“Funny, that’s where—” He stops mid-sentence, shaking his head and changing his mind on the thought. Right then our order is called, and he gets up to grab the food and brings back the best smelling containers to our table.
There are two small tacos on each plate containing two corn tortillas, each topped with little chunks of what I hope to God are carne asada, along with onions, cilantro, and a lime next to each one. They look so simple yet smell amazing.
He holds up his first one and tips it up to me, saying, “Cheers,” before taking a bite.
Going in for it, I take a bite and savor the tastes bursting in my mouth. I’ve had tacos but not like this.
“Good, huh?” he asks through a mouth full of food.
I nod my head while reaching for a napkin to cover my mouth. “Yes. Back home there aren’t a ton of Mexican restaurants. Seriously, Taco Bell was about as authentic as things got and that wasn’t even in my town. We had to drive a few towns over.”
“I couldn’t survive there. I live on Mexican food.”
Thinking of Cole back in my small town makes me laugh. He’s right. He couldn’t survive there. He’s too uptown for my hick town.
“Okay, I’ve got to learn where you’re from. Tell me something else,” he asks.
“Not much to know, really. I moved here about ten years ago, haven’t ever looked back, and after working at a law firm for the past five years, I’m interested in moving up, so that’s why I’m in your class.”
“You weren’t interested in law growing up?”
I laugh. “No, far from. I might have broken the law a few times, but never thought about fighting for it.”
“Broken the law, huh? Do tell.”
I shake my head, looking down, laughing but ashamed as well. “I told you, I grew up in a really small town. Well, there were only two police officers on shift at a time, so it was easy to see where they were and more importantly, where they weren’t. My friend and I would trip an alarm at the local grocery store after it closed and then go do whatever the hell we wanted anywhere else in town.”
“Was this friend a boyfriend or girlfriend?” he asks, and I pause, taking a deep breath.
“Hurry, go, go, go,” I scream, jumping in Carter’s car as he speeds away.
I can tell by the white of his knuckles he’s scared shitless, but I love the rush. We get a few miles up the road before we hear the sirens and then watch the two cop cars fly by in the opposite direction.
I watch as he visibly lets out a breath and sits back more calmly in his seat. “So what now?” He turns, asking me what else I had planned for the night.
“It’s you and me, baby, we can do whatever you want. We have at least an hour until they clear the alarm and get the whole thing situated,” I respond.
“Water tower?” He looks at me for approval.
“Perfect!”
There’s a huge tower people can climb on the outskirts. Town officials are always afraid someone’s going to fall if they climb it, so it’s a hotspot for the cops to patrol. I’ve wanted to climb it but never got the opportunity.
We park and both jump out of the car, knowing we have a time limit to our escapade.
Once we’re on top, both of us lie down on our backs, close to each other, and stare up at the stars. Minnesota has an amazing view anyway, but up that much higher in the sky, without any lights surrounding you, it’s truly a sight to be seen.
Carter’s hand intertwines in mine, and he looks over, whispering, “I love you, Evangeline.”
Before I can say anything back, his lips are on mine, and my legs wrap around his waist. I may not get the opportunity to say it back, but I can definitely show him.
Ishake my head. “That’s not important. Not anymore at least.”
“Then definitely a boyfriend,” he states with a slight chuckle, and I wish I could laugh back but not about him. Carter is never a laughing matter.
