Page 13 of It Started at the Lake

“Depends on my mood. If it’s not chocolate though, I lean toward salty.”

“Sunrise or sunset?”

“Sunset.”

Steph and I would crawl out my bedroom window and sit on our roof in the summer, watching the sun fade behind the horizon. We planned our futures and how we’d never yell at our spouses. We stayed up there until we knew Mom and Dad were asleep. It was easier for us to go to bed when they weren’t fighting. “Same. Fruit or vegetables?”

“That’s an odd question.”

I laugh. “It’s what came to mind. Do you have a better one?”

“I like both food groups. And yes, I have a great question. Stay home or travel?”

Goodness, he’s going to think I’m lame. “I have a bucket list of places I want to visit, but I’ve never actually gone anywhere, so I don’t know. I might hate flying and don’t know it yet.”

He stops, shoots out an arm, halting me from moving forward. “You’ve never been on a vacation before?”

“Today’s my first.”

“Wow,” he says, stunned.

Bennett doesn’t ask me anything else and I’m too embarrassed to say more about my pathetic life. We continue in silence for a while, making our way past the house and down a path through the forest.

My breaths come out choppy. “How much longer?” My stomach knots as it finally clicks that I’m willingly going with a stranger into the dark of night with no one around for miles.

Not safe, Mils!

“We’re just going past this clearing of trees.”

The clearing no one can see past? “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” I hedge, slowing my pace. “You can show me tomorrow.” In the daylight.

I can’t see Bennett’s reaction, but his voice stays calm. “I promise it’s worth the wait. Besides, we're almost there.”

I pat my joggers, searching for my phone. Relief courses through me when I find it in my left pocket.

The trees thin out, and Bennett says, “Here we are,” as we reach a massive flat boulder. Two chairs made from tree stumps sit in the middle of a rock that juts out over the lake. The sky is the color of ravens’ feathers, with millions of stars winking down at me.

The water below is still. The birds are silent. Crickets chirp and lightning bugs flash their greenish-yellow glow. It’s beautiful. Peaceful. I’m calm despite my fear from moments ago. Unable to pull my gaze from the stunning scenery, I blindly fumble into one of the wood chairs and sink into it.

“Wow.” I’m in awe. I can’t recall the last time—or ever— I saw something so breathtakingly beautiful.

“I know,” Bennett whispers.

I slouch in my seat, resting my head against the back of the chair. Funny how hours ago I was ready to get a job, find ways to avoid Bennett, and keep my distance from all of Evie’s family.

Now? I don’t want to do anything except take in this view and be cocooned in this sweater that smells like walking by a meandering river through a forest.

“I come here most nights.” Bennett sits next to me. “It helps clear my head.”

“Thank you for showing it to me.” I’m not sure why he did. Wouldn't he want to keep this place a secret?

“You’re welcome.”

I pat the stump I’m on. “Who brought the chairs here?”

“My grandpa made them for my grandma years ago as a gift.”

My heart warms. “Aw. That’s really sweet.”

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