Page 99 of Love to Hate You

But the fact that he’s taking me more than an hour away from campus, so we can be together without the fear of exposure, dampens any joy I’d felt at the prospect of going out together.

I yank my gaze from his profile and stare out the window. I’m so lost in my thoughts and the decisions I’m going to be forced to make, that I don’t realize he’s thrown the car into park and is facing me.

“We’re here,” Carter says as he reaches over to unsnap my seatbelt.

“Oh.”

I blink back to the present and notice that we’ve pulled into a parking lot. A lake sparkles in the distance. A dense forest surrounds a good portion of it and there’s a sandy beach to the right. Tall pines spear into the sky.

“It’s beautiful.” I sit motionless as my gaze scans the horizon. “Where are we?”

“Caledonia State Park.” A smile curves his lips.

The way his expression softens holds my attention. Happiness radiates off of him in waves. Not only can I see the change in his demeanor, I can feel it. I’ve never seen him look this lighthearted.

“Ready?” Carter pops open the trunk before exiting the Mustang. Going around to the back of the car, he pulls out a basket and blanket before slamming it shut.

Even though my mind registers the items, I still ask, “What’s that?” My voice comes out sounding thick and slow.

Carter glances at the basket in his hand as if seeing it for the first time. “If I had to take a guess,” he smirks, eyes crinkling with humor. “I’d say it looks like a picnic basket.”

How many times have I seen this playful side to Carter?

Not many. He’s usually more reserved and self-contained.

“Yes, I can see that,” I say with smile. “I’m just confused as to why you have it.”

One side of his mouth curves into a lopsided smile. “I thought we could have lunch here since neither of us had class this afternoon.”

Carter Prescott packed me a picnic lunch?

What the hell is going on here?

A gesture like this seems almost…romantic.

I swallow past the lump of emotion wedged in the middle of my throat as he holds out his hand for me to take. With our fingers clasped, we walk about twenty yards toward the lake. The park is surprisingly empty for such a beautiful day. Other than a few boats on the lake, we have the place to ourselves.

Carter sets the basket down and spreads out the blanket on a grassy bank about thirty feet from the edge of the water. Once it’s been smoothed out, we both settle on it.

“Hungry?” he asks, opening the basket and unloading its contents.

“Starving,” I admit.

He pulls out plates, napkins, a bowl of fruit, two sandwiches, a few bags of potato chips, and water.

“Wow, this looks great.” My mind cartwheels, unable to believe that he put so much thought into this.

Silently we unwrap our sandwiches and bite into them. My gaze cruises over the scenery. This place is gorgeous and peaceful, but it doesn’t stop my previous thoughts from buzzing around in my head. The last time I asked questions and demanded answers, he refused to give them. I don’t want to ruin this moment or the effort he’s put into making it happen, but I feel another conversation brewing between us.

Once we’ve demolished our lunches, Carter stretches out on the blanket. He folds his arms behind him and rests his head on stacked hands. His gaze captures mine easily.

“Come here,” he whispers.

He doesn’t need to ask twice. I scramble over and lay my head against his chest, inhaling a breath of him before closing my eyes and melting into his warmth. Somehow, in this moment, everything feels perfect. I’m not fooling myself into believing that it’s actually perfect. I know damn well that it’s not. There are too many questions and uncertainties between us. But for now, with the sun shining on my face, the wind sliding over my heated flesh, and my belly full of a lunch Carter packed for us himself, I feel content.

I don’t realize that I’ve dozed off until his voice snaps me awake.

“Whenever I needed to get away from home and clear my head, this is where I’d go. Even now, when I’m at school and need a break, I’ll take off and drive here for a while.” He pauses for a beat. “I don’t always set out with the intention of coming to the park, but this is where I always end up. There’s something tranquil about the lake and woods.”

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