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Pine Falls, January 18, 2018
My Charlee,
Happy New Year to you as well. What can I wish for you? A healthy year for you and your mom. A fulfilling academic semester. Endless and unconditional love.
I can’t believe you talked to your sister about me. You can’t see it, but I’m blushing as I write this letter. I wonder what she’d think of me, if she’d approve. I hope she would.
Your question is so silly, though. If I were living in the same city as you, would I take you on a date? Are you serious? Of course I would. A thousand times. Every chance I got.
Honestly, what you described sounds like the perfect date for me. I’d love every minute of it. How do you always find the right things to say? It’s like you see right through me. I’m adding that tidbit to my Charlee folder: has magical powers of some kind.
Maybe we could go explore the forest and find all those weird animals you like to draw. You could show me how to draw one too, although, fair warning, my drawing skills are no better than a five-year-old’s. I could teach you things you don’t know too, like plants you can eat and the ones to stay away from. We could do some birdwatching and imitate their calls.
And maybe find something romantic to do as well. I could pack a picnic in my bag, but I’ll keep the contents a surprise for now. And maybe after that, we could find a river or a lake to freshen up from the day spent running everywhere. Get sweaty all day, then jump in the lake to cool down when the night sets in. Skinny-dipping, if we dared to be bold. And we’d then run back to our tent and slide into a sleeping bag. No need for two. We’d need to raise our temperature after swimming in the cold water. Skin to skin. You tucked in my arms, your warmth all over me.
I promise you we’ll go on that date one day.
I know it sounds like I make a lot of promises. But when it comes to you, I have the urge to make your every wish come true. I want you to be happy so badly I’d do whatever I could if it meant putting a smile on your face.
With love,
Your Oli
Attached article
10 things to do if you’re in danger of hypothermia
Chapter Twenty
ALL MY LOVE
Oliver
“Camp?”
“Just until the rain slows down a bit,” I tell a wide-eyed Charlee.
My heart is still pounding from having to climb the hill with her on my back. Or maybe it still hasn’t settled from when I saw her fall into the icy water.
That image will haunt me till the day I die.
I thought I’d lost her.
For the entire trek here, I couldn’t let go of her, couldn’t loosen my grip on her thighs for fear that she would slip away again. I wanted her to be okay, but I needed to have her close to me or I would have lost my goddamn mind.
I jerk my chin toward a flat rock next to her. “Sit here while I get the tent up.”
Charlee crosses her arms. “Don’t boss me around.”
“Fine,” I sigh. “Do whatever you want to do.”
I kneel and pull the folded-up tent from my bag, unroll it, and make quick work of assembling the poles. When I stand to attach the tent, Charlee is sitting on said flat rock.
I chuckle, shaking my head.
“What?” she asks.
I shrug. “Nothing.” I return my focus to getting the tent ready before we’re even more drenched from the upcoming storm.
