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“I completely understand what you were saying now about looking from the inside out. At the house, we enjoy the beauty of the lake, but here it’s like we are the lake,” she whispers.
She’s right. In the middle, there’s a three-sixty view of the mountains surrounding us. Homes are littered across the mountain side, mostly camouflaged by the trees, but from here it’s like nothing else exists. Just the lake and the mountains, and it’s magnificent.
“My grandfather used to joke that we were fishing in a fish bowl, but I never saw it that way. Even though I grew up in the mountains, there’s just something about this place that felt more magical, more mine, and I always knew I’d have a place here.”
“You talk about him a lot.” She frowns at me.
“I guess.” I shrug my shoulders. “It’s been a long time, but I do miss him. Anyway, I just wanted to show you this part of me. Why I love it here in Horizons Valley so much.”
“This is a good spot.” Her eyes and head turn as she fully takes in the view.
“Do you see the ski clearing over there?” she points toward the northeastern side of the lake.
“Yeah.”
“That’s where I learned to ski.” She smiles proudly at me.
“I’ve never been skiing.”
“What?! How’s that possible?” she sits up a little straighter, her eyes widening.
“I just haven’t. As a kid, my grandfather wasn’t a fan of it, then I moved in with Clay’s family, and by the time I was a teenager, it was easier to say no, than explain I didn’t know how.”
She giggles at my answer.
“Maybe I should teach you,” she offers up.
“If it means more time with you, count me in.”
Her cheeks shade pink, but the smile she gives me looks almost hopeful.
“So, what about you?” I ask.
“What do you mean?” she bends over and pets Tank.
“It’s called sharing.” I grin at her. “I tell you something and then you tell me. Come on . . . who are you? Tell me something I don’t know.” I feel like I’m starving for any tidbit she’ll throw my way.
She glances over my shoulder at something behind me and her face relaxes as she thinks about her answer. Why is it so hard for her to tell me who she is? That feeling that she might be hiding something comes crawling back to the edges of my thoughts.
“I’m just a girl who’s trying to be.” Her eyes are thoughtful and her good hand starts rubbing the cast over her wrist.
Be?What kind of answer is that?
“Be what?” I’m confused.
“Be everything. I want to be brave. Be fearless. Be kind. Be strong. Be beautiful. Be badass.” A chuckle escapes me and she laughs softly. “And at the end of the day, I just want to be me.” Her eyes are clear. She’s happy with this explanation, even though I really don’t understand it.
“Why do I feel like after four days, I still know nothing about you?” Time is running out and I’m disappointed. This shouldn’t be so hard.
“I seem to remember the other night you being very detailed about who I am and what you see.” She smirks at me, trying to lighten up the moment.
“I guess so.”
Her eyes match the sky, the tiny diamond stud in her nose keeps reflecting the sun, and her lips are glossy. She’s breathtaking and I want to reach over and pull her onto my lap.
“I just want to know everything about you,” I tell her, placing the paddle back into the water, breaking eye contact. “One more thing to show you and then we’ll head in.”
“Thank you for bringing me out here, it’s beautiful.” She grips the edge of the canoe as we turn toward the southeastern end.
