He’s tying down one of the side-by-sides that he keeps in the garage, a cooler on the back, and Mocha dancing around his feet, probably being more annoying than helpful.
“Ready to go?” he asks, picking up Mocha who licks his chin and wiggles excitedly in his arms.
“Yeah,” I say, nodding my head. Holding my jacket close to my chest, I wonder if he’ll expand on what his plan is for the day.
“Great, here’s fur ball. Let’s go,” he says, handing me my little friend and opening the truck door for us.
I get in and secure my seatbelt. Mocha wiggles around in my lap, like this is the first time he’s seen me in days, when I was only gone for like a half hour.
“Ok, ok, calm down.” I laugh as I pick him up and snuggle him to my chest. He holds onto me like a toddler would their mom, his legs around my belly, and his front paws on my shoulders as he whines in my ear, as his nose nuzzles my neck.
“Beckett, that’s a mud puddle.”
“You know, it’s really a wonder you made it this far in life.” His sarcastic comment literally makes my jaw drop, and it leaves me flabbergasted. I’m supposed to be the comedian, not this old man.
“That was rude,” I mumble. He reaches over and grabs my chin, making me look at him.
I pout at him, and his face changes from amused to worried in a matter of seconds.
“I’m sorry, Sloane, I didn’t—” He cuts himself off and rolls his eyes when my lips curl up into a smirk.
Without another word, he turns back to the dirt trail and presses down on the gas pedal, sending us through the huge puddle, making me screech as the three of us get covered in gross mud.
“Beckett!!!”
I can’t even stay mad at him; the sound of his laugh makes me laugh, as we hit another puddle.
The two of us laugh while Mocha lets out little barks as we slow down once we’re through the mud.
I look over at him as he pulls over to the side of the dirt trail, but he’s already looking at me.
“You have a little something…” he whispers with a smile, his hand cupping the side of my face and brushing clumps of mud off my face.
“Wow, wonder how those got there?” I tease, and his smile widens.
I could stare at his smile forever. Everything about him is so handsome, and I don’t think he has even the slightest idea how obsessed with him I am.
How can every little thing make me fall for him just a little bit more?He lets go of my face and turns back to the trail.
Mocha curls up in my lap, his coat now significantly more brown than when we started this ride. I pet him softly, while trying to gently pull little clumps of mud before they get too matted into his fur.
“What are we doing?” I ask as we stop and get out, Mocha fast asleep in my arms as I carry him like a little baby.
“Lunch,” he says, grabbing the cooler from the back of the side-by-side and a blanket out from under the cooler, setting it out underneath the small patch of trees we parked under.
“Oh.”
I watch as he sits down and pats the spot next to him. Mocha doesn’t even stir as he’s lying on the blanket. I sit down next to Beckett, who produces some sandwiches and some other things for us to snack on.
“Thanks,” I say, taking the sandwich and beginning to eat, not realizing how hungry I’d become.
I look around at the trees that surround us, liking how peaceful and calm it is out here. I could probably stay out here for a long time and never get tired of it.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asks, after we are both finished eating, grabbing my hand and lacing our fingers together.
I shrug. “Just thinking about how peaceful it is up here. How I wouldn’t mind staying up here forever. How I don’t think that I’d feel bad about it.”
He’s quiet while I talk. I like that about him; he listens. Or at least he always seems to be listening. He never interrupts, just lets me say whatever I need to say.
