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Her smile grows as if my answer was exactly what she needed to hear.
“I have something to show you,” I say, glancing over at her with one hand on the steering wheel and the other firmly wrapped around her hand.
“What is it?”
“A surprise,” I say.
“I like surprises.” She squirms in her seat, her smile growing. The uneasy silence that was present a few minutes ago evaporates as Monique attempts to guess what the surprise is.
I laugh at every guess. She’s terribly impatient even though, unlike most people, she likes surprises.
“Where are we going?” she asks with a lifted eyebrow, an hour later when I take the exit before the usual one that will take us directly to Williamsport.
“A shortcut.”
She narrows her eyes suspiciously, her lips twisting to the side in that cute way of hers. I tighten my hold on the steering wheel to keep from pulling over and taking her right here and now.
It’s been days since I was inside of her. While I didn’t even think of it while we were so concerned about her health, knowing she’s okay and having her this close reignites that need.
“It’s not that far out of the way,” I tell her but it’s more for myself.
A few minutes later, I take a right, and Monique gasps. I know she’s realized where we’re headed.
“Is it still here?” she asks.
“We’re going to see.”
Minutes later, we come to a gravel road that leads to a field. In the distance, I start to make out a beat-up, old barn.
Our spot.
“It’s still there,” she says happily.
As we get closer, though, our joy is slightly tamped out from the fence that surrounds the property. There are multiple “keep out” signs on the fence.
“Let’s stop here,” she suggests when we reach right outside of the gate.
I park the car and tell her to stay inside while I make sure we’re the only ones out here. This place, the spot we found so many years ago, has been abandoned for years, but the fence is new. Which could mean new property owners who have some sort of security system involved.
When it looks like we’re all clear, I open the door for her.
“I can’t believe the building’s still standing,” Monique says as I help her out of the car. Leaning back against the door, she stares at the building.
“I haven’t been back here since that day,” I confess.
She looks up at me, sadness invading her eyes. “I visited a few years after I moved to New York. I couldn’t go inside.” She shrugs. “It didn’t feel right being here without you.”
I watch her as she closes her eyes and squeezes my hand. My gaze drops to the serene smile that covers her lips and I can’t help but stare.
“Do you hear it?” she asks with eyes still closed.
I don’t have to ask what because I already know. She’s referring to the river that runs behind the barn.
“I’ve always loved the sound of running water,” she says like I don’t know. “Reminds me of peace.”
I intertwine my fingers with hers, making her eyes pop open.
I crush our lips together, not meaning to kiss her so aggressively but the emotions running through me won’t let me go easy.
