Gabriela stared back at me, eyes flickering with an unnamed emotion. “Hunter…”
Was she not used to hearing how stunning she was? Or—worse—did she not know?
There was no way a girl like her looked in the mirror and didn’t realize that she was the epitome of beauty.
Still, I made a mental note to remind her more often how perfect she was to me.
“We’re here,” I announced before she could say anything more, gravel crunching under my tires as I pulled into a secluded parking lot attached to an old property my family owned. We used to come here all the time during the summer. It was our staycation home. Most of my prominent childhood memorieswere tied to this place. After my dad passed away, I rarely made the trip. It was too painful.
But it was one of the few places where you had a quintessential vantage point if you wanted to stargaze.
Gabriela frowned. “Where are we?”
“My humble abode.” I unbuckled my seatbelt. “Well, one of them. I inherited it once I turned eighteen. It belonged to my dad.”
I stepped out of the car and rounded the front to open Gabriela’s door.
She ambled out, her head thrown back in awe as she registered the two-storey cottage-style home, shipshape lawn, and wrought iron fence. “This is incredible.”
I grinned as I pulled out a wicker basket and blanket from my trunk.
When I reached her side, she finally asked, “What are we doing here?”
I offered her my arm. “Having a picnic.”
She saw the items in my hand and put two and two together. The cutest smile spread on her face. “Oh.”
“Shall we?”
Gabriela tucked her hand in the crook of my elbow and we started walking. I was mindful of her high heels and slowed my strides so she wasn’t shuffling after me. I unlocked the gates and we rounded the dark house, heading for the backyard portion, a vast land that faced a spectacular lake.
We passed the wooden deck and the four-season porch, coming to a halt by the edge of the property, where the sound of the rippling water mingled with the crickets in a soothing lullaby.
If you tilted your head back, the scenic sight of the galaxy would greet you, its black tapestry scattered with millions of little stars.
Gabriela watched with acute fascination as I unrolled the blanket on the grass, got down on my knees, opened the wicker basket, and laid out the offerings. A bottle of sparkling juice, a charcuterie board with cheese, crackers, and fruits, and her beloved chocolate-dipped donuts from our favourite bakery.
She had her picnic and she had her stars.
This was the closest I could get to recreating one of her favourite book scenes.
I hoped I did her fantasy justice.
“Hunter.” Gabriela’s voice wavered at the end as her eyes bounced from where I knelt, lighting two citronella candles to keep the insects away, and towards the stars with astonishment. “I can’t believe you did this. I…It’s so perfect.”
You’re perfect. “Come join me.”
Gabriela grabbed my outstretched hand and I directed her onto the blanket. She lowered herself in a graceful flourish, then curled into my side like a kitten and kissed my cheek with gratitude.
My heart lurched in my chest, yearning for hers in a cosmic way.
Vision veiled with stardust, all I wanted in this moment was to cup her face and kiss her lips like oxygen wasn’t a necessity. I wanted to hug her until her bones, heartbeat, and soul mended with mine in a singular entity.
The depths of feelings I possessed for this girl should have scared me, but I embraced them with openness. If this was what falling entailed, then I was ready to be immersed in the sensation as long as the end result was making her mine.
I couldn’t convey these thoughts to Gabriela yet, but I wished that tonight would be a turning point for us—that she’d be willing to take a chance on me.
I wanted her to understand that I was playing for keeps.
