Page 70 of Something that Could Last

“I’m okay. Just a little shaken up.” That’s a lie. I’m alotshaken up, but I don’t want to worry her more than she already is.

“I can’t believe that sick bastard drugged you! And then hetookyou!” I hear the muffled sound of her crying through my phone. Tears pool in my eyes, threatening to spill over. I blink them away rapidly.

“It’s okay. I’m fine. He didn’t get far with me.” I look Jacob pointedly in the eyes. He’s the only reason I’m here right now, safe and sound.

“I’m so glad you’re okay. I’ve been worried sick about you.” She sniffles before continuing, “I’m coming over when I get off work. I have to see you with my own eyes and make sure you’re really okay.”

I smile at her resolve. “Okay.” There’s no point arguing. Once Tiff makes up her mind about something, there’s no stopping her. I hang up the phone and turn towards Jacob. “Tiff is coming over when she gets off work.”

“What do you want to do until then?” My stomach rumbles and I realize I haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon.

“I need something to eat. I’m starving.”

“What sounds good to you? I can run out and pick something up,” he offers, slipping out of my bed.

“You know what I’d really like?”

“What’s that, baby girl?”

There it is again. I’m starting to love it when he calls me that. My stomach flutters and I smile for the first time since waking up in that hospital bed.

“I’d like to pack a lunch and go for a little hike. I really need to get out of the house, and I know the perfect place where we can get away and nobody will bother us.” There’s a place not far from here, just a short hike, that has become my favorite spot on earth. There’s a stream in the woods behind our house with a babbling brook and a big, flat boulder overlooking the water. The place is enchanting, magical almost, like a scene out of a fairytale. It’s where I go when I’m troubled or just need to get away from everything.

“That sounds perfect.”

Jacob helps me pack some sandwiches, fruit, and water for our impromptu picnic. I let my grandmother know where we’re going so she doesn’t worry any more than she already is. She seems reluctant to let me out of the house, but doesn’t try to stop me. She knows what I need right now.

Jacob follows me out to the tree line and we stop. I whistle and wait a moment to see if Cero will come. I don’t have to wait long. His big furry body runs towards me and nearly bowls me over.

“Hey, big guy. You wanna go to the creek?” I rub the soft fur on top of his head and he wags his tail excitedly as if he knows what I’m saying. He licks Jacob’s hand and nuzzles it, wanting his attention. Jacob crouches down and scratches Cero behind his ears for a moment before we continue through the woods.

It takes less than ten minutes for us to get where we’re going. Once we arrive, I plop down in my favorite spot and watch as Cero splashes in the water. Jacob sits next to me and I set out the contents of our lunch. Neither of us has eaten today, so it doesn’t take long to finish it off. The tall oak trees surrounding us provide plenty of shade, and the light breeze keeps the heat at bay.

“So, this is where you come to unwind?” Jacob and I are both leaning back, our weight resting on our elbows.

“Yep. This is my spot.” His easy smile and soft eyes make me want to open up to him just a little more. “I used to come here with my dad a lot.” I pause, thinking about him and how much I miss the moments we shared together here. “Whenever we’d come to visit my grandma, he would always slip out while she and my mom were cooking or talking and come down to the creek. When I was about seven or eight, I started sneaking out when I thought nobody was looking so I could follow him, thinking he wouldn’t notice. But he did, of course.” I shake my head and smile, remembering how stealthy I thought I was being. “One day, he hollered at me and told me to come on out, saying that he knew I was there. He’d known the whole time I was following him. I hung my head and revealed myself, thinkin’ I was gonna be in big trouble.” I still remember his somber expression and how it worried me. “He waved me over to him and we sat down together right here.” I pat the ground beside me and pick up a couple of rocks, rolling them between my fingers.

“He told me this was where he came to think.” What troubled him, I never did know. Our lives were perfect until we lost him. “He placed a tiny pebble in my hand and picked up a much bigger stone for himself. I thought he was just gonna start skippin’ rocks, but he didn’t. He closed his hand around it, clenching it tightly in his palm. Then he told me, ‘Whenever something is bothering you, just tell it to a rock.’ He brought it up to his mouth and whispered something only he could hear, then he said, ‘After you do that, throw it in the water and let the creek wash it away.’ He chucked his rock into the creek, and I watched as the strain of whatever was bothering him melted away. He told me to try it, so I whispered something to my rock, I don’t even remember what it was now, and tossed it into the water. Once I did, I felt, I don’t know... lighter, somehow. Maybe it was just speaking the words out loud that made me feel better, but it worked. So, I kept doing it. Since that day, I’ve thrown my troubles into this creek and let it wash them away.”

I’m not sure it’ll work this time around, but I’m willing to try anything. I take the handful of rocks I’m holding and throw them all into the water, as hard and as far as I can. I have a lot of troubles right now, so I try to give them all a head start. I want them as far away from me as possible.

“Sounds like he knew what he was talking about.” Jacob gazes out over the water thoughtfully, and I wonder what troubles he needs to toss in there.

Tentatively, I hold out a handful of small stones and wait for him to take them. He peers down at my hand, hesitating a moment before taking them from me. He rolls them around in his hand, studying them. Finally, he tosses them into the water and rests his forearms on his knees, then takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. I’m not sure if it worked and he’s more relaxed now, or if he’s still holding on to whatever is bothering him, but after a long pause he glances at me and offers a weak smile. I slip my arm through his and rest my head on his shoulder. His warm, strong hand covers mine and I close my eyes, relishing the feeling.

We stay out by the water for a long time watching Cero splash and play. The afternoon humidity dampens my skin, the cool breeze long gone. I yearn to dip my feet into the cool stream. “Wanna get in?” I ask Jacob. “Just up to our knees?”

“That sounds like a good idea.” We slip off our shoes and wade in the shallow edge of the clear water. “It’s beautiful here.”

“It is,” I agree. When I gaze up at him, his eyes are trained on me. He moves in closer, turning my body to face him. Wrapping his arms around me, he leans in hesitantly for a kiss and pauses, unsure of how much physical contact I’m okay with right now. I close my eyes and tilt my head back, silently giving him permission. I melt into him, warmth spreading out from my chest and into my limbs, feeling safe in his arms.

Every inch of my body tingles in response to his touch and I grip the back of his neck with both hands, pulling him closer. I moan and deepen our kiss, a familiar spark coming to life. I’m not ready to do much more than this right now, but it feels so good to be in his embrace. He groans against my lips and I feel his arousal growing against my belly.

He breaks contact and pulls away, concern is etched in his face as his eyes searching mine. “Abby,” he begins, but I know what he’s thinking. He’s worried about pushing me too far.

“We should probably head back.” I save us from the awkward conversation that’s about to happen.

We take our time walking home, neither of us in a hurry to get back. I find a large stick to play fetch with Cero, but once he realizes Jacob can throw it much farther than I can, he won’t bring it to me anymore. Jacob runs and plays and wrestles with him, making me giggle, their mutual fondness of each other solidifying my trust in Jacob. I know I can count on Cero’s instincts, even if my judgment is clouded by piercing blue eyes and a million-dollar smile.

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