that a challenge, Parker?” he asks mirthful, brows rising.
“No challenge,” I answer once we’re both in the car. “Just let me sleep or I’ll be useless.” I close my eyes and recline the seat.
“You’re no fun.”
“Jason, it’s five a.m. No one is fun at five a.m.”
“I am!”
I place an index finger to my lips to quiet him.
“Killjoy.”
“Wake up, Sleeping Beauty,” he says, kissing my forehead.
“Is that really how the King’s son kissed Briar-Rose to wake her from her one hundred years of slumber?” I ask with my eyes still closed.
His mouth molds to mine and teases it open; a hand trails down my face. He tastes of coffee, bold and bright like him. He breaks away too soon and my eyes open to his gaze.
“That will do,” I murmur, my lips forming into a sleepy smile. I receive a bright smile rivaling the California sun in return.
The sky is clear gray and the world is waiting on the sun to awaken. We’re the only car in the lot. I stretch as Jason gets the coolers out of the backseat.
It takes two trips to get everything to the dock, but Jason doesn’t let me help with the second trip. I drag the cooler from Alana in front of me. She packed sandwiches and an assortment of cut fruit and vegetables. There are two red cups in the cooler, but no drinks.
Jason said we wouldn’t go thirsty, but there isn’t anything to drink in the cooler. I check the cooler from Rose and pull out a thermos of ice tea.
Jason returns with the cooler for the fish and a drink cooler.
I laugh. “I was wondering why your mom packed us cups but no drinks.”
“Yeah, we always bring a cooler of ice water.” He grins. “Let’s get the lines in the water, then we can eat.”
He shows me how to tie the hook on the line, then bait it. I watch him work his own line with deft and reverent hands. He guides me in handling the rod and casting with his arms around me. We set the rods in the holders on the dock and sit down to eat.
We eat breakfast in silence, then clean up. He tugs me into his lap before I can sit after packing up the cooler, and pulls me backwards into his chest. He circles his arms around my waist and rests his head against my back.
“Is it always this quiet?” I ask, settling into him.
“Only on the weekdays. It’s crowded on the weekends.”
“I wish we could have brought him.” I lean my head on his shoulder.
“Me too. It’s been a long time since we’ve been out here. There’s a handicap accessible dock on the other side of the lake. He just doesn’t have enough energy for it.” He gives me a slight squeeze. “I’m glad you agreed to come out here.”
“I wanted to do something you love for once.”
“Parker, I love doing anything as long as I’m with you.”
“There is nothing to love about spending time in court.”
“I was with you. That’s all I cared about.” His arms cinch around me. “What’s going on with you and Arissa?”
“She apologized when I got home last night.”
“I knew she’d come around.”
“Yeah, well, she thought she could say she was sorry and that would be the end.”
“You accepted her apology though, right?”
I shift sideways on his lap and drape an arm over his shoulder. “After I told her how she hurt me and made her think about how she could’ve ruined our relationship.”
“You didn’t let her off easy.”
“No. Not after what she did and how she did it. She used something I had to do for self-preservation against me and accused me of cheating on you. Even after I thought you were back with Becky, I couldn’t think about other boys. I might’ve let you go in my mind, but I never really moved on. Hunter just helped keep me from completely falling apart.”
“I know. I’m glad you had someone there for you when I couldn’t be. You went through enough alone before.”
“I can’t change it, J. I can’t change how we interact with each other. It’s part of our friendship.”
“Parker, I’m okay with it. No one thinks twice when you and Arissa have your arms around each other. It’s unfair for anyone to jump to conclusions when it’s a boy and girl.” His lips skim my jaw. “You two will work it out.”
Five hours pass without a bite and we decide to eat lunch. Another hour goes by