Page 30 of The Devastation You Reap
"This is really creepy," I whisper as it gets darker and darker with the tree coverage above us hiding the light from the moon.
"Trust me."
"Pfft, yeah, that's gonna happen."
He slams his foot on the brake and turns to look at me.
"What the hell?"
He studies me for a beat making my brows pull together as I try to figure out what he's trying to read on my face.
"You can trust me, Red. Nothing bad is going to happen."
I swallow nervously.
"O-okay," I agree, but I think we both know I'm lying.
"I'm not the bad guy here, Macie."
I nod, wishing he'd just get on with whatever he's doing.
He stares at me for another two seconds, allowing me to see just a hint of some vulnerability in his eyes before he pulls on his usually cocky mask and turns back to the wheel.
We only drive a few more feet before the trees that were in front of us open up and reveal a vast mass of water. The top ripples in the moonlight.
"Oh, it's so beautiful," I breathe, leaning forward to get a better look.
"Just wait for it."
Leon turns the car and I gasp in shock at the sight before me.
"Y-you did all this? F-for me?"
He shrugs and when I finally rip my eyes from the romance fest before us I find a shy smile playing on his lips.
"Yeah. You like it?"
I look back at the twinkling fairy lights that are wrapped around some kind of gazebo looking out over the lake.
"I-it's… not very football player-like of you."
"I told you, Red. You've got me all wrong."
I look between the most romantic picnic spot I've ever seen to the enigma that is Leon Dunn sitting beside me.
Who the hell is this guy, really?
"You want to get out and enjoy it, or are we gonna sit in here all night?"
I'm still too stunned to move.
"Okay, well… I'm hungry so I'm gonna…" Leon pushes the door open and climbs out.
The second his door slams closed, I scramble to join him.
By the time I start walking over, he's already standing under the canopy with the lights twinkling around him. It's really quite a sight.
Lifting his hand, he runs his fingers through his hair. His usual confidence and cockiness is gone and in their place… nerves, maybe.
