You Had Me at Hello

Chapter 4 The River

Later that week, Cody texted me telling me to dress outdoorsy and wait for him to come and pick me up.

Cody

Hey, it's me. Dress outdoorsy, I'll pick you up in an hour!

Sounds good!

* * *

Once inside his truck, I buckle my seatbelt and look over at him.

"So, where are we going?" I ask him.

"That would just ruin the surprise now, wouldn't it?" he responds.

"Okay, okay." I smile.

* * *

Soon enough we arrive at the entrance of the state park.

He pays the fee at the gate and then drives in.

"I may have planned something," he finally hints.

"You did? What?" I ask him, like he's going to tell me anything.

"Just wait, you'll see," he says back.

* * *

After finding a parking space, he gets out of his truck and walks over to open the passenger side door for me.

"Come on, let's go, shall we?" he asks me as he reaches out his hand to me.

I take his hand, and jump down, and nod, and smile at him.

He eventually leads me out to a nice spot on the river, surrounded by a dock and a perfect place for a picnic.

I sit down on the dock and he looks at me and says, "Stay here."

* * *

Cody quickly walks back to the truck and grabs a picnic basket out of the back and then walks back to the dock to join Annalise.

* * *

"Oh my goodness! How'd you know a picnic is my dream date?"

"I just knew."

"You didn't read my diary now, did you?"

"No, of course not. But I might know where you keep it."

"Haha, very funny."

Cody kneels and opens the picnic basket before sitting down next to Annalise.

"This is really nice, thank you."

"Anything for you, my girl."

"I'm your girl?" I blush.

"Sure you are. If you want to be."

"Mmhmm, yeah I think so."

"Oh you think so do you?"

"Here, eat a sandwich."

He tosses a sandwich at me.

"Hey!"

He shrugs and laughs.

* * *

I'm laying on his chest resting when we both see a fish fly up out of the water.

I sit up, "Here, I have a piece of my sandwich left over." "You want to toss it?" I ask him.

"Well, I used to be a Quarterback."

"Okay, show off. Go for it then."

He then takes the piece of the sandwich and throws it into the water.

Nothing happens as the river stays completely still until about a minute later, the fish suddenly reappears and eats the bread.

"Haha, wow, nice throw, Brady."

"Thanks, my lady."

* * *

Later that night, Cody and I are watching a movie in the backyard when suddenly a cute romantic scene starts playing.

"Aw cute, I wish I could be kissed like that-"

Just then Cody turns towards me and leans in for a kiss.

He must've read my mind.

A few moments later, my phone rings beside me.

I back away from him, "Oh um- let me just check that really quickly... uh.." I turn towards my phone and pick it up to read the caller ID, but it's someone I wasn't at all expecting to call me. "Oh," I say out of surprise.

"Who's that?" he asks.

"It's fine," I say.

"It doesn't seem fine," he says back.

"I said it's fine, okay?" I finally snap and say.

"Okay." he nods.

Silence fills the room until I take a deep breath and finally say, "I'm sorry,"

"It's okay," he responds.

"I just- I don't know," I sigh.

He smiles and wraps his arms around me and holds me tighter. How does he know just what I need when I need it?