Tom had worried Maria's openness at Koh Kret had been a one-off because of her holiday blues. After her subtle confession that she was lonely and wanted what her cousin had with Daniel plus her flattery, he'd dared to flirt with her, and she'd seemed to encourage it. It'd been so long since he'd hoped for a relationship, but this felt incredible. To add to his luck, Mitch was a total prick to anyone who crossed his path since Christmas, so Maria kept drifting Tom's way without him having to act.

Once, before they left the school on Friday, the jerk seemed civil, and, unlike what Tom expected, Maria was cheerful and receptive. While a forgiving heart was a wonderful quality, she would get crushed if she believed that snake; not to mention, Tom questioned what that for their evolving friendship.

None of that mattered as a coconut scent drifted toward him. Her warm body against his chased away the chill of the air-conditioned bus to Lamphun where they'd meet Prae's brother. As she'd dozed off on the night bus, her head had found the crook of his shoulder and she'd snuggled against him. His heart beat far too quickly for him to fall asleep, despite the surrounding darkness.

Hours later, the sun painted the sky in yellow and orange hues as yesterday's plains had turned to mountains with incredible greenery. The peaks didn't have the rockiness or snow of the Rockies or Annapurna range, but their forests were warmer. They brimmed with such diverse life that he longed to pull out his camera, but he didn't want to disturb Maria, and the lighting was too dim.

He glanced across the aisle at Prae who was rubbing her eyes. When their gazes met, she smiled warmly and tilted her head toward his sleeping companion. "You and Maria?" she mouthed.

Tom shook his head.

"Soon," she whispered with a smile. "Don't lose hope."

He grinned. How had it taken months to realize how wonderful Prae was? Maria's arrival in Thailand had brought everything into perspective. Another reason to be hopeful about their potential relationship.

"Are we getting closer?" Tom said.

Prae nodded, and her eyes were drawn past him.

"I can't believe how stunning it is. How did you move away to Bangkok?"

Her smile faded a little. "It was best for me then."

"And now?"

"I wouldn't have met any of you staying in my village."

Tom grinned. "I'm glad you ventured out."

She threaded her fingers together. "Me too."

Maria stirred against his chest, snuggling closer. He fought the urge to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Wow, that's beautiful," she uttered. Her eyes were glued to the window while his didn't leave her. Her orange polka-dot blouse matched the sky.

"Morning, Ria," he said. The early morning light kissed her brown skin and illuminated her serene smile. "Sleep well?"

"Probably better than you could with me using you as a pillow."

When he rubbed her back and gently squeezed her shoulder, she didn't shy away from either. "I slept great."

"Sorry for invading your space last night."

"Don't be sorry. You saved me from those itchy bus blankets."

She giggled. Would it ruin the moment if he flirted with her? Two weeks ago it would have, but now it was a gamble with decent odds. However, he preferred not to take the risk before they'd set foot in Chiang Mai province. They had the four-day New Year's weekend. If he approached this right, he might have a meaningful date by the time Valentine's Day arrived. They enjoyed the sunrise together before greenery turned to homes and stores, and urbanization grew closer.

"Prae," Tom said, looking across the aisle. "I'm so envious that you grew up surrounded by this beauty."

"What about your Canadian home? You always talk of the mountains."

"Calgary? It's in the foothills--nothing like this." Maria nodded in agreement. He couldn't believe they'd lived in the same province for years, but it took flying across the world to meet her.

"There are many things I miss and forget when I'm away in the big city." Prae glanced from the window to her phone. "My brother is going to meet us in Lamphun, and his friend will take us to Doi Inthanon to see the mountains and waterfalls."

"For the entire day, right?" Tom asked. Her brother had been vague about that point when they'd spoken over the phone a few days earlier.

"Until my father finishes leading his tour, then he will pick us up, and we will drive to the village together."

"It's so generous of them to show us around!" Maria said.

"This is Tom's plan." Prae smiled. "He made the arrangements. I only gave him contact information."

Maria looked at him with warmth in her eyes, unlike the last time he'd tried to arrange something for them during a holiday. "Thanks, Tom."

"I wanted to make the most of our vacation so the experience was memorable." It benefited him that both Prae's father and brother worked in the tourism industry and were well-connected and informed.

