Page 10 of Love On Time
“Yeah, of course. Did you have a nice time taking photos around the property?”
“Yeah, I did. It's a really beautiful place and much bigger than I thought it was.”
We quickly fall into a comfortable silence, Drew typing away while I read. We can just sit here together without feeling any obligation to fill the space with words. It reminds me so much of high school, back when I didn't have to say a single thing for him to understand me fully. The realization makes my chest ache. Why does it still feel this easy with him?
I sneak a few glances every once in a while, incredibly thankful for the dark lenses hiding my eyes. His baseball hat is pulled backward, soft brown curls hugging the nape of his neck. He’s breathtaking. It takes everything in me not to reach out and touch him as the memory of his gentle touch last night floods my belly with heat. As if he can read my mind, Drew reaches for the hem of his T-shirt and pulls it up over his head. I swallow hard, praying my face isn't giving away the sudden spike in my nerves.
Putting my book down beside me, I prop my body up slightly on my elbows. “What are you writing?”A single bead of sweat slips down the center of my chest at the shift in my posture. Drew looks over, his eyes tracking the movement. He averts his gaze quickly, but he isn't fortunate enough to have sunglasses to hide where he was looking.
“I just left the Grand Canyon before coming here.” He explains, “I’m writing about my experience and describing the story behind the photos I took.”
“Can I see?”
“Sure!” he says with a playful grin. “But only if I can see yours.”
“My what?” I laugh.
He points to the paperback in my hand. “Let me see your book.”
I knew I should have picked a different book to bring to a public lake shore.
Dread pools in my stomach as I cautiously hand it over. He flips to a random page, and his eyebrows shoot up. He rubs the stubble on his chin, adopting a low, overly dramatic tone as he reads aloud. “Does it hurt, baby? Not being able to scream for me like you want to?”
My skin flushes scarlet. Shaking off my intense embarrassment, I swallow a lump in my throat and flash him a sly smile. “Hey, don't spoil the good parts.”
“Touché.” he laughs, his cheeks a little pink too as he hands the book back. “Alright, fair is fair. I’ll show you mine.” He says, scooting closer to me. I’m hit with his scent, warm vanilla and coconut sunscreen.
He starts scrolling through his files. I’m suddenly taken aback. I was expecting scenic photos of the red rocks, vast canyons, or wildly big cacti. But I'm being shown something entirely different. My heart melts as a photo pops up of a grandfather teaching his grandson how to fish at a small lake. Little girls selling homemade woven bracelets, placing them on his wrist with wide, gap-toothed smiles. An elderly couple sitting at a bistro table, sharing an ice cream cone outside an ice cream parlor. A raw, emotional candid of their love. He has an eye for capturing the beauty in ordinary everyday moments.
“Wow, Drew…these are incredible,” I say in pure astonishment.
“I like to spark up conversations with local residents everywhere I go,” he says, his eyes creasing with his smile. “Just to learn about their lives and their culture. The scenery is obviously gorgeous, and the hiking trails are always fun, but this is usually the highlight of my trips. Being able to connect with new people.”
“Now I see why you do it.” I smile, finally pulling my sunglasses off to give him my full attention. “I think I'd like to do something like that one day.”
“Yeah? You would?”
“Yeah, I've really never traveled anywhere new.”
“Well, whenever you decide where you want to go, let me know.” He says, pushing his laptop closed. “I’d be happy to go with you.”
“Okay, I will,” I promise, hoping my flushed cheeks pass off as a sunburn and not a blush.
He turns his gaze out toward the rippling water, falling deep into thought. The silence stretches between us, heavier now, filled with things unsaid.
“Hey Drew?”
He turns his head towards me, “Yeah?”
“Do you ever get lonely?”
He holds my gaze, giving me a small bittersweet smile, “More often than you’d think.”
I spent the entire day lying on the beach, as I hoped I would. I already feel more prepared for the eventful next couple of days. I made sure to stay extra hydrated after my hard lesson from last night. As long as I pace myself with water while I’m enjoying a few drinks, I will be fine. I ate a quick dinner with my great-aunt in the dining hall. It wasn't my first choice for a dinner date, but almost everyone went into town for the evening. After being in the sun all afternoon, my body was beat. A warm shower and an early bedtime were calling my name, so I ate my salad and sandwich in record time and went back up to my room.
Now, freshly showered and in my cozy pajama set, I crawl under the fluffy white comforter. I reach for the TV remote on my nightstand and browse the movie guide. How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, perfect. I peel open the bag of peanut m&m’s I snagged from the vending machine on the way into my room. My phone pings with a text, but it's all the way across the room on the charger. Checking it would require me to move out of my cozy spot. I debate ignoring it, but it could be important. I look at the clock on my nightstand, it's 8:46 PM, pretty late for my mom to be texting. I reluctantly pull back the comforter and take my phone off the charger, bringing it back to bed.
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