Page 41 of Loving Kai

“Um…more side to side than up and down.” He drove forward, and she tightened her grip around his waist. “I’ll take the back roads so there won’t be much traffic.”

He pulled onto the street, then turned off the main road and drove through the neighborhood. They ended up on a little-used road that would take them to Northside. It paralleled the Smith River for twenty miles before ending at a recreation area with a small beach, picnic tables, and restrooms. Beyond that, the river was accessible only on foot or by small boat.

Abe picked up speed once he turned onto Northside, but he went slower than he would’ve if he had been by himself. The sky was clear, and the quarter moon lit the water of the slow-moving river. As they passed a row of weeping willows, their branches nearly touching the water, Maggie spoke into Abe’s ear.

“It’s so pretty.”

“Not scared yet?”

“No.”

Abe continued down the road until they arrived at the park. He pulled into the small parking lot, then stopped the bike.

Maggie got off and removed her helmet. “Wow.”

“You liked that, didn’t you?”

“I really did. I had no idea.”

Abe removed his helmet, then got off the bike. They left the helmets with the bike and held hands as they walked toward the river. The water widened at this point and slowed, making swimming from the sandy beach safer than in some of the other faster moving areas.

Abe and Maggie sat in the sand, and he listened to the frogs for a moment. “Somebody’s in love.”

“What?”

“The frogs. That one is making quite sure he’s louder than the rest.”

Maggie laughed. “So, some pretty little female frog is swooning over his lovely song?”

“I guess so. Or at least he hopes so.”

“That’s pretty cute.” She nudged Abe’s shoulder. “I think we can consider this our first date.”

“You mean I don’t have to croak for you to notice me?”

She tucked her arm around his. “I see you, Abe.”

“Does that mean I get to kiss you goodnight when we get back home?”

“I think it might.”

Abe loved the sound of the water, and he closed his eyes for a moment to listen. A fish jumped up and splashed somewhere outside the moon’s path of light. “It’s not too late to back out.”

“From going on our date tomorrow?”

“Yeah.” He turned toward her. “I’m serious. If it’s too weird.”

“It’s not weird as long as you don’t make it weird at work.”

He sighed. “I won’t. I think I’ve got my head on straight now.”

“Do you think we would’ve made it to this point if I hadn’t…if we hadn’t had those two nights?”

Abe blew out a breath. “I have no idea.” He smiled. “You’re done with Larry the laundromat guy, right?”

Maggie laughed. “I haven’t seen him since he stood me up.”

“Good. I’m not sure I can compete with the laundromat prince.”