He takes my hand firmly in his. “Hold on to me and trust me to guide you through.” We go slowly, and with my eyesight blocked off, I’m more attuned to the sounds and smells around me. My boots crunch over forest debris as owls hoot in the near distance. I know we’ve left the minty fragrance of the woods behind a few seconds later when crisp air whooshes across my cheeks and my nose. My feet sink into softness as Callan guides me forward across the small sandy strip, and I seriously hope he hasn’t planned any swimming because you could not pay me to get into the water tonight. Although I’m bundled up in my wool coat, hat, and scarf, and I’m wearing a heavy sweater underneath with jeans, socks, and boots, it’s still cold, and this is totally cray-cray.
Warmth blooms before me, blasting heat at my face, and I frown.
“Okay. Ready?” Callan asks.
“Yep.”
He whips the eye mask off, and it takes a few seconds for my eyesight to adjust to the vision in front of me.
A gazebo is erected on the sand, fully covered on three sides, with heavy cream canvas curtains tied back at the front, framing the view of the lake with the forest in the background. Patio heaters stand like sentries at the opening, warming the air and heating my bones.
Inside, a thick blanket covers the ground, hiding the sand, and an abundance of bean bags and soft, large cushions invite me in. Smaller blankets are stacked in one corner. Callan flips a button on the remote control in his hand, and multiple candles light up the space, casting a magical glow against the canvas walls. A round table in the middle of the space hosts a variety of foil-wrapped items and a few flasks.
“It’s a midnight picnic,” he blurts when I continue to stand there stupefied and mute. I cannot believe he did all this for me.“Well, a midnight picnic at nine o’clock. Your dad said you had to be home by eleven thirty, tops.”
“This is incredible.” I fling my arms around him. “You’re amazing.” I feel him visibly relax against me before I unwind my arms and dip my head to enter the winter wonderland.
“Do you really like it?” he quizzes, following me inside.
“No one has ever done anything like this for me. How did you even pull it off?” I ask, spinning around. I’m in awe, and my heart is rocketing into orbit, turning cartwheels, and screaming for joy.
“I couldn’t pick you up from work because I was setting all this up. Thor, Riley, and Travis helped.”
“I still can’t believe you’re best buds with Travis,” I say, sinking cross-legged onto a cushion around the table. “Plot twist I never saw coming.”
“Me either, but he’s sound.” Callan sits beside me, his knee brushing against mine in the process, sending a wave of shivers ricocheting through me.
“I’ve never had any beef with Travis,” I admit, watching as he starts removing foil from the various plates and dishes. “He’s always been nice to me, and I couldn’t fathom how he ended up with Ana,” I add as I take a few pics of the room and the food. There’s no way I’m not bragging about this date on my socials.
“He’s seen the light now.” Callan pours coffee and creamer into a mug and hands it to me.
I wrap my hands around it, inhaling the steam and letting the warmth sink into my bones. “Seeing Ana all flustered this week made my year, honestly.”
“I have hot chocolate to go with our cake, but I thought you might want coffee with the savory food,” he explains, handing me a plate. “Help yourself.”
“I sense Roni’s involvement,” I tease as I load my plate with homemade sausage rolls, coleslaw, thick crusty bread, anda chicken burrito. I’m glad I chose not to eat dinner at work tonight, and I’m starving, so none of this will go to waste.
“Ma helped, and I got the burritos in town and the maple cake from the resort because I know it’s your favorite.”
Without overthinking it, I lean in and brush my lips against his. “Thank you. You’re the best.”
He stares at me like I put the stars in the sky, and I swoon under the depth of his adoration. “You deserve the world, Astrid, and I want to be the one to give it to you.”
“Selfie,” I demand, pressing my face up against his and holding out my phone. I snap a few pics and then scroll through them.
“We look good together,” he says, sliding his arm around my back as we look at the photos. “Send those to me. I want to use one as my screensaver.”
Butterflies swoop into my chest and flutter excitedly. I am kidding myself if I think I’m not head over heels for this guy. “I didn’t stand a chance, did I?”
His eyes widen, and sheer joy ghosts over his face. “Does that mean?—”
“Don’t count your chickens, soccer star.” I nudge him with my elbow. “Eat up, and we’ll talk after.”
We gorge ourselves on all the delicious food, repositioning our cushions so we’re facing the opening as we drink our hot chocolate and eat mini apple pies, cheesecake, and maple cake. Callan must have designated today as his cheat day because he devours everything in sight.
“I’m so stuffed,” I groan a while later as we sit close together with his arm around my shoulders and my head resting against his side. The view is breathtaking at night with a myriad of stars twinkling brightly against the blue-black backdrop.
“Same.” His arm tightens around me while he drops a tender kiss on my cheek.
