“What about the other girl?The one Sandy was fighting.Did you ever see her again?”
“She developed a small crush on me for a while.”
“Well, I can see why.”She might have gone goo-gaga if a guy like Carson had rescued her from the school bully, evenif said bully had been Sandy.Allie had never had anyone.Not until Sandy.Allie had always been the quiet tomboy who got great grades but had terrible social skills.The girls thought her odd and the boys didn’t know what to make of her, so everyone used her as a verbal punching bag.She never told her family because she didn’t want her brothers to start fights at school.
“What do you mean?”
“You were her hero.Hero complex.”
“You think she liked me only because I saved her and not for my good looks?”he asked, almost sounding affronted.
“I’m sure she found you devilishly handsome.”Who wouldn’t?Allie found him handsome now; she couldn’t imagine what he’d looked like without the scars.“But I’m sure it was because you took notice of her is what really reeled her in.”
“You find me devilishly handsome, huh?”
“What?”Allie sputtered.“No, I—I said, I’m sure she did,” she quickly corrected herself.Carson gave her an ‘uh huh’ look as if he didn’t believe her.
“As if you need compliments.I’ve seen lots of women checking you out.”
“No, they don’t.”Now he looked angered by her words as if she was just saying it to get a rise out of him.
“Yes, they do,” she countered sincerely.When they weren’t distracted by his scars, many women stared openly at him.
Carson didn’t say anything for a moment.They just ate in silence, gazing out at the scenery.“Thank you, that was good,” he said, cleaning up his mess.
“I’m glad you liked it.Do you have room for dessert?”
“Dessert?And you gave me grief for packing too much.What else do you have packed in that bag of yours?”he asked, leaning over to look in at its contents.
“Besides the food, just a first aid kit, a jacket, and a flashlight.Not all of us need to pack everything but the kitchen sink for a three-hour hike,” she replied sarcastically.Carson didn’t say anythingto her statement, just stared at her.“What?”Carson was giving her an odd look, and she didn’t know what to make of it.He reached over, his thumb touching the corner of her mouth.Allie sat frozen like a deer caught in headlights.His thumb glided across the corner of her lips before he pulled away and wiped his hand off on his napkin.
“You had something on the corner of your mouth.”
“Thanks.”Allie busied herself cleaning up their lunch and stuffing things back into her bag.She noted some grey clouds rolling in.The storm was coming in faster than she’d first predicted.They had a couple-mile hike back to the truck.She hoped the rainheld off until they got back to the vehicle.“Ready to head back?”she asked, standing up.
“Yeah.”Carson joined her, noticing the sky as well.They took the dirt trail back instead of the water trail.Carson said it would be faster.
Allie felt the first cold drop of water quickly followed by another.They were still at least a mile from the truck.She glanced up, though she knew she wouldn’t see anything through the tree canopy.The drops came steadier now.The temperature was dropping slightly.They weren’t going to make it back to the truck before the skies opened up.
“Do we run for it or take shelter?”Allie asked Carson.Personally, she thought they should run for it.It was only a mile.They’d be soaked, but not as bad as if they waited out the storm.At least if they made it to the truck, they’d have a better shelter from the rain and could turn on the heater.
“Run for it.The trees with protect us from the worst of it, though if there’s lightning, that won’t help us.”No, trees and lightning made terrible friends, and she didn’t want to be there when a bolt struck a tree.
“You don’t want to set up your structure right here?”She couldn't help but tease despite being soaking wet.
“If we were back at the falls, I’d suggest it, but the truck isn’t too much farther.In under thirty minutes, we’ll be there.”Carson picked up the pace, as the rain started coming down harder.
Allie kept up with him.Mainly because she didn’t have a choice.Carson took her hand in his as they made their way down at a quickened pace.She wasn’t going to complain.She liked the feel of his hand in hers.It was steady and reassuring and warm.
The trees thinned out, and Allie could see the truck up ahead.They all-out ran for it like several other hikers around them.They piled into the truck, the only sound to be heard was their breathing and the pattering of rain.
Carson turned on the truck and set the register to heat, angling the vents at her.Not that she needed it.She wasn’t cold, just soaked.
“I checked the weather before we left.I wasn’t supposed to rain for a couple more hours.”Allie leaned forward to look out the windshield.The rain was already easing.That was one nice thing about living in the desert.It didn’t rain much and when it did, it didn’t last for long.
“At least the rain doesn’t last long here,” Carson remarked, echoing her thoughts.
“True.”Allie dug into her bag that was between her legs and pulled out the blanket they had used for their picnic.