Tom pulled out his phone and captured the scene outside the window. Then he switched to selfie-mode to get one of him and Maria. She attempted to sit up, but Tom urged her to stay comfy where she nestled into his shoulder. Even if this turned into nothing, he wanted to remember the moment he'd regained hope.

---

A short young Thai man jumped out of the passenger seat of a red pickup truck. He had a similar heart-shaped face to Prae's, and his long dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail. With one finger, he flicked a pair of sunglasses from his head to his face.

"Sawatdee krap, Phiesaaw," the man greeted Prae with a cheesy grin. He exchanged a few quick phrases with her before turning to the group.

"Welcome to Northern Thailand. I am Tong, Prae's handsome and charming brother, and our shy driver is Jason, you know, like Jason Bourne." He mimed a few quick shots with his 'finger' gun. "Let's see how well I listened to my dear sister." Tong turned to Maria with a smile. "You must be Maria--suay mak mak as promised." Tong winked at her, causing Tom to take a step closer. The last thing she needed was another player trying to seduce her. When she laughed and smiled wider at the Thai man's flattering words, Tom's stomach shifted uneasily.

"And you are Tom, same, same like Tom Cruise, but different hair." Tong strolled over to Emma. She wore a neck pillow on and let out a yawn. "Emily?"

"Emma," she corrected.

"Yes, beautiful name for a beautiful girl." Tong broke out another wink.

Prae muttered something to him in Thai before they chatted, ending with her shaking her head and sighing.

"My apologies. My brother said the van we booked for today is being repaired. Tong and I can sit in the back, but it may be crowded inside."

Maria's smile didn't fade. "It's just like a songtao. We'll be fine in the back, right Tom?"

Like Prae, this wasn't quite how he pictured the day, but he nodded to appease Maria.

Prae's lips pressed into a thin line. "It can get cold in the mountains."

"Can't be much colder than the bus. I've got Tom, so I'll be fine." She slipped her arm around his lower back and snuggled herself into him. His desire for the van melted away.

"It'll be a fun new adventure and easier to take pictures."

"If you change your mind, I will ask my brother to switch with you."

Tong, Jason, and Tom loaded the suitcases and backpacks into the back of the old pickup truck.

Prae, Tom, and Maria sat in the open box with the luggage. Jason pulled away from the bus stations and drove to the outskirts of the city, where farmland intermingled with shops, homes, and temples. After some time, they crossed a river; the urbanization faded, as the truck approached the mountains. The box allowed him to shoot unobstructed shots of the landscape and a few of Maria and Prae being goofy together.

As the temperature became colder and they gained elevation, Maria curled into his right side. Prae shivered on his left. The Thai woman wore a loose, blue short-sleeved top tucked into a pair of jean shorts.

"Aren't you freezing?" Maria yelled over the noise of the engine as it worked to climb the hill.

Prae fought the wind to brush her hair out of her face. "I'm ok." Her shivers begged to differ.

"You sure? Tom's a great furnace." Maria snuggled in closer.

He smiled and draped his arm behind her back, his hand resting on her waist. "It's the Canadian way, huddle up to stay warm," Tom said.

"I wouldn't want to impose." Prae looked between the two of them and into the truck cab.

"We're all friends, no judgement," Maria said. "Better than turning into an icicle."

Prae inched over until her cold knee rested against Tom's. As she tentatively scooted closer to him, he put an arm over her shoulder, and she relaxed into his side. It was kind of endearing how nervous she was. Now that he thought of it, he hadn't ever been this close to her, save the odd group hug. She brought a jasmine scent to contrast Maria's coconut one.

"Better?" Tom said.

Prae nodded and smiled. "I should have asked Tong for blankets."

"Nah, we have to make Tom feel useful." Maria patted his chest, and he laughed. He could get used to this.

"I knew you were just using me for my body."

When Maria chuckled, he grinned. This was going much better than at their trip to the beach. They stayed that way for ten minutes before Emma cooed, "You three are adorable."

"Tom Cruise, you are a smart, lucky man," Tong hollered from the front seat.

Prae straightened up, fixed her hair, and sat on her own for the rest of the trip. Tom couldn't help but feel like he did something wrong.

After stopping for a quick bowl of rice porridge, topped with egg, chicken and veggies, the truck did some serious climbing into the mountains. Big green trees created a neat canopy over some parts of the road as they twisted and turned their way up. Looking back at their path, the urban sprawl below shrank, with more and more undulating hills taking its place. The air took on a fresh scent he hadn't experienced since Nepal.

