Not many. He’s usually more reserved and self-contained.
“Yes, I can see that,” I say with smile. “I’m just confused as to why you have it.”
One side of his mouth curves into a lopsided smile. “I thought we could have lunch here since neither of us had class this afternoon.”
Carter Prescott packed me a picnic lunch?
What the hell is going on here?
A gesture like this seems almost…romantic.
I swallow past the lump of emotion wedged in the middle of my throat as he holds out his hand for me to take. With our fingers clasped, we walk about twenty yards toward the lake. The park is surprisingly empty for such a beautiful day. Other than a few boats on the lake, we have the place to ourselves.
He sets the basket down and spreads out the blanket on a grassy bank about thirty feet from the edge of the water. Once it’s been smoothed out, we both settle on it.
“Hungry?” he asks, opening the basket and unloading its contents.
“Starving,” I admit.
He pulls out plates, napkins, a bowl of fruit, two sandwiches, a few bags of potato chips, and water.
“Wow, this looks great.” My mind cartwheels, unable to believe that he put so much thought into it.
Silently we unwrap our sandwiches and bite into them. My gaze cruises over the scenery. This place is gorgeous and peaceful, but it doesn’t stop my previous thoughts from buzzing around in my head. The last time I asked questions and demanded answers, he refused to give them. I don’t want to ruin this moment or the effort he’s put into making it happen, but I feel another conversation brewing between us.
Once we’ve demolished our lunches, Carter stretches out on the blanket. He folds his arms behind him and rests his head on stacked hands. His gaze captures mine easily.
“Come here,” he whispers.
He doesn’t need to ask twice. I scramble over and lay my head against his chest, inhaling a breath of him before closing my eyes and melting into his warmth. Somehow, in this moment, everything feels perfect. I’m not fooling myself into believing that it’sactuallyperfect. I know damn well that it’s not. There are too many questions and uncertainties. But for now, with the sun shining on my face, the wind sliding over my heated flesh, and my belly full of the lunch Carter packed for us, I feel content.
I don’t realize that I’ve dozed off until his voice snaps me awake.
“Whenever I needed to get away from home and clear my head, this is where I’d go. Even now, when I’m at school and need a break, I’ll take off and drive here for a while.” He pauses for a beat. “I don’t always set out with the intention of coming to the park, but this is where I end up. There’s something tranquil about the lake and woods.”
As those words sink in, I realize how special this place is to him and my heart cracks wide open. “Thank you for sharing it with me.”
He stares up at the cotton candy-like clouds as they float past.
“I’ve never brought anyone else here.” He glances at me and then yanks his eyes away. “I’ve never wanted to.”
Instead of staying curled up in the crook of his arm, I roll toward him until I’m draped across his chest. “But you wanted to bring me?” My gaze fastens onto his, searching it.
“Yeah,” he whispers.
We might be the only two people in the park, but we keep our voices pitched low as if we’re telling secrets.
“Why?” My heart quickens its pace and I feel the heavy thud of it against my ribcage. Whatever he’s about to say feels important.
Carter’s gaze slides from mine and he shrugs, studying the sky as if it holds all the answers. “I like you, Daisy.” He pauses and admits, “A lot.”
My breath stalls. “I like you, too,” I confess before losing my nerve.
Owning up to my feelings are both scary and exhilarating all at the same time. This relationship was supposed to be strictly sex, but it nolonger feels that way. Maybe I was fooling myself from the very beginning and it was always more than I allowed myself to believe.
“I think we should tell Noah,” he says.
His words stun me into silence. Carter doesn’t date girls. He fucks them and moves on to the next.
