Page 64 of Inked Heart
“You requested a picnic.”
“I didn’t request sandwiches.”
“Every picnic requires sandwiches.”He states it like it’s a universal fact.
“That sounds like a rule you made up.”
“It’s an important rule.”
I laugh softly as he starts the truck.“So where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
“That sounds suspicious.Are you going to murder me?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Now I’m worried.”
“You shouldn’t be.”
We drive out of town for about ten minutes before turning down a narrow dirt road I’ve never noticed before.Trees line both sides of the path, their branches forming a leafy tunnel overhead.Sunlight filters through the leaves in soft patches.
“This is pretty,” I say.
“Wait.”
A minute later the trees open up into a small clearing.At the center sits a wide grassy hill overlooking a quiet lake.The water sparkles in the sunlight and a wooden dock stretches out over the surface.Wildflowers grow along the edges of the field like someone planted them there on purpose and my jaw drops slightly.
“Wow.”
Damien parks the truck.“Told you.”
“This place is beautiful.”
“Found it a few years ago.”
“How?”I’m still staring through the windscreen in awe.How have I lived in Franklinton my entire life and never been here?
“I get bored doing paperwork.”
“That’s your adventure story?”I laugh as I stare at him.
“Pretty much.”
We climb out of the truck and he grabs a blanket from the back along with a small cooler.
“You came prepared,” I say.
“I take picnics seriously.”
“Clearly.”
We walk toward the hill overlooking the water and he spreads the blanket across the grass and opens the cooler.Sandwiches, fruit, and two bottles of lemonade.
“You didn’t have to do all this.”
“I wanted to.”