The first waterfall they visited lay just off the road. A short walk past tour vans and restaurants got them to Wachirathan waterfall, tumbling down from an impressive height. It took Tom's breath away. The ferns and palm trees around the falls contrasted the coniferous forests back home. The waterfall's mist slicked the boardwalk, but they pushed on, following Tong up to the closest point. He explained another waterfall later today would have a place to swim if they wanted. The roar of the water droned out most of his other words.

Tom put an arm around Maria's shoulder as they watched the water's impressive impact. Beads of mist dotted their skin. It was amazing one stream joined by another, then another could create these towering walls of water amongst the vivid green vegetation. Tom pointed out butterflies and colourful flowers, which made Maria smile. Unlike when they normally hung out as a group, she seemed content to spend more time with him rather than visiting with Prae and Emma, who were busy chatting to Tong and Jason.

Once they'd visited a few more waterfalls, the road curved to reveal vibrant rice terraces. Alongside the impressive landscaping were restaurants, guesthouses, and some village homes too. Jason parked the vehicle, and they followed Tong down a few paths toward the emerald fields. Some remnants of rice stalks still populated the ground.

"Over here," Tong showed, "are strawberry fields. They are not as sweet as you ladies, but very close."

Prae shook her head and looked at Tom with apologetic eyes. "If I had known he would be like this, I would have requested my father show us around."

"It's all in good fun," Tom said with Maria still at his side. "He's used to groups of tourists who like that sort of thing." His gaze wandered to Emma, who grinned at the attention.

Maria looked up at Tom with her warm brown eyes. Her cheeks dimpled, and she pressed her lips together. What could she be thinking about?

"Do I have something on my face?" he asked.

"Yeah, a nose," she said, poking him gently.

He chuckled at her adorable actions. Two could play at that game. "When they wonder why we're together, I'll tell them it's your sparkling sense of humour."

Maria let go of his hand and crossed her arms over her chest, which made him panic until a smile broke through her straight face. Thank goodness she'd recognized it was a joke. But her expression morphed into a frown. Crap, he'd screwed things up again by saying the wrong thing.

"Sorry," Tom said, taking a step back and keeping his arms at his side. "I was teasing you and didn't mean to imply we're... If we were going out, you would know. I mean, I'd ask you. I wouldn't assume... "

He was ready to slap himself. If he hadn't freaked her out before, she was likely to run back to the bus station now to avoid spending the holiday with him. Why couldn't he apologize like a normal person?

"It's cool, I knew what you meant."

Tom rubbed his forehead and frowned. "And I made that sound so robotic and cold."

Maria's lips twitched into a smile. "It's fine, you didn't. You're cute when you're nervous."

Cute? His exhalation released tension from his shoulders. Cute wasn't what he was hoping for as women sought more than that in their partners, but it could have been worse. "When I ask someone out, I put thought into it to make it memorable."

Maria smiled and took his hand again. "How did you ask out your ex? Mackenzie, right?"

Tom froze and released her hand. Instead of that moment of promise, all he could picture was his ex's golden hair cascading down her bare back as he walked in on her and that yoga teacher. François or something equally douchy. The guy had the audacity to ask if Tom wanted to join them. As if corrupting the woman he intended to marry and have a family with wasn't enough. His blood still boiled.

"Sorry, we don't have to talk about that," Maria said.

It didn't matter how many miles he put between him and Calgary. The François of the world were everywhere, masquerading as guys like Mitch. Luring women in with false promises and charm just to toss them aside. Was Tom asking for trouble in getting close to Maria, who was also close to Mitch?

"Tong's waving us over." Maria wandered toward the terraced rows of strawberries, where Tong spoke with the owner. They sampled a few of the sweet fruits while the owner talked about his plants and tried to sell them expensive baskets of berries. Tom stood at her side while Emma bought a basket that probably wouldn't survive the trip down the mountain.

As Maria laughed and chatted with the owner, Tom told himself she differed from his ex. Mitch had drawn her into his trap, but she hadn't succumbed to his charms. Tom had to stop fearing history would repeat itself and be honest with her. She wouldn't have asked if she didn't care for him.

***

Photo credit Ash Edmonds from Unsplash