Wild Horses

Chapter 5

Caroline was out of sight in a second, and I went down to answer the door.

"Hey." Christian said, breathless.

"Hey." I said, trying to hide the blush that was rushing across my face.

"Shall we get going?" He said with a smile.

"Why yes, let's go." I replied.

"You look really nice." Christian said as we were driving in the car.

"Thanks, my best friend tortured me, you should really thank her." I replied with a slight giggle.

"I just might." He said, taking my offer with a smile. We ended up going out to lunch at the local burger joint. He bought us both burgers.

"So, why don't you tell me about yourself." I asked him, and ate a fry. How he made me so comfortable, I had no idea.

"Well, I have one sister younger than me, my mom left us when we were young, and my dad owns a mechanic shop." He told me trying to hide the sadness as he mentioned his mom.

"What about you?" He prompted me.

"Well, I have an older brother Bryan, who is away at football camp right now, my dad, and my mother passed away a couple of years ago. My best friend is named Caroline, and I love burgers." I told him.

"I guess we picked the right place to go then." He said and smiled at me. I reached out to pay the bill, but he stopped me, telling me he insisted.

"You play any sports?" I asked him.

"Basketball, but since that isn't until the winter, I have some time to myself until practices start up."

"So school starts in what, a week?" He asked me.

"Ten days." I said with a half-smile.

"You're counting?" He asked incredulously.

"No, I just know its two days after Bryan comes home from camp." I explained.

"You close with your brother then?" Christian asked me.

"Yeah, as much as he annoys me, I still love him. He's all I got besides dad." I said with a sigh. Christian pulled out of the parking lot, and drove onto the road. I had no idea if he was taking me home, or if we would get to spend a little more time together. I was silently praying for the latter.

"I have an idea." He said as if reading my thoughts.

We pulled into a dusky parking lot. There were no other cars in the lot, only a set of stairs.

"We climb?" I asked him.

"Yep, let's go." It'll be worth it, I promise. It was only a ten-minute climb, but we got to know each other better, talking as we walked. Christian told me about his days playing basketball, and how he was the starting center for his last school. He was a little worried about keeping his position on a new team.

I told him about my short career as a softball player, and he laughed. I told him not to worry, I was sure he would be a welcome addition to our team.

"Wow!" I said as I gasped at the sight before me.

We had just reached the top of the steps, which lead out into the most beautiful view I had seen in a while. He grabbed my hand, and squeezed it.

"You like it? I found it driving around one day bored. I haven't shared it with anybody else." He told me as he pulled me closer to him.

"Yeah. It's beautiful. What's not to like? '' I responded, and then realized what he had said.