AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re here, so I highly doubt it.”
“Fair,” I mutter, pulling the car to a stop in the same place I did when I was here last night, setting everything up. “Ready?”
She looks back over at me and my breath catches at the pain in her eyes, although I swear to God there’s a little hope in there too.
“Is that a serious question?”
“Come on, sweet cheeks. I’ve got a surprise that I think you’re going to love.” I jump out of the car, slam the door, and rush around the bonnet so I can open hers for her.
She’s too fast for me, but I do manage to take over and offer her my hand to help her out.
“Wow, did you dive headfirst into a bucket of chivalry or something?” she deadpans.
“Just learning from my mistakes and stupidity.”
Ignoring my hand, she climbs from the car without my help, and I fight like hell to keep the wounded puppy look that threatens from spreading across my face.
“That’s a start,” she mutters, stepping around me and scanning the tree line to try and spot something. “Show me what you’ve got, then.” Liv picks a direction and takes off.
“Wait,” I say, reaching for her arm and pulling her back. My palm burns where I touch her, my heart rate picking up as I drag her close enough that the heat of her body burns into mine.
I stare down at her as her eyes slowly roll up my chest and lock on mine.
“Hey,” I breathe, my pulse racing. “Can I take you out on a date?” I ask like a moron. It works, though, because her face softens for the briefest moment and I see behind the mask she’s pulled on.
“I don’t date knobheads.”
“Good. You shouldn’t. You should date someone who knows how to show you a good time and treat you right.”
Sliding my hand down her arm, I twist my fingers with hers and take off toward the trees.
“Reese, what are you— oh shit,” she breathes when we break through the undergrowth and my surprise is revealed.
There, in the middle of the vast field, is one single tipi covered in twinkling fairy lights. The perfect relaxation yoga retreat in the middle of the Oxfordshire countryside. Or at least, that was what I was going for.
“Reese, this is…”
“Heaven, right?”
Silence falls between us as she stares at the view ahead of us.
“You did this?” she asks, in total awe.
“Well, I had a little help, but yeah.”
“Why?”
“Liv,” I sigh.
“You’ve avoided me all week—”
“No, I was—”
“Giving me space, you said. But that’s not how it felt.”
“I knew dragging you into an empty classroom and making you listen wasn’t going to be enough. I needed to go big or go home.” My lips twitch into a smile. “So this is me… going big.”
Her chest heaves as she stares at me, a million and one things happening behind her eyes.
