The Lifeguard

Chapter 9

Hours has passed since Connor and I took off. I still don't have a clue where we are going or what he's up to. All I know is that he wants to bring me somewhere that is worth 3 hours drive from the hotel.

"Here," I told Connor, while holding fries on my hand. He opened his mouth, as I fed him fries.

"Thank you. Now back to the game," he suggested. Connor and I had been playing Have You Ever for the last hour. Apparently, a lot of things are slowly uncovering. "Have you ever had a crush on a friend's parent?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes, as I took a sip on the most disgusting soda I have ever had. It's the consequence. If he says something that I have done, I have to drink, and same goes for him. "This is disgusting."

Connor started laughing. "Hm. Wow." He continued to laugh. "Didn't know you're attracted to old men."

I rose my brows at him. "For your information, he wasn't that old, plus he was really good looking."

"Right. I'm sure he is." He laughed.

"My turn. Have you ever flirted with someone while you're on duty?" I asked him.

"I flirted with you. Does that count?" He laughed. "It must count."

I chuckled. Connor grabbed the same bottle as I drank from earlier. He made me put the straw on it, as he started sipping.

"Pretty sure you flirted with others too."

"Definitely... Not." Connor turned his head at me, winking. In a second, he looked back on the road, as we both started laughing. He turned the car on the left, where it has a sign that says Sweeten Field.

"What is this?" I asked Connor. Before he could even answer, I already saw the sunflower field. It was beautiful. They were all lined up in rows; tall ones and short ones. They were everywhere. Connor stopped his pick-up truck and I stepped out of it. He followed. "This is very lovely," I told him but I wasn't looking at him. Instead, my eyes are still captured by the beauty of the sunflower scenery.

"Come," he says, pulling my hand.

I let him take my hand, as we started walking closer to the field. As we get closer, I could see the sunflowers very clearly. It's very pleasing. We entered the fence that was surrounding the field, as we both continued exploring the place. It seems like a never-ending maze.

A while after we walked around the sunflower field, Connor appeared behind me with one sunflower on his hand. He came closer, as he handed it to me. I took it from his hand. "Thanks, but is it fine to pick a flower?" I rose my eyebrows at him.

"Don't worry about it." Connor smiled.

When we got out of the field, a man was walking towards us. He was waving at Connor, and he waved back at the man. The man looked like he was around his late 40s, his hair was black, and he had a beard growing on his chin. "Welcome! It's so good to see you back here," he says to Connor. "How are you, bud?"

Connor gave him a short hug. "I'm doing great. How are you? Look at that beard. Anna must hate that thing," he mocked.

"Good. Ha. Anna love this thing," he answered, laughing. "Who's this gorgeous girl with you?"

"This is Zoe... Zoe Anderson," he told the man that was looking at me with a smile on his face. His smile disappeared for a second, but he tried to smile again. "And this is Mikael," says Connor to me.

Mikael shook my hand. "Welcome to Sweeten Field," he says to me.

"This place is beautiful," I told Mikael.

He smiled. "Thank you, Zoe. There's more to this place than the sunflower field," he smiled again. Mikael looked at me before looking back at Connor. "How long will you be staying?" he asked Connor.

"Just until tonight," he answered.

"What? No." Mikael gave him a look. "Please stay for the night. Anna and I will love to have you guys for the night."

Connor turned to me, while he places his hand on his head, probably thinking if he should yes or not. "Would that be okay?" he asked me.

I smiled, and nodded.

"Great! I gotta get something in the barn first. I will meet you back in the house. Bring your truck by the house," he says to Connor. He smiled at me before leaving us.

Connor and I walked back to the truck. "Didn't know you knew the person who owns this place."

He opened the door for me. "Well. I was getting to that." The both of us got into his truck, and we drove to the house.

The two stories house is stunning up front. It was all white, and made out of wood. The cement of the curb gave it a very pleasant look. There's also a garden surrounding the porch, and above the porch is a small balcony for the second floor. There's even a lake behind the house.

"This place is amazing." We got down from the truck. "This is really nice. I'm already inlove with this place."

"I'll introduce you to Anna."

Before we even entered the house, a woman who has her hair up on a bun came out of the house. She was very pretty for her age. "Connor!" she called out. She opened her arms wide open, as Connor walked up to her, giving her a hug. "I missed you! I thought you'd never come back. Oh who's this?" she asked, when she finally noticed me.

"Zoe." I smiled at her. "You must be Anna."

"Hello Zoe. You must be very special to Connor. He never brought anyone here." Anna smiled at me, taking my hands. The both of us started walking inside the house, and Connor was following behind us. "I recall telling him to come back once he finds the right girl... I'm guessing that would be you."

I turned around, preventing mysef from laughing. Connor placed his hand on his face, trying to cover himself from embarrassment.

Anna gave me a tour around the house. After, I decided to help her in the kitchen while Mikael and Connor was setting the table. She couldn't stop talking about Connor. I learned that he used to live with them when his parents died. And that Anna and Mikael were Connor's guardians, Mikael is his uncle. They treated him like their own son since they couldn't have their own. Anna also mentioned how devastated they were when Connor had to leave for college.

After dinner, I helped Anna clean the table, and wash the dishes. I told her not to worry about the dishes, and that I could do it, even though I never washed dishes before. But of course, I didn't tell her that. I didn't want to be a rude guest. There's always a first time on everything.

"I can finish that," says Connor when he entered the kitchen. "Let me."

"It's fine. I'm almost done. Didn't break anything." I scoffed. Connor chuckled, while he started drying the plates. "Are you and Mikael okay?" I asked Connor. Before dinner started, I saw them talking like they were having a disagreement. "I know it's none of my business but it seems like you guys were having an intense conversation earlier."

Connor looked at me. "Oh no. It was nothing. Don't worry about it," he assured me.

"Okay."

"Go rest. I'll finish here," says Connor. He took the plate on my hand. "We have a long day tomorrow."

"Alright."