Who You Say I Am (A Jai Courtney Fanfic)

Chapter 82-Jai

Jai

The weather is still above freezing as we drive to visit the lake.  I'm grateful there's no rain and the sun is out a bit.  There's a lighthouse Megan wanted me to see and some sort of wildlife preserve.  She had me enter the destination in my phone because she's never driven there herself.  There were three routes and she let me select it.  Two had toll roads and one was a bit longer but a more scenic route.  I chose the latter.  I hated the toll roads in Chicago.  They were such a pain sorting all of those coins especially since that's what we took yesterday. 
We arrive and I pull into the car park.  I can see the lake and lighthouse from here.  It is a breathtaking view and I really wasn't expecting it to be so majestic from her description before.  We step out and I'm surprised by how windy it is—this is like Chicago.  I join Megan's side and reach for her hand.  I realize there aren't many people here but we walk the park and it is beautiful.  We stand near the lighthouse and she offers to take a picture of me with it.  I smile but I insist on a selfie with her.  She laughs lightly and agrees.  I take a couple, trying to get as much in the background as I can.  I can't help but nuzzle up to her in the last one as I'm kissing her cheek.  She closes her eyes this time and I wonder if she feels for me what I feel for her.  A couple passes us and offers to take a shot of us.  I agree because there really wasn't much in the others.  They back up and take a few pictures and I wrap my arms around her.  I get my phone back and Megan offers to take some for them as well.  I step aside and I observe as she takes the most beautiful image of those two.  She hands them back their phone and we thank each other before separating. 
We sit in a somewhat shady area under the bare deciduous trees near the water's edge and just watch the waves crash against the rocky cliff.  The sound is soothing.  I pick Megan up and place her between my legs.  She laughs in surprise but doesn't object as I snuggle with her. 
"Are you cold?" she laughs lightly. 
I hum a reply but I'm not.  I just want to be closer to her, to have her in my arms.  I kiss her temple and wrap my arms around her.  We stay for the remainder of the morning looking around the area and just talking hand in hand.  We stop for lunch at a place in the area here and share a pizza.  The food is good, the atmosphere is beautiful out here on the waterfront.  We're inside but the view is fantastic.  I can't stop looking at her, can't keep my eyes off of her.  I feel as though I'm just addicted to her almost.  I've never been like this over a sheila but with Megan, I don't mind. 
We finish our meal and drive to a wildlife preserve.  She says it's a marsh and there are usually a lot of birds there, although she's not sure which species stay for the winter.  We drive according to the guidance on my phone to get there and turn into the park.  I follow the road and pull off to the first car park I see.  There's a building with a small pond here.  I hold her hand while we walk around the area and view some native birds.  It's nice—very different from what I'm used to with the four seasons.  She tells me it's prettier in spring and summer but I don't mind.  We climb back into the 4WD and drive on further down a sort of land bridge through the marsh.  I see several more various kinds of birds throughout the park and we stop a few times to observe them.  We arrive at a large car park at the beach.  This area's sandy—not rocky like the lighthouse.  We walk the beach a bit and I do see what she means about it not being the cleanest lake—there is a bit of rubbish washed up on the shore but the beaches in California are like that in some areas, too.  We avoid the rubbish and enjoy the beach.  Then she takes me to a forested area with a wooden bridge as a footpath.  We walk the track and we do see quite a bit of wildlife—from small squirrels and chipmunks to all sorts of birds.  We even see a bald eagle which I don't think I've ever seen in person before.  We move on after viewing the massive predator for a while and there's a large flock of those Canadian geese.  They swim in the marsh below us and don't seem to be threatening.  We walk around a bit more and see some more sights before returning to my 4WD. 
We take the land bridge back.  The flock of geese is actually crossing the track on foot and we have to wait for them to leave to drive on.  We watch as they slowly cross the footpath, taking their time.  Several of them groom themselves and a few actually sit down. 
I chuckle and put it in park.  "I think we're stuck here," I joke. 
She laughs in reply. 
We watch as several of them peck at the ground finding bits of things to eat.  The vast majority of them are crossing the track, though.  The seated ones eventually get up and follow the flock.  When it's clear, we move on. 
