The Ground Below

Chapter Twenty-One

Today is the day of my first date, ever. Grayson never took me on a date. We met at a concert, and started hanging out. He never even asked me.

This thing with Karter is special. My first date is with the guy of my dreams, and of course I had to ask, but it still matters to me.

Karter is perfect, and he has his flaws just like anyone else. Would I ever dream of dating a coke addict? No, but the person he is when he’s not high makes me dream of better things.

I love him for who he is.

Wow! I really love him.

We sit out on the dock on the lake to his families’ property. Peaceful tranquility rushes over me. I could spend the rest of my life here as long as there was plenty of food to sustain life.

“I’ll never get tired of coming here,” I whisper. Karter half smiles at me.

“You’ve only been here twice.” I roll my eyes. He inhales. “Give it time,and you might.”

He removes his arm from around my shoulders, and crosses them. His somber expression worries me. I have no idea what he is thinking about, but I’d like to know.

“Are you tired of it here?”

“What?” He looks at me as if he forgot I was even there. “Oh. No. I just… It’s complicated.”

I nod. I hear him take another deep breath, but this time I don’t look at him. I feel like I’m invading some kind of space meant only for him.

“Parker, if we are going to date then I should be honest with you. I see you’re trying to give me my space, but you don’t have to.” He turns towards me picking up my hand placing it within his. “This lake house doesn’t belong to my mom or Dallas. This was my dad’s, and he left it to me. Would I ever be tired of it? No, I don’t think I ever could. It holds so many memories for me, and I usually come here to get away from it all. I bring my friends, and even you, because I can’t stand to be in the one place I love the most… alone.”

My heart breaks at the sadness in his voice. “I’m here for you, Karter. If you ever want to come here, just ask.”

He laughs. “Look at me ruining this date. I’m sorry, Parker. This was suppose to be romantic.”

Shaking my head, I look straight into his beautiful blue eyes. “First dates are about getting to know each other. You can tell me anything, and don’t think I wouldn’t want to hear it. You haven’t ruined anything.”

The smile he gifts me is the best thing I’ve seen in a long time. His eyes shine as he laughs. “Come on. We need to eat.”

The first time I came to the lake house, I didn’t get to venture inside. The A-frame cabin stood high on the hill. The sky started to darken as we stepped through the stone walk way. We didn’t even notice the rain clouds move in, and as soon as we landed inside the house, the sky released the cold rain.

“I love it up here when it rains,” Karter said.

Sitting down on the window seat I tell him how beautiful it is. Karter lights up the fireplace. Even though it is summer, the cabin is still a little drafty. “I thought about ordering pizza, but since this is a real date, I’ll cook for you. Plus, they don’t deliver up here.”

“Romantic. What can you cook?”

He winks at me, “everything.”

I lift a eyebrow at him. “Okay, maybe not everything. You’re getting macaronis and fried chicken.”

I gasp. “My favorite.”

He laughs, and heads for the kitchen.