Page 86 of Escaping Our Reality

“People.” I fidget with my fingers, squaring my shoulders.

He chuckles. Bastard likes to see me nervous.

Rubbing his fingers over his tanned lips, he bites back another laugh. “Are you talking about small, little people? The kind who don’t like to eat their vegetables and who believe Santa Claus is real?”

I scowl. “Fine. Yes. Children. This can be a joint office and playroom. The kids can play while I work. And then, when we get too old to climb the stairs to our bedroom, this room can easily become our master bedroom since it will already have a full bathroom connected to it.”

I fold the notebook and toss it on the side table. “It was just for fun. There’s no need to freak out about it.”

“Did I say I was freaking out?”

I turn to him, narrowing my eyes. I still can’t see his and it’s annoying the hell out me. I flick the bill of his hat with my fingers, popping it higher on his head so I can look at him. He definitely looks amused. But he doesn’t look like he’s freaking out. I guess that’s a good thing. At least, he’s taking this all in good humor.

I am too. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. But the truth is, that’s what I want. Every last bit of it. Four bedrooms upstairs. Each and every room filled with little humans made from him and me.

I guess he’s still waiting on an answer, because he eggs me on. “Well?”

“No. Not freaking out.” I untangle my body from his and jump up. Grabbing his water bottle, I quickly down the rest of it.

Suddenly, he’s standing behind me, whispering against my neck, sending shivers down my spine. His bare skin rubs against my shoulder blades. “Did you pack your tennis shoes?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Come on, there’s something I need to show you.”

***

The trail was hidden between some trees behind the tent. That’s why I never paid attention to it before. Fifteen minutes after dragging me into the woods, we emerge into a small green meadow.

And I hear something.

Water.

“Ry, is that a river?”

“Creek.” He smiles widely, tugging me through the thick green grass. Slowly, the grass starts to thin, the rippling sound of water gets louder, and there’s a reflection in the sunlight ahead of us. Like a mirage for the thirsty man who’s lost in the desert.

It’s gorgeous. This section of the creek is large and rocky. Not large enough to swim in, but definitely large enough to wade in. Big enough to play in. It winds past us into a dense wood that would be hell to hike. Wildflowers are scattered here and there, decorating our beautiful little scene in pinks and yellows and purples.

Ry drops the backpack from his shoulders and spreads a blanket out on the side of the bank. Immediately, I take off my socks and shoes, walking into the rippling current. The water is cold, but not freezing. It’s too shallow to truly get freezing, only coming up to our knees. I step on something squishy and squeal.

Walking out to join me, Ry howls in laughter and I promptly splash him in the face. “Why didn’t you tell me this was out here?”

He shrugs. “Just waiting for the right time, I guess.”

We walk along the creek, skipping rocks and talking. Eventually, we drag our water-splattered bodies to the blanket and lie drying in the sun. We watch the passing clouds through the tree branches, enjoying one another’s company in complete, comfortable silence.

Ry reaches out, tracing his fingertips across my hand. “I can’t believe Spring Break is nearly over.”

“I know. One more day.” One more day, and then I’m back to living in the dungeon I call my house. One more day, and then I’m back at school, having to smile and grit my teeth while everyone around me spends the next week talking about how drunk they got or who they hooked up with on vacation. One more day of my perfect life on the homestead, sleeping in a tent, peeing in the woods, and showering in a stall no bigger than a thimble.

Who knew all of that could be so perfect?

He sighs. “What about this place? Should our house be out here, closer to the creek?”

I turn on my side and study his chiseled profile, his square jaw, his flawless complexion, the dark freckle by the corner of his eye. “No. The house stays where it is. This place is just ours. Hidden. Secret.”

Leaning over, I kiss him.

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