Megan tells me she knows the way home and we drive on a different path on the way back.  We cross one of the bridges over the river that leads us to the CBD and I offer to take her out to dinner here.  She smiles and pulls out her phone since she's not sure what else is down here other than the restaurant we're going to on Friday night before the match.  She finds a place her dad told her was good and it's right near the arena.  She puts the restaurant into her phone and I listen to her guidance on where to turn.  We find the place and then have to search for a car park.  I see one and we pull in.  I stick a bill into some box and we move on.  I hope I did that right—parking down here is weird. 
"I've never seen that before," she says motioning to the box.
"Neither have I," I respond.  "Let's hope I don't get towed."
She chuckles at that.  "I'm sure it's right... it's just kind of strange."
I grin at her and hold her hand as we walk around back towards the restaurant.  It's not too busy down here and I mention that to her. 
"It's a Wednesday and it's kind of early," she shrugs.  "Not many people go downtown unless there's an event or if they work down here."
"So, not the busy CBD I'm used to?" I question. 
"Not really.  This town isn't as eventful as your hometown or LA," she says. 
She tells me the name of a song written about they city and sings a bit of it for me.  I laugh.  "It's not that bad," I insist. 
"I don't think so, either," she agrees. 
We enter the restaurant and it turns out to be like a pub.  I'm dying for some amber fluid but I don't know if that'll sit well with her since she's not a drinker—also I'm driving and she wanted to go to Wednesday service if we could make it. 
"Aren't we near the other church?" I question as we get seated. 
"Actually we are," she smiles and nods.  "That kind of worked out perfectly."
"It did, didn't it," I agree. 
I look over the menu and order a burger and onion rings.  I hear her order fish and chips with a salad.  She passes back her menu and I reach out for her hand.  She smiles at me as I intertwine our fingers. 
"What kind of fish was that?" I ask her. 
"Walleye," she tells me. 
"Local, right?" I ask.  She nods. 
"Did you enjoy the trip today?" she asks hesitantly. 
"Yeah, I did," I grin at her. 
"I feel like I'm boring you," she confides. 
"Never," I tell her seriously. 
She laughs lightly and smiles at me.  We chat a bit until the tucker arrives.  Then we still chat some more because I enjoy conversation with her so much.  She lets me try a bite of her fish and it isn't bad.  We're laughing and smiling, telling jokes and stories.  I pick up the check and we're off to church. 
I don't even need the map to get there and feel fairly comfortable if I just learn the street name or glance at a map before we head out in general anymore... well, except for today since that was a first to really drive on that side of the CBD.  I pull into the car park and escort her in.  We see most of the same familiar faces and I'm feeling like I'm growing close to this group of friends, like this could really be a place I come to on my off time.  Maybe more so for Megan, though, because I doubt I'd come here for anything else but her—possibly just to see a mate for the day or something on my way through.  But Megan... there's something about her that I can't explain.  I have this draw with her, that I just can't get enough.  We could sit on her lounge and play games with her brother and I'd probably stop whatever I was doing for an invite like that. 
She continues to greet everyone and I stand behind her as she socializes. I shake a few people's hands and smile when I see Izaak and Floyd together. I hug them both.
"How's it going, man?" Izaak asks me.
"Things are good," I nod.
"Are things progressing?" Floyd asks quietly motioning to Megan.
"I hope so," I tell them truthfully.
"We'll be praying for you two," Izaak says and I'm actually touched.
"Thanks, mate," I tell him seriously.
"No worries," he grins. I see Gale and Valentina with Megan. They come over to join us.
"So... is everyone excited about tomorrow?" Gale asks beaming.
"Of course," Floyd responds.
"What are the plans?" I inquire.
"We're going out to dinner and bowling since that's about all in this town that this girl hasn't taken you to," Gale chuckles motioning to Megan.
She smiles and shrugs, "He's new in the area."
"Yeah, but she's even taken him indoor rock climbing. Can you believe it?" Gale says disbelievingly.
"Do we even have that in this town?" Floyd asks.
"The place is kind of new," Megan says.
"We've got to go there," Izaak says excitedly. They all agree.
The service is starting soon so we all go inside and take our seats. I hold Megan's hand throughout the service. I feel like I should be paying attention but I honestly can't keep my eyes off of her. She smiles at me when our eyes meet and my heart melts at the sight.