Page 33 of How We Fooled

I race directly into his arms, only for him to pick me up and drop back to dunk us both in the lake. After we get our bearings about us and stand again, I look into his eyes and know that even though we’ve only been here for a short time, I already know this is going to be a time I remember for the rest of my life.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Liza

We spent the day playing in the water and lying on the float devices he brought. We thought about bringing the Jet Ski, but now that I’m here, I’m glad we didn’t. Yes, it would have been fun, racing around the lake, but it’s been even better, just being lazy and wasting the day away together, surrounded by nothing but peace, both in nature and how comfortable I am with him.

I’ve grown to love just how quiet he is. He doesn’t fill the air with unnecessary chatter. In any other situation I’ve ever been in with another person, it almost feels odd to sit in silence in each other’s presence, but not with Eli.

His silence is purposeful. He talks and engages when I want to talk, seeming genuinely interested in what I have to say, but then is completely okay with silence when I don’t want to talk. It’s like I have the best of both worlds of having alone time and someone there at the same time.

We’re sharing a floating device when I hear his stomach growl, making me giggle.

“Are you hungry?”

“Aren’t I always?” he jokes.

“What are our plans for dinner?”

“I have some chicken thighs marinating in the ice chest, then brought some potato salad and corn.” He moves his head out to see mine more. “Are you hungry?”

“I could eat.”

He motions to have me sit up. “Say no more. Let’s get dinner going.”

We both hop off the floaty and make our way up to the land where we have our camp set up.

I go into our tent to change out of my wet bathing suit while he digs in the ice chest to get dinner going.

When I’m fully dressed, I head out of the tent and straight to him, standing at the grill he brought. With his back to me, I wrap my arms around his shirtless body and rest my head on his back.

He leans back slightly, placing his hand on my arm in a small hug, then says, “Oh!” like he just remembered something.

Placing down the tongs he was using to flip the chicken, he goes to his bag in the tent and comes out seconds later, holding something.

“I got you something.” He grins from ear to ear as he hands me a hat that reads Small-Town Girl.

I take it from him with a giggle as I place it on my head. “I love it!”

“Now, it’s official. You’re a small-town girl from here on out.” He kisses my head, then goes back to the grill.

All I can think about is how true that statement really is. I could never go back to living in a big town, especially in California. I also could never date anyone else. If this doesn’t work between us, I know I’ll never find someone else that’s better. He’s ruined me for any other guy, as I’d always compare them to him.

He’s it for me.

I’ve fallen so hard that I don’t think I’ll ever get up again.

After an amazing dinner that he prepared for us, he lights a fire, and we lie in each other’s arms, looking at the stars and listening to the sound of nature around us. The night has cooled down, and when he offered one of his sweatshirts for me to wear, I gladly took it.

I’ve always thought there was nothing better than to be wrapped in a baggy sweatshirt on a cool night, but I was wrong. Having said sweatshirt smell like your boyfriend’s cologne takes that entire scenario to the next level.

“Liza, I hope you know this is real … between us … you and me …” he says as he plays with my fingers.

“I’m glad to hear you say that. I feel the same way. I thank God every day that you fell on that trail.”

That makes him laugh. “Yes, best fall I’ve ever had.”

He sits up to look me in my eyes. “I don’t know where my future is heading, but I know I want you in it.”

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