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“Yeah, we’ll see about that.”
“Woman, don’t start your shit. I’ll have you pinned to the— What the hell?” I pause as a glob of mud slaps me in the face, followed by the sound of laughter bubbling from Carly Jo’s mouth.
“Were you really brave enough to throw mud in my damn face? Are ya stupid or somethin’?” My face is straightlaced, void of any emotions. Carly Jo throws another glob of mud in my face then falls back on the blanket, laughing her sweet little ass off. I wipe the mud from my face and stare at her in amazement. Amazed that she has finally broke free and is living, laughing, and feeling carefree. Amazed that she seriously threw some damn mud in my face. Twice.
Carly Jo is rolling around on the blanket with her knees pulled to her waist in side-splitting laughter. Me, I simply can’t shake the fact that she was really brave enough to sling some frickin’ mud in my damn face.
“What the hell is so damn funny?” I grunt, clearly missing the humor in the situation. She steadies her laughter, panting along as she catches her breath.
“You, getting all worked up over a little bit of mud when you’re covered in it,” she replies, grasping her waist as she begins to giggle again. I could get pissed and sling her ass in a mud puddle, but damn if it ain’t cute when she’s laughing. I’m glad to finally see some of the tension erase from her face. She’s too beautiful to let stress mare her face with a frown and worry wrinkles. I chuckle at her and lay beside her, before kissing her on the forehead.
“I love hearin’ you laugh, baby. Hell, I love makin’ you laugh.”
She smiles up at me then kisses my chin. “Well, I’m sure I’ll be laughing my ass off at the burnt offerings you plan to serve for dinner tomorrow night.”
“Smart ass.” I smirk at her.
I hold her tight in my arms and we talk while watching the night stars fill the sky. The air is cold, and regardless of how tight I hold her, she’s starting to shiver. “Come on, darlin’, let’s get back down the hill so you can get warmed up. Don’t want’cha to catch a cold.” I raise up, breaking our embrace, but Carly Jo keeps her arm held tight to me, refusing to move.
“It’s cold. But I ain’t ready to go just yet. Just hold me.” Now who the hell am I to refuse the woman I love a request like that? I lay back down, resting up on my elbow, and pull her to my side. I brush her hair softly down her back as she turns to face me.
“Wanna tell me why you decided to bring me here for a first date, Colton?” I don’t look at her; I just continue smoothing her hair down her back and gaze up at the stars.
“Colton, answer me.”
I take a deep breath and think about how to answer that. I know what memories these mountains hold for the both of us, but it ain’t like that. “Baby, when we were teenagers, we lived up in these hills. Always out on my four-wheeler, climbin’ the hills and fishin’. This was where we always came to be carefree. You don’t know any of that anymore. I wanted to show you how to live again.” I brush her hair behind her ear, drinking in her beauty as she lays under the moonlight. “I know what you’re thinkin’, but you’re wrong. I honestly hadn’t even thought of that when I got everything together this mornin’; not until you asked me earlier. Then it clicked what you must be thinkin’. I ain’t gonna try to make you fall in love with me again by bringin’ you to the place that you gave yourself to me, darlin’. I just wanted to make you laugh and enjoy yourself, like you used to. I wanted to see a little of the old Carly Jo.”
She kisses me on the chin and smiles. “I had fun. I didn’t realize how much I missed the mountains. I guess living at the beach for so long I forgot how beautiful the hills are. It’s peaceful here, and for the first time in forever my mind actually shut off. I’ll admit, I was a pissed hornet when I first realized what we were doing today, but I’m glad you made me come along. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, darlin’. I just wanna see you smile more, Carly Jo. I want us to rebuild what we once had. But we can’t do that unless you trust me. I’m tryin’.”
“I’m trying, Colton, but it ain’t easy. Just don’t push too hard.”
“I’ll try not to,” I whisper against her ear, then stand and pull her to her feet. “Now, let’s get home; I’m freezin’ my balls off. If it gets much colder you’re gonna have to warm ’em up for me.” I wink at her. Carly Jo grins, swatting at my chest as she rolls her eyes at me. “What? Ya can’t blame me for tryin’!” I smirk and swat at her thick ass.
We grab our things and head down the hill to load up the side-by-side on the trailer. Carly Jo climbs in the truck and starts the engine to warm herself up while I’m tying down the straps. I climb inside and see that she has her face pressed against the glass, glarin’ up at the moon.
“Ya okay?” I ask, tugging her closer to my side. She slides across the seat willingly and rests against my shoulder.
“I’m good.”
We ride in silence through the mountains, slowly making our way down to the main road. The road is rough and bumpy, brush and trees scratchin’ at the truck as we pass through.
“Come to the Smoky’s with us for Thanksgivin’.” I don’t ask… I quit askin’ this woman any damn thing a long time ago. Going to the Smoky’s for Thanksgiving is a tradition our family has carried on since I was a kid. Momma, Pop, Kylee Jo and me all go down to the cabin for the week and relax. I take Kylee Jo out to the woods to explore, but other than that, it’s a simple week away from Kentucky. Carly Jo raises her head and looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Can’t. I already promised Savannah I’d spend Thanksgiving with her family. Elizabeth is coming also, so it’s kinda a big deal; for Savannah anyway.”
“Okay, if you change your mind, tell me. Momma and Pops own a cabin down there, and we go every year. But if you’ll go, I’ll rent us our own cabin.”
“Can’t change my mind, Colton. I won’t break a promise to Savannah. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. But don’t promise her anything for Christmas, because there’s no damn way we’re spendin’ it apart, ’kay?”
“I’ll not promise either of you anything; how’s that sound?” she asks as she chews on her damn lip. I’m about to bite it the hell off. That little statement pisses me off, because I know this is her way of pushing me away, not letting me close enough to leave my mark. But instead of ending the evening with a fight, or seeing her cry, I nod and drop the topic.
