I must have fallen asleep because Julian wakes me again. He has such a lovely smile. “Come here,” he says, unbuckling me and pulling me from the car.
The wind is much stronger here. There’s strange, irregular background static. I make a more concentrated effort to turn my thoughts on, though it’s proving difficult. I have always loved my sleep. Interrupting it tends to leave me groggy all day.
We don’t go far. In fact, once Julian hits the button to lock the car, making the lights flash and the horn give a single beep, he opens the hatch. There’s a moment when I think that maybe I’m so tired that I’m imagining a nest of blankets back there.
I’m not imagining them when Julian urges me to climb in. He joins me, cuddling up beside me, wrapping blankets all around us. But he leaves the hatch open.
Not going to lie. I’m totally confused. The confusion becomes insignificant when he pulls me into his chest and holds me tightly. Where we are and what we’re doing doesn’t matter. Snuggled inside the blankets, against his chest, and feeling hisheart beating steadily, with the warmth of his body seeping through his hoodie into me, I relax entirely.
Besides the chilly wind that swirls around the cabin periodically, the atmosphere is perfect for falling asleep. With the sound of the wind in the trees, and the steady, rhythmic static in the distance, I begin dozing once more.
And once more, Julian wakes me.
“Arush,” he murmurs, kissing my forehead. “Open your eyes, Arush. I want to show you something.”
He’d said that earlier, hadn’t he? I thought he wanted me to see the nest bed he’d built in the back of his SUV. I approve, even if I’m not sure why he brought me here to sleep.
I open my eyes and look around, trying to get my bearings. The sky is beginning to lighten. There’s a soft glow in the car now.
“Come here,” Julian says quietly. “Sit up with me.”
He pulls me up with him, keeping me close and wrapping the blankets snugly around me. Honestly, this man is so damn sweet. I lay my head on his shoulder and close my eyes.
Julian chuckles. “Open your eyes, Arush. Look.”
I do as I’m told and follow the direction he’s pointing to see one of the most stunning landscapes ever. The static background makes sense. I’m looking at water moving along the shore as I stare out at a wide expanse of ocean. Which can’t at all be what I’m seeing since we’re smack in the middle of the US. I’m tired, yes, but I didn’t sleep long enough for Julian to drive us to either coast.
Making the scene even more dream-like, the sun is rising over the water.
“Welcome to Lake Michigan,” Julian says.
My chest tightens. He brought me to see the sunrise over Lake Michigan. It’s stunning. Breathtaking. Even more beautiful than I could imagine.
But more than that, the romantic gesture is something that will stay with me for my entire life. I’ll never forget this moment.Ever.
In fact, as I stare at the sun painting the sky in yellows and oranges, I note as many things as I can, attempting to commit it to memory. The sounds. The temperature. The way the wind pulls at the blankets now and then. Julian’s arms around me.
Periodically, he pulls out his phone and takes a picture. At one point, he has us twist so that we’re in the picture with the sunrise and the lake behind us.
“This is… amazing,” I tell him. I’m not sure I’m entirely awake yet, but I’m definitely not asleep anymore. “I can’t believe I’m seeing this.”
“It’s your birthday this week,” Julian says.
“This is the best birthday present.”
He grins, kissing my head. “Actually, this is the start of your birthday present.” He reaches for a small box and pulls it into my lap. It’s not wrapped. A simple but elegant wooden box.
I open it and find five glass jars and five glass vials. In the lid, there are a marker and blank stickers. So… yeah, I don’t know what I’m looking at.
Julian laughs. “We’re taking a road trip. We’re going to visit all five Great Lakes and watch the sunrise over them. When the sun is up, we’re going to walk along the beach, collect some sand and some water, and then continue our journey along the shore until we connect to the next lake.”
Chills rush over my skin. I can feel the gooseflesh rise. It takes me a minute before I can bring my eyes to his. I need to say something. Anything at all. But all I do is stare at him. He did this. For me.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
Julian’s smile is soft and warm, and I can feel it in my chest. This is the best feeling in the entire world. Being thought of.Having someone put this much time and energy into making my birthday special.
He presses his lips to mine. His hand comes up and rests on my neck, his thumb brushing softly against my cheek. It’s such a light touch. A gentle gesture. And yet, it feels incredible. One of the most intimate moments of my life.
