Chapter 10
The sweet smell of rain-soaked flowers whisked by as we rode down the winding mountain road, twisting and turning farther and farther from town and any section that lookedfamiliar.
Even though it was the middle of May, the night air was chilly even with my jeans and hoodie on. I hugged myself tighter onto Abel as I shrieked a little when he took a sharp corner faster and tighter than I was remotely comfortablewith.
He turned off down a dark dirt road in the middle of nowhere, pulling over onto the shoulder. “Babe, there’s something I want to showyou.”
I got off the bike. “Where in God’s name arewe?”
“Well, we’re technically in Tennessee, and this is known to the locals as CompressionFalls.”
He grabbed my hand as the clouds finally parted, revealing a huge full moon. The damp trees sparkled in the moonlight as Abel led me down a steeppath.
“It’s not too much farthernow.”
We finally made our way down to a riverbank and the sound of a roaring waterfall broke into the calm night air. We rolled up our jeans and took our shoes off, wading out to a large, smooth rock closer to thewaterfall.
Abel sat, letting me lean back on his chest. We sat for a few minutes in silence, taking in the beautiful power of the cascadingwaterfall.
“This isgorgeous.”
Abel kissed my shoulder. “It really is. This is where I come when I need to get away from itall.”
“Thanks for bringing me here. I’ve never seen something likethis.”
His arms tightened around me as his chest heaved from a deep breath. “There’s something I have been meaning to askyou.”
From the top of my head to my toes tensed. I was bracing myself. If he popped the question right then I would probably freak, and not in a goodway.
“Do you believe inmarriage?”
Not exactly what I wasexpecting.
“I don’t think I do. I feel like if people want to be around each other then a piece of paper shouldn’t defineit.”
His body relaxed a little. “I couldn’t agreemore.”
“Why are you asking methis?”
“Because you’re the first person, ever, that I felt was worth binding myself to. Not even Raine’s mom had me thinking about wifing her up. I loved her, but it was more because she gave me my daughter. I don’t think we would have stayed togetherotherwise.”
I pulled away from him, shifting to sit with my legs crossed so I was looking right at him. “What are you getting at,Abel?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, staring past me to look at the falls. “I’m getting at the fact that I have fallen for you, Crickett. I fucking love you. You’re not just some broad or something. You’respecial.”
I leaned in, brushing my lips over his. “I love youtoo.”
“You know…we’re all alone, and that water looks mightynice.”
“Wont it be cold asshit?”
He shook his head. “This area is all spring fed. It’s pretty much the same temperature all yearround.”
“Race ya to the waterfall!” I jumped up, stripped down, and sprinted into the water, Abel hot on mytail.
We swam right up under the falling water, Abel holding me up since the bottom was a little too deep for me to standcomfortably.
Slowly we started a high school make out session like we were two horny kids hiding under the bleachers at a footballgame.
