Before You

Chapter 40

I turn my car off and look down at my phone. I haven't heard from Jett all day. I thought he would have been back by now. I'm finished with my classes for the day and even ran some errands. It's almost dinnertime. Classes just aren't the same without him here. I find myself daydreaming, wanting to be anywhere else except in class. Fall break is next week and it couldn't have come at a better time. I need some down time. I pull my book bag onto my shoulder and start walking towards my apartment. I'm anxious to see Jett and have some of my questions answered. Keeping my eyes on the walkway, I turn the corner to my apartment building.

"Evy!" I hear a voice shout.

I look up, surprised, and see Jett standing in front of my apartment door. He's holding a bouquet of red roses before him.

"Jett!" I respond and run up to him.

I drop my book bag on the concrete and wrap both of my arms around his neck. Jett's hands wrap around my waist as he pulls me in for a kiss. Immediately, I feel an electric shock run down my spine. I love that I feel like this with Jett. It's something I've never experienced before. I hope this feeling never goes away. Jett slowly caresses the side of my cheek as I pull my face back to look at him.

"Here, these are for you." He says handing me the bouquet of roses.

"Jett, they're beautiful! I love them!" I reply excitedly.

"I'm glad you like them." He says smiling. "I have a surprise for you."

"Really? What is it?" I ask.

"Come on." He says and picks up my book bag.

We walk into the parking lot and Jett guides me to the White Audi. He tosses my book bag into the back seat and helps me into the car. I watch as he walks around to his side. I'll definitely be asking him about this car later. He looks so happy. I don't want to ruin anything right now. Jett sits in the drivers seat and buckles his seatbelt.

"Okay, we're going for a little ride." He says smiling.

I take in each of the road signs as we drive northeast of Atlanta. We've been on the road for about thirty miles now. I feel the car start to slow down and Jett turns onto a small narrow dirt road. I've been here before. It doesn't take long for me to realize where we're at.

"Jett! You're bringing me back to the land? To the cabin?" I ask with excitement.

Jett starts laughing and reaches out to hold my hand. "Well, the last time we were here, you said that you would never be coming back."

I bite my lip and look down at the floorboard. He's right. The last time we were here I was very rude to him. I found myself watching him as he photographed the lake. I watched in awe at his every movement. I knew in that moment that I needed to put a divider between us. I needed to make him understand that we couldn't be friends. I couldn't risk being that close to someone.

"I know. I'm sorry." I say looking up at him.

"That's okay." He replies. "I guess I'm proving you wrong."

Jett and I both break out into laughter. As we reach the end of the road, the field opens up just like I remember. It looks like the land was cut recently. The grass isn't nearly as tall as it was before. Jett parks by the oak tree and we exit the car. I look at the land before me. I glance between the lake, the oak trees, and over to the small cabin. Jett reaches into the back seat of the car and pulls out a brown basket.

"Dinner." He says smiling at me.

"Are you serious? You packed us dinner?" I ask.

"Surprise!" He says with a grin.