, getting warm and sharing a few warm drinks with her. Neither of them had felt so contented and at peace with their souls for as long as they remembered. Both glad for their own reasons that they'd decided to give their 'friendship' a second chance. Though they knew that what was going on between them, was far from just being a friendship.