Bridget:Most of my gossip, sorry, "accidental overhearings", have made me think you Oakley boys were normal. I'm going to have to reassess.
Me:I'm the weirdo in the bunch, for sure. But I'm not that bad, am I?
Bridget:Umm…pass.
Me:Ha ha. May I pick you up at five tonight?
Bridget:No, you may not.
My heart stops for a solid ten seconds until the next text comes in.
Bridget:I work until six tonight. If you're a good boy, I'll whip us up some sandwiches from the kitchen.
Me:I was hoping to take you out for a proper dinner.
The three dots hovered for a while.
Bridget:I don't think I'm ready for that yet. Can we find a park or something?
Me:I've got a whole forest, beautiful. See you at six.
Bridget:Cheeky little monkey.
I love that even through text she brings the sass.
The afternoon flies by, and I'm careful to arrive at Acorns five minutes early. I'd go inside and wait for her, but I don't want her to feel rushed. So I just lean on what I'm already thinking of as "her side" of the truck. A group of older ladies departs, each carrying an identical chunky orange paperback, leaving the café almost empty.
A few minutes later, Bridget comes out with a large paper bag. As I help her into the truck, I cage her for a moment, my hand gravitating to the small of her back as I nuzzle her hair. "I missed you after just one day. Maybe I really am a little weird."
Bridget's smile is pure sunshine. Once she's buckled in and I start to drive, she asks, "Where are we going?"
"It's a secret." Her smile falters. Reaching out to clasp her hand, I stroke her fingers gently. "I swear to you, beautiful, it's a happy little kind of secret."
She pouts dramatically, making both of us laugh.
As the truck pulls off the main road onto a recently-built sideroad, Bridget grins as we pass all of the "private property" signs. She stares in amazement at the beautiful forest. "This is amazing," she says softly. "So many different kinds of trees. It's all so…lush."
That's the exact word I would use to describe the generous curve of her mouth. I still can't quite believe I managed not to really kiss her last night. But a truck in her driveway wasn't nearly romantic enough for the location of our first kiss. This is going to be my one big relationship. I need to start everything out right.
After another minute, we arrive at the workshop, waving to my oldest brother as he's pulling out of the driveway.
"Which one was that?" Bridget asks.
"Ansel. He's a fairly straightforward guy. He accidentally ended up in tech, whipping up some obscure software that sells for a mint because it's highly specialized."
I park, then run around to help Bridget out of the truck. She doesn't really need any assistance, although the cab is pretty high for her. I just want an excuse to grab those luscious hips.
"Technically, I'm the poorest of the Oakleys. Did I just blow my chances?"
She surprises me by cupping my face in her palms. "You know this electricity has nothing to do with money."
"Damn straight."
I carry her bag as we go into the workshop, where I grab a thick blanket before we head out the back door. Our fingers thread together naturally as we walk down a rough path that leads to a clearing.
"Wow," Bridget whispers. "Did you time this so that we could watch the moon rise?"
"And a hundred years ago I planted the trees so that there would be an opening here just for this occasion."
