On My Way To Mr. Right

Chapter 61

“3, 2, 1, open your eyes!” James whispers as he uncovers my eyes.

Winter had come and gone, and my hope continues to spring eternal. What with spring making a well-appreciated appearance.

Birds flew as high as the mountains go. The lake was blue and peaceful, not a fish to disturb its surface and not a boat on sight. The air was as fresh as freshly melted snow without the humidity that summer often brings. It was a bright day and it was a great day.

It was James and I’s fourth month of dating and he had decided to take me for a little surprise.

“Are you sure we’ll be fine by ourselves in this lake house?” I asked, unsure. It was my first time to ever be away from home on my own and with a boyfriend. Beatrice was my usual companion, and it has only ever been for sleepovers. This was a different sleepover. We were, I guess, three towns over.

“Don’t you see my muscles? I can protect you here day and night, Lottie. You have nothing to worry about,” he says, flexing his muscles which weren’t at all that visible.

I laugh at his humor. I’ve always been a little scared of the outdoors, primarily because of how open and wide it was. But here was James showing me it takes a tiny speck of land to step on to be adventurous.

“So, what’s our itinerary for the weekend?” I asked as I unpack my two-days-worth of clothes.

“Well, my list was full of fishing, camping, grilling and all the outdoorsy stuff, but you don’t seem all that prepared,” he glances at the clothes that I’ve unpacked.

It was mostly bikinis and pajamas, but I don’t know what else he expected. I was promised a lake and I was most certainly swimming in the said lake.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m going swimming at least once a day while we’re here,” I tell him, grabbing a pair of swimwear to change into.

I had two days before our friends arrived. I wanted to take in all the peace and quiet while I could

“I can’t believe your uncle let you borrow this lake house for a whole week. My parents barely trust me to drive. Let alone handle a house an entire week,” I shouted from the bathroom.

“I know,” he agrees with my disbelief. “I actually thought it was a long shot. But given my circumstances, he always had a soft spot for me.”

I get out of the bathroom and looked at him confused. Soft spot for what?

“Uhh, given with my dad gone and all, he likes to assume the role of being my father every once in a while. It’s great though, comes with all the perks, such as this huge lake house,” he explains.

I nodded along. It was hella great to escape school and home for a week. The next time I could enjoy some time to relax, it would be summer. And by then, I’d have to start summer job hunting if I ever wanted a car of my own.

“It’s great to spend some time away from our folks, don’t you think so?” He says, grabbing me by the waist and leaning down to kiss me.

I smile as he kisses me, feeling giddy all over again. He never stops to give me that tingling sensation. Every kiss feels like our first, and every time he looks at me, I could never believe I’d land someone as amazing as James.

The past four months had come in a blur. James surprised me with a small bouquet of flowers and chocolate on the first. A movie and a picnic on the second. A fast-food date and road trip for our third. And an amazing stay at his uncle’s lake house by our fourth. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Most couples say the first months of a new couple is sweet and romantic because of its newness, and that that fire and passion fades eventually over time. But James showed no signs of fading away. Contrary to popular belief, his efforts seem to have strengthened within each month of us dating.

I lost my first week shyness, of course. He could hold my hand in public and shout my name to the stars, and I couldn’t find myself other than in awe and much more affectionate towards this gentle creature.

Yet, it all seemed too good to be true.

“Yes, but I’m not sure making out during half the trip would be merely as exciting as swimming out in the lake, don’t you think so?” I screamed, grabbing his swimming trunks from his bag and throwing it at him.

“Oh, I’m not too sure about that. But I can test it out, for you know, accurate results,” he replies, grinning and running his hand at that wavy mess of hair.

I slip past him, giggling as I ran towards the stairs.

“Now, come on, swim suit up!” I yelled, snickering. He’d have sucked the life right out of my lips if he could. “I’m going to explore up here while you change, okay?”