I wait and wait. Just when I think I’ll be going home, mom answers. “Thank you for telling me the truth. Have a nice, safe, legal, no-sex time.”
I’m so glad I’m reading this by myself…”Thanks, Mom. I will.”
We pile into the truck, and I follow Owen’s instructions on how to best “creep” up to the house without any sound.
The three of us watch in silence from the truck as Owen sneaks in the front door, tiptoeing for effect. He emerges with the Winnebago keys. Seconds later, we are on the road. We pull into the campground around 3:30 a.m., exhausted.
Owen darts around. “I’m double checking all the locks. There’s a padlock on the inside for double security, in case anyone’s worried. Drake and I will take one side, and you two can have the other.”
I lie here next to JuneBug, thinking. Apart from the nightmare of watching Oliver and Red dance at the dance, this whole night has been a wonderful adventure, and I can’t wait for tomorrow.
I wake mid-morning, feeling halfway awake and decent. Drake hands me a knapsack. “Do me a favor and grab some waters and granola bars. Owen and I are going to lock up the Winnebago after you two are done in here.” Drake and Owen head down to the lake to the canoes.
JuneBug and I step outside into the fresh morning air, yawning and stretching. We take a few selfies.
We get down to the water and hop in the two canoes.
JuneBug goes in splashing. “Owen and I get this one! You two take the other!”
I yank on a life jacket, buckling it tight. I white knuckle the oars.
Drake smiles. “I take it this is your first time in a canoe?”
“Maybe.”
JuneBug acts horrified. “Dude! You’re from Florida and you hate the water? Shame on you.”
I blush. Drake laughs out loud. “She has a point.” He grabs an oar. “Follow my lead, Katie. There’s nothing to it.”
We paddle around for quite a while. It’s not long, and I get used to the rhythm of rowing. I take pictures as we go along the shorelines. At one point, Owen and Drake almost tip the canoes battling with their oars.
Drake grabs my phone and leans toward me. “Selfie!” I lean away from him, feeling weird. He pauses. “Hey, relax. It’s just a picture. Can’t I be on your hot guy radar, at least?”
I can’t help it. I start laughing. Drake is pretty cool. I lean in and nudge him with my shoulder. “Sure.”
We both smile into the phone, and he snaps one. I share it to my story. I reach for the phone, but he’s all flirty and dodgy. “Come on, one more.”
“Fine.” I look up into the phone, smiling. He pecks me on the cheek while snapping and sharing. He’s quick. “Drake! You’re such a turd. If you weren’t holding my phone, I’d shove you in the water!”
He laughs, leans back, and holds my phone hostage. “I know.” He gives me an intense stare as he lifts his tee to wipe his face, showing me his abs. They are pretty.
I clear my throat and look out at the water. “Can I have my phone now?”
He puts his shirt down, taps his foot on mine, and hands me my phone. “A guy’s gotta try, right, Katie? Here. Truce.”
I give him a small smile. “Sure.”
Owen’s running the show as we float into shore. “Let’s go in and hike a bit.”
We form a sort of line as we hike along, and I let my imagination roam as I soak in the smells of nature, the cool breeze kissing my cheeks, and the fragrant blooms on the trees. What a great escape.
The day goes by quickly and soon it’s almost time to go home. JuneBug grabs my hand. “To the water once more!”
We race to the canoes, laughing as we go. I throw on the life jacket haphazardly, not as nervous as this morning. I take in everything as we row along this empty lake, wanting to hold on to these moments as long as possible. A bit later, we head back in, load up in the Winnebago, and head back to Owen’s house.
I turn to JuneBug. “Look at Owen driving this monstrosity down the highway like it’s nothing. Crazy. Can you believe I’m up walking around while we’re driving down a major interstate? I feel like it’s the 1970’s or something.”
Drake laughs. “JuneBug told me you were different.”
Now I’m embarrassed. I quickly shut up.
“Hey. Tell me what else you’re thinking. I want to know.” Drake says. He’s not teasing.
“Nothing now.” I give him a small smile.
We get back to his house and I go to get in my car. JuneBug gives Owen a proper good-bye…
In the meantime, Drake stands by my car.
“Thanks for such a good time. I hope you had fun,” I say.
“Oh, yeah. I mean, I wish I could have danced with Kasey just a little, but we had a good time, didn’t we?”
I laugh. I’m blushing, and I’m not sure why. I look down at the ground.
Drake takes my hand and leans in.
I lean back. I feel all sorts of confused. “There’s no one looking, Drake. You can stop the act now.”
“I know. I stopped acting after the dance. Everything else has been real. Do you feel anything? It felt like we might have a connection or something.”
Oh sweet carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. What a charmer. I want to… kind of… but I’ve still got someone else in my head and it wouldn’t be fair to Drake.
“I’m sorry. I’m still hung up on Oliver. It’s just the way it is right now.” I give his hand a squeeze and rub his thumb just a little. “But I’m flattered, Drake. You’re a really great guy, and I’m not just saying that.”
He sighs and turns his head sideways. “Yeah, well. It’s what I do.” He turns and gives me a saucy wink. He leans in again and kisses my cheek. He hovers at the edge of my lips, and I’m so tempted, I almost go for it. He bails me out by moving away.
I giggle. I’m a little breathless, and a whole lotta pink. “Thanks for understanding.”
Drake studies me a bit longer. “Damn. I got you, girl. I’m keeping you in my phone a bit longer though. You give me a call if Oliver messes things up.”
“Um, thanks?”
JuneBug comes around the corner, grinning ear to ear. We start down the road toward home.
She leans over me and I almost drive off the road. “I can’t think of anything that could have made today any better than it was. It was Epic! Totally clash!” she shouts into the air.
I laugh as I try to push her back to her side of the truck. “Yeah, it was pretty great.”
We get back to town and I drop her home. I go slowly up my walk. Norah Jones croons through Mom’s kitchen door. I smile. She must be cooking.
I step in and immediately I smell wonderful things coming from the kitchen. Perfect timing. All that hiking has my stomach growling. I come around the corner, all ready to tell my mom about my weekend, and there’s Oliver?
My stomach falls out. Funsucker…just…why?