It Started With Hello

Chap. 47

"Son, how about we go fishin'?" Blake's dad said, placing his hand on Blake's shoulder.

Blake was chilling on a camp chair, sitting beside Emma. His mom was showing Emma and Kandy how to make beaded bracelets. Chris and Alex were throwing a football a few feet away, and Blake had been keeping track: Alex had dropped the ball for at least the sixth time. Any normal person would get mad, but thankfully, Chris just clapped, reassuring him it was alright, which made Alex smile widely "Umm, are we gonna like, eat them, orrr?" Blake asked, standing up, making Emma look over at him.

His dad shook his head while handing him a fishing rod. "Nope, just catch and release. What do you say, you wanna join your old man?" Blake nodded. "Sure, I'll tag along. Let me just say bye to everyone, and I'll join you at the boat." His dad walked towards the water, putting the fishing tools inside.

Blake placed his hand on the back of Emma's chair, leaning down close to her ear. "I'm going fishing. I'll be back in a few." She nodded slightly, acutely aware that both his mom and Kandy were looking at her with knowing grins. He stood back straight.

Chris, who had just thrown the ball to Alex, looked over towards Blake. "We'll miss you too, Blake," he said dramatically, making the group laugh because Blake didn't even bother to reply. This made Chris pout cutely. Suddenly, Alex threw the ball, hitting Chris squarely in the head.

"Ahh!" Chris fell to the ground, rolling around on the grass, holding his head.
"Oops! I'm so sorry, Chris!" Blake heard Alex yell as he climbed into the boat with his dad, rod in hand. His dad started the gas-powered engine, and they set off deeper into the water. Once they got to the middle, he turned off the gas, and they simply floated.

His dad sat across from him, putting the tackle box in the middle. "Sooo, you really seem to like this Emma girl."
Blake's hands paused a moment while opening the box, before pulling out some bait. He thought ignoring his dad would make him drop the subject, but apparently, that wasn't going to work.
"She's a nice young woman... Don't you think she's a nice young woman?" His dad grinned while Blake scratched the top of his head. He worked his fingers to put the bait on the line.

"Yes," he said simply, before casting his line out into the water. His father copied him, finally casting his line.
"I'm not trying to snoop, buuut... are you two dating?" His dad looked out the side of his eye at his son, smiling.

"No." His dad's smile slightly fell. Blake wasn't trying to rush into a relationship with Emma. He liked her; she was nice. They both enjoyed each other's time together. Was that so wrong if they didn't date? It could complicate things and go wrong, then he would lose her as a part of his life, and he didn't want to risk their relationship.

They sat in silence for a few minutes.
"I won't ask what you guys were doing in the woods the other day, but..." Blake picked up a bottle of water out of the cooler, taking a drink.

"Are you two sexually active?"
Blake choked on the water, dropping his rod into the boat as he held onto the edge, coughing violently. His dad hit him softly on the back while he coughed out a weak, "What?... What the hell, Dad!?" His voice was hoarse from coughing. His dad couldn't help but laugh while watching as his son, finally catching his breath, pushed his dad's hand away and regrabbed his rod. Blake readjusted the rod in his hand, shaking his head.

"I'm just saying, a girl like that doesn't stay on the market long. Comes once in a lifetime. I see the way you look at her, Blake, so maybe make a move soon. Trust me on this one, son." He patted Blake's shoulder before focusing back on fishing.

Blake's eyes zoned out into the water, still busy trying to understand what his dad was telling him. Wasn't it too early in life to fall in love? Wasn't it a bit too early to look at her and see his whole future? When he looked at her, that's all he saw, and it terrified him.