Wahhhh.
It’s not lost on me that if this had happened two months ago, it wouldn’t have bothered me in the least. I would have rolled my eyes and sneered at these dumb girls for being into a guy who’s only interested in getting between their legs for the night.
And now…
It’s probably best not to go there.
We’ve yet to define what this is between us and that’s dangerous. As much as I want to remain aloof and detached, I’m not. The fact that I want to scratch their eyes out tells me everything I need to know about the situation.
And none of it is good.
“You’ll see,” he says, breaking into my thoughts.
Which is for the best. This is our first outing together. It should be light and airy. Not mired in complications.
I stare out the passenger side window as we leave the city behind us. Houses set in the middle of postage stamp sized lawns on city blocks give way to fields and patches of woods that dot the picture-perfect landscape. Trees are in the middle of changing colors and the sky is a deep cornflower blue. White clouds that look like cotton candy float by.
I close my eyes and tilt my face toward the sun, enjoying the feel of it stroking my cheeks.
My aunt and uncle live on the southern tip of the city. We’re traveling north on a two-lane county road. After about fifteen miles, we hit a small town. It takes a few minutes to travel through it and then we’re picking up speed, continuing north.
A pit settles in the bottom of my gut as I realize that wherever we’re going, we won’t have to worry about being seen together. I haven’t mentioned it to Carter, but I’m no longer comfortable sneaking around. I don’t like keeping secrets from Noah. But most of all, I’m not interested in being someone’s dirty little secret.
Maybe at first it was fun and exciting.
But now…
It just feels wrong.
In the back of my mind I know that I need to end this fling. That’s all it is and all it will ever be. I don’t see us riding off into the sunset together. That thought brings a pang of sadness to my heart as I sneak a glance at Carter. My belly flutters as my gaze settles on him. It’s shocking to realize that I actually like Carter as a person. He’s funny and sweet. Not to mention, smart.
God…he’s so smart that it’s annoying.
How’s that for a kick in the pants?
But the fact that he’s taking me more than an hour away from campus, so we can be together without the fear of exposure, dampens any joy I’d felt at the prospect of going out together.
I yank my gaze from his profile and stare out the window. I’m so lost in my thoughts and the decisions I’m going to be forced to make, that I don’t realize he’s thrown the car into park and is facing me.
“We’re here,” Carter says as he reaches over to unsnap my seatbelt.
“Oh.”
I blink back to the present and notice that we’ve pulled into a parking lot. A lake sparkles in the distance. A dense forest surrounds a good portion of it and there’s a sandy beach to the right. Tall pines spear into the sky.
“It’s beautiful.” I sit motionless as my gaze scans the horizon. “Where are we?”
“Caledonia State Park.” A smile curves his lips.
The way his expression softens holds my attention. Happiness radiates off him in waves. Not only can I see the change in his demeanor, I can feel it. I’ve never seen him this lighthearted.
“Ready?” Carter pops open the trunk before exiting the Mustang. Going around to the back of the car, he pulls out a basket and blanket before slamming it shut.
Even though my mind registers the items, I still ask, “What’s that?” My voice comes out sounding thick and slow.
He glances at the basket in his hand as if seeing it for the first time. “If I had to take a guess,” he smirks, eyes crinkling with humor. “I’d say it looks like a picnic basket.”
How many times have I seen this playful side to Carter?
