Page 23 of How We Fooled

Eli lets out a sharp laugh as I cover my mouth in a fit of giggles.

“It’s our second,” Eli responds. He reaches in his back pocket for his wallet. “And here. You can run this, and then we’ll let you guys close up for the night.”

The waitress smiles in my direction. “You got yourself a good one here. Glad to see it’s going so well.”

“Me too.” I grin at Eli.

After he pays the bill, we exit the restaurant and head to his truck, hand in hand. To my surprise, as we approach the passenger door, he raises his arm, motioning to twirl me around. Laughing at the thought of dancing right here in the parking lot, I do as he asked, and he swings me around, then brings me into his arms and kisses my forehead, making me an absolute puddle of goo in his arms.

He pulls back just enough to look in my eyes, but keeps me wrapped in a bear hug. “I don’t want to cut our night short, but I’m exhausted since I only got four hours of sleep last night, then trained all day.”

I grin up at him. “You’re totally fine.”

He leans down to kiss my lips softly. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“I don’t know. What are we doing tomorrow?” My response is met by a gorgeous smile from him.

“Let’s go to the lake and just hang out all day.”

“Sounds like the perfect day.”

He kisses me again. “Yeah, it does,” he responds with a cocky tone, making me laugh again.

CHAPTER NINE

Liza

Eli pulls up to my house at ten in the morning, towing a Jet Ski. I race outside to greet him.

“Is that for us?” I ask, super excited to see it in front of my house as he exits his truck.

“Yeah, we’re going to the lake. Of course I’d bring it,” he responds nonchalantly, like everyone has a Jet Ski to bring to the lake and it’s totally normal to do so. “Have you ever ridden on one?”

I shake my head. “Nope, never have.”

He wraps his arm around me. “You’re in for a treat today then.”

He kisses my forehead—something I’m really growing to love just as much as him kissing my lips.

“Let’s head out.”

I hop in the truck, placing my bag on the floor next to me, and put on my seat belt as he enters on his side, puts the truck in drive, then looks at me.

“Your excitement is adorable.”

“I’ve always wanted to ride on one.”

“Is there not a lake next to Stockton?”

I chuckle under my breath, shaking my head. “Yes, there are lakes around us, but I didn’t know anyone who owned one. We, for sure, didn’t. My parents aren’t exactly the outdoorsy type.”

He reaches for my hand. “Then, I’m glad I get to show you first.”

We drive to the lake, and I take in the beauty that surrounds us. I’ll never get over how green everything is here. By now, the hills have all turned brown back home. California gets zero rain in the summer months, so everything just dies. The rolling golden hills can be pretty in their own right, but seeing this around me just brings life back to my soul.

The lake is a quick drive, and Eli is able to launch the Jet Ski with ease. He ties it off on the dock, then grabs things he has in the back of the truck to take with us.

“Here are the life vests and towels, and I also packed a lunch,” he says, handing them to me.

---