I put my phone down and I can sense a pair of eyes glued to me. I turn to my best friend who is wide-eyed and nosy and I think she can already sense what’s coming. She crooks a grin at me.
“My sweet Hades,” I start, lowering my eyes and attempting my best at puppy eyes. She scoffs at me. “I have a favor to ask you.”
I almost got lost. I had to ask Zach to share his location so that I was able to find him easier. I forgot about the fact that it’s dark and my phone flashlight can only accommodate so much. But I make it, seeing Zach’s jeep parked up at the lot by the lake, and surprisingly, thankfully, he’s the only one.
I can see him waiting for me against his car, his smile illuminated by the moon light. My heart races the closer I get, anticipation greeting me as it bubbles against my chest. He watches me as I close the gap between us and a big smile paints across his face when I finally reach him.
I can’t help the way my heart blooms every time I see him, my own smile tugging on my lips as he holds his hand out to me and I walk right into him. Zach wraps me up, and I snuggle against his chest, taking in his scent and how warm he is. But even with his body warmth surrounding me, I still feel a chill caress my spine as the night wind breezes past us.
“You cold?” he asks me as he leans back.
“Yeah," I say. "And I kind of forgot that blanket,” I admit with a shrug and he just grins mischievously at me.
“I knew you would,” he says as he runs his hands up and down my arms. “Good thing I brought my own."
“What are we doing out here?” I ask as I turn from his hold and look out over the lake while he walks toward the back of his car.
The view is stunning; the moonlight melting into the water as the trees dance in the wind. I take it in for a second. I don't get very moments like this back in the city. It seems it's always go, go, go. So I appreciate this small amount of time we have to just soak in the beauty of nature.
“I have something I want to show you,” Zach says as he opens the hatch of his Jeep.
I turn to look and my eyes go wide with surprise.
“Zach…” I whisper as I step closer.
Blankets line the floorboard of his trunk, pillows stacked along the back-end of the back seats and a set of twinkle lights hangs from the ceiling. An ambient sound plays in the background and it mixes beautifully with the sound of the water from the lake. There’s also a little tray of nuts and cheese off to the side along with two single strawberry milks and something that looks like a mini telescope.
I'm in awe, noticing just how thought out this is.
“You did this?” I ask as I look over to Zach. His eyes are already on me and a feeling of adoration and reverence swells in my chest.
“It’s what I’ve been doing the past few hours,” he admits and that explains why I hadn’t seen him for a while.
“It’s beautiful,” I tell him and I can see the smile that spreads across his face.
“Wanna get in?” he asks and I don’t hesitate to agree.
He reaches for my hand and helps me up into his trunk, after I get myself situated, he jumps up and joins me. I’m immediatelygreeted by the warmth and I appreciate that seeing as I was starting to shiver standing out there.
“Here.” Zach reaches out next to me and unfolds a blanket, wrapping it around my shoulders.
“Thank you,” I say to him before leaning back into the pillows. “This is stunning Zach. I can’t believe you did all this.”
“Honestly, me neither but I had the thought and I made it happen.” He looks out over the lake, his open trunk leading out to the perfect view.
From here we can see the tall grass and the water that shimmers under the moon with the tips of the mountain silhouetted in the background. It truly is a masterpiece. A few moments of silence pass us by before Zach leans up and asks me a question.
“Can I tell you something?”
I look over, watching him as stares out into the night.
“Of course,” I say as I make the decision to scoot closer to him.
He welcomes me in, holding out his arm and I snuggle into him. Or feet tangle together as he wraps his arm around me and I rest my head against his chest and once I'm situated, he starts.
“Every time I look at you, Cadence, for as long as I can remember, I’ve always seen you as the sun.”
I sit up, way too overcome with emotion to his statement, and I turn my head to look at him. “Zach, what?”
