“How areyouso good at this part? You’ve never done it before, right?”
“Dated a woman? No. And I don’t know. I feel like I got some of my nerves out of the way earlier in the week. I feel pretty good right now, actually. I loved hiking with you today and having that picnic, too. I liked when you walked me behind that tree, claiming that we were both going to pee in the woods, and we laughed before we made out, as if the rest of the group didn’t know exactly what we were doing.Thatwas romantic, Gage. That was a sweet, amazing moment that I’ll always remember about this week.”
“Yeah?”
Carrie nodded and asked, “Now, do you want that drink to help calm those unnecessary nerves?”
“No, I think I have a better idea. Can we grab a couple of blankets and maybe some water and snacks?”
“Yes. But why?”
“We’re going outside. Maybe grab a sweater or something, too. It’s cold out there. I don’t want you to freeze.”
“Um… Okay,” Carrie replied.
Minutes later, they had their things in Gage’s backpack and in her arms because she insisted on carrying everything. Carrie laughed at that, but while Nia was preoccupied in the kitchen, Gage pulled Carrie through the front door and shut it quietly.
“What if Nia locks that door while we’re gone?” Carrie asked. “We don’t have our phones.”
“We’ll ring the bell, babe. It’s not like everyone’s going to sleep right now.”
“Right.” Carrie laughed a little. “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere I spotted earlier when we were driving to get to the trail.”
“How far are we walking, exactly? I’m in flats.”
“You’ll be okay, Princess,” she joked. “It’s just up here.”
“Hey, you just told me to put on a sweater. No tennis shoes were mentioned.”
“I like you in those shoes and that dress,” she said and turned to Carrie. “Yeah, I really like you in that dress.”
“It’s a ruffle-sleeve mini dress. I got it online for cheap.”
“It’s a great dress. Five stars in that review you leave, please.”
Carrie laughed and squeezed Gage’s hand.
“Okay. We’re here.”
“Where is here?” Carrie asked.
“It’s an alcove in a tree grouping. Just beyond that is someone’s property, but there’s a no-trespassing sign about twenty yards back, which means this is either public property or we can’t get in trouble because there’s no sign here.”
“Are you sure that’s how trespassing laws work?” Carrie asked.
“It depends on the state. I haven’t looked them up for here, but we’d have plausible deniability because they usually include words likeknowinglyorunlawfullyentered the property and stayed there even when told to leave, so I think we’re safe. Besides, it’s after nine – almost everyone in this sleepy town is probably sound asleep already.”
“Except at our house.”
“Well, yeah,” Gage said. “You just mentioned liking the hike earlier, and I remembered this.”
They left the sidewalk and made it into the grass. Trees and the dark would shelter them from the view of the street, and she looked up to see the night sky and the stars between the tall trees.
“It felt like it could be the perfect little pocket for us; away from everyone else.”
“Itisperfect,” Carrie agreed.